UN Asks Turkey About the Fate of Armenians Displaced from 1915 to 1923

On March 25, the United Nations (UN) Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances addressed a query to the Turkish government regarding the fate of Armenians forcibly displaced between 1915 and 1923. This was reported by Ermenihaber.am.

According to a document published on the official website of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, special rapporteurs on the issues of protecting and promoting freedom of opinion and expression, and on the guarantee of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence presented joint inquiries and requested that the Turkish government clarify its position regarding the presented queries.

The document includes several specific questions, such as:

• What measures has Turkey taken to ascertain the fate or whereabouts of Armenians subjected to forced internal displacement, detention, extrajudicial killings, and enforced disappearances during 1915-1923?
• What measures have been taken to ensure the right of victims and society at large to know the truth about these events, as well as to secure justice and reparations for the victims?
• What efforts have been made to locate the remains of Armenians who were killed as a result of these events?
• Provide information on the reasons for the legislation passed in 2017 that prohibits legislators from making certain expressions.
• Clarify how this is compatible with international human rights law, particularly with Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
• Present detailed information regarding the application of Article 301 of the Criminal Code aimed at punishing individuals making statements about the crimes against Armenians.

Moreover, the document states that Turkey has been given 60 days to respond to the aforementioned inquiries. A press release from the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) mentions that the Turkish government categorically refused to answer these questions on May 17, contrary to UN procedures for the protection of human rights.

To clarify the situation, Ermenihaber.am sent an inquiry to both the Turkish side and the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, requesting information on the Turkish government's response to the above inquiries.