Turkey's Human Rights Association Demands Recognition of Armenian Genocide

The Human Rights Association of Turkey (İHD) has issued a statement on the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide through its Committee for the Fight Against Racism and Discrimination. This prominent human rights organization in the country has called for the recognition of the Genocide, an apology to the descendants of the Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians who fell victim to the Genocide, as well as compensation for the appropriated properties and possessions belonging to them. This was reported by Ermenihaber.

The committee's statement particularly notes: “April 24 is a symbolic date for the genocide perpetrated against Armenians, Assyrians, and Anatolian Greeks. It is the day in 1915 when Armenian intellectuals and artists, along with certain ordinary Armenian citizens, were gathered from their homes and sent to their death.”

The authors of the statement mentioned several Armenian intellectuals who were sent to their death, including the 23-year-old poet Armen Toroyan (Hrachya Surenyants), lecturer, writer, and journalist Yervand Chavushyan, writer, poet, and translator Ruben Zardaryan, journalist, writer, lecturer, publisher Tiran Kelekian, journalist and translator Yervand Srmakeshkhanlian (Yerukhan), poet, writer, and doctor Ruben Sevak Chilingaryan, naturalist, literary figure, editor, and one of the founders of the Armenian General Benevolent Union Nazaret Taghavaryan, poet, writer, translator, lecturer Levon Larenz Kirishchyan, poet Daniel Varujan, writer Siamanto (Atom Yerjanian), singer, songwriter, folklorist, educator, priest Komitas, and the poet, writer, lawyer, and deputy Grigor Zohrap.

“Since the Genocide and its denial, bloodshed, tears, and mourning have not ceased in Turkey, because the crime has gone unpunished, it continues with new crimes and the perpetrators remain unpunished, as justice has not been restored, and the unavenged victims of the Genocide continue to suffer. We have always said, and we reiterate: - The Genocide must be recognized. - An apology must be made to the Armenians, Assyrians, and Greeks scattered across the world. - Compensation must be paid for the appropriated cash and real estate. Therefore, we repeat our demand: Recognize the Genocide, apologize, compensate,” the statement concludes.