Armenian Community Organizations Respond to Incident in Tehran

Several Armenian organizations operating in Iran have condemned an incident that occurred during an event held in Tehran to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, calling on other Armenian institutions and Armenian parliamentarians in Iran to denounce it as well.

The Armenian cultural and sports complex “Raffi,” the Armenian National and Cultural Union of Iran, the Armenian “Astghatsner” center in the Zeytun district, the Armenian “Astghatsner” center in the Sasun district, and the “Araks” newspaper have jointly issued a call directed towards the religious and national organizations of the Iranian-Armenian community, their subordinate bodies, committees, ecclesiastical councils, social, economic, cultural, and sports associations, and all members of the Iranian-Armenian community.

According to the statement, “During the annual floral ceremony held as part of the events commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in Tehran, a floral donation from the diplomatic staff of the Armenian Embassy, adorned with the name, flag, and emblem of the Republic of Armenia, disappeared from near the monument to the victims of the Genocide before the start of the event and was later found in a torn state, with its symbols ripped off and trampled underfoot.”

“At the flower-laying ceremony, as the Armenian Embassy delegation approached the monument, two to three women suddenly attacked the delegation, trying to snatch the flowers intended for presentation from the hands of the Ambassador of Armenia and his wife and accompanying members,” the statement reads.

It is noted that later, a group of individuals shouted offensive slogans directed at the Armenian authorities.

The organizations have called on all institutions of the Iranian-Armenian community and Armenian parliamentarians in the Iranian parliament to condemn the incident and take actions to ensure that such acts receive appropriate attention. “Commemorative events for the Genocide, which are symbols of our national unity, cannot today be transformed into their opposite by the immoral actions of ignorant individuals. Those who commit such offenses may not understand the gravity of their actions; often, they are incapable of realizing the seriousness of these matters. However, conscious Armenians have serious responsibilities to prevent such ugly and foolish actions. We, the undersigned organizations, strongly condemning this base and treacherous act, appeal to the representatives of the Iranian parliament, especially Mr. Ara Shahverdyan, who is also the chairman of the Iran-Armenia parliamentary friendship group in the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Representative Assembly of the Armenian Diocese of Tehran, the Community Council, the organizing committee of the events dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, and all conscious Armenians who care about the national values, to denounce the incident and take appropriate measures to ensure that such distorted actions do not continue,” the statement concludes.