Why are April 24 remembrances being banned?

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"We are inviting all press institutions and those who are against genecide once again, to speak out our demand and say, "Recognize the Armenian genocide, Apologize, Compensate!" and "Stop Denying," on the 108th year, on April 24, 2023 Monday, to our press briefing that we will be organizing in front of the İstanbul branch of the Human Rights Association."

The invitation is from the Human Rights Association (İHD) Committee Against Racism and Discrimination.

Human rights defenders were holding their press briefings each year in front of the building in Sultanahmet where Armenian intellectuals were taken to first; but these rememberences are not allowed since 2017. The response to this call inviting people in front of the İHD has not yet received a response.

"Remove the word genocide from your statement"

Lawyer and İHD chairperson Eren Keskin talked to bianet about their rememberence and the reason for the bans.

"We have organized the first rememberence as the İHD Committee Against Racism and Discrimination in 2005, calling it "Genocide."

"The title we use in our statements never changed since that day: "Recognize the Armenian genocide, Apologize, Compensate!" This was the title of our statement and this was what was written on our banner. And our name is include among the list of those who recognize the genocide on the Armenian Genocide Memorial."

"We organized these rememberence days from 2005 until 2017. We mainly held our rememberence events in front of the building in Sultanahmet where the Armenians intellectuals were taken to in the beginning of the genocide. We have also held our press briefings in Haydarpaşa [train station] to where they were sent.

"The event is in scope of freedom of thought"

Keskin explains that they were not banned from organizing commemorations until 2017, but that they have been prevented ever since. They are being asked to remove their demand from their banner. In 2017 the officials instructed them to hold their press briefing but without using the word "genocide." They did not agree to this and they issued their own press statement.

In the rememberence day in 2018, three of their friends were taken into custody and an investigation was started. However the prosecutor's office concluded that the commemoration was to be evaluated in the scope of freedom of thought.

Keskin added, "But we were prevented ever since. In 2020, 2021 and 2022, we held our press briefing in the İHD İstanbul branch office due to the pandemic, under the same banner.  And this year we are planning to hold our press briefing on the street, in front of the İHD İstanbul branch office."

"AKP does not want anyone to express opinion"

Photo: Pınar Tarcan - bianet

İHD Chairperson Eren Keskin believes that the government does not want any other political current or the human rights defenders to express their opinions other than those who support the government.

"Even the sit down action by the Saturday Mothers/People was banned, which was the most legitimate for vast sections of the society. And in fact all of this happened after the policy change by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)."

"Let us all remember. The then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had made a statement on April 23, 2014, almost an apology for April 24. AKP then started to implement another policy coming to an agreement with the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) and the deep state. A pro-Turk and Islam policy was set and they are continuing in that path," Keskin said.

She believes that banning of April 24 rememberences is to be evaluated in the same scope. "AKP has become the implementer of the official ideology which they were once complaining about," she said.

(EMK/PE)