1915 Commemoration in Sultanahmet Prevented by Police

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The ceremony to be held at the Sultanahmet Square in İstanbul today (April 24) to commemorate the ones who lost their lives in the Armenian Genocide of April 24, 1915 was prevented by the police.

The commemoration was to be held by the Human Rights Association (İHD) İstanbul Branch, Commission Against Racism and Discrimination at 12.00.

Though Eren Keskin, the Co-Chair of the İHD, negotiated with the police, they did not allow the commemoration to take place.

The İHD has decided to hold the commemoration and read out the statement for the press at the İHD İstanbul Branch Office in Beyoğlu.

Keskin announced the decision of the association in following words:

"Our April 24 genocide commemoration ceremony has been prevented by the police. Though a verdict of non-prosecution was given last year, the ceremony has been prevented again. We are condemning it and inviting you to our Human Rights Association."

HDP MP Paylan: A result of darkness in Turkey

Speaking to bianet regarding the prevention, Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Diyarbakır MP Garo Paylan has stated the following:

"We held this statement for the press freely for years and did not encounter any prevention. But, this year, the statement for the press has been banned. It is a result of the democratic climate, the darkness in Turkey.

"For years, there was a will to confront the genocide, which took place 104 years ago. However, they have also taken a step back from this will of confrontation as well, I am really sorry. Every crime which is not confronted repeats itself and, unfortunately, this crime is also repeating itself today.

"The great brutality subjected to the Armenian people 104 years ago is being imposed on Kurdish people today.

"We demand that they confront the genocide so that this crime will not repeat itself once again. But, the government, which cannot confront the genocide, is causing other genocides today. We will never give up on this will of confrontation or the struggle for rights and law."

Commemoration prevented in 2018 as well

In last year's commemoration, the Governorship of İstanbul requested that the statement for the press to be read out not contain the word "genocide" and three members of the İHD carrying a banner were detained. The Association cancelled the commemoration upon this intervention.

Why is the commemoration held in Sultanahmet?

Arrested Armenians, especially Armenian intellectuals, were brought to a prison at the Sultanahmet Square in 1915. The building in question serves as the Museum of Turkish and Islamic Arts today. (PT/HK/SD)

* Photographs and video: Pınar Tarcan - bianet