Historian Halacoglu's Comments "Racist"

At a symposium in Kayseri, central Anatolia, Yusuf Halacoglu, president of the Turkish Historical Society (TTK) had made comments on the ethnic composition of Turkey which have caused enraged reactions.

Halacoglu had claimed that "People we call Kurds are actually of Turkmen origin, while those we think are Kurdish Alevi are really of Armenian origin". He put forward the claim that "most of the people in the TIKKO (Turkey Workers' and Villagers' Liberation Army) and PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party) organisations are Kurds of Armenian origin."   

Maksudyan: 'Race' is an outdated concept 

Nazan Maksudyan, author of the book "Measuring Turkishness: Science Fiction Anthropology and Turkish Nationalism's Racist Aspect (1925-1939) and history PhD candidate at Sabanci University, has commented:

"It is impossible to read Halacoglu's comments without feeling alarmed. It has long been accepted by scientists that the concept of 'race' has no scientific base. Categorising people as Armenian, Kurdish, Turkmen and ascribing certain characteristics to these groups and assuming that they behave in a certain way is at best a simplification, but at its worst racism."

"Race" is an exclusionary category 

"We know that in the foundation years of the Turkish Republic, racism was one of the currencies affected by the nationalist paradigm and that there were serious references to the 'Turkish race' when the national history and national language theses were formulated. There was research done in the name of anthropology which was far from scientific, and the superiority of the 'Turkish race', designated as the founders of the state, was continuously emphasised. 'Race', unlike 'culture' or 'citizenship' is a category that does not allow for later membership. Its points of reference are blood, lineage and roots, which are exclusionary and result in second-class citizenship."

Maksudyan continued, "By claiming that Kurdish Alevis are really Armenians, Halacoglu has also referred to a touchstone of today's nationalism: the denial of the 1915 disaster: The Armenians did not die, they are alive with an Alevi identity."

Association of Armenians with terrorist activities 

"In addition, the association of 'Armenian origin' with 'terrorist organisations' is a frequently encountered example of racism. Armenians in this country, whether 'converted' or not, are targeted as suspicious at any opportunity anyway. Is it not clear that such statements, instead of reducing the prejudice and hostility of the public, foment hatred?"