{"id":132065,"date":"2011-10-03T13:05:29","date_gmt":"2011-10-03T08:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.epress.am\/?p=132065"},"modified":"2011-10-03T13:06:14","modified_gmt":"2011-10-03T08:06:14","slug":"turkeys-armenians-demand-rights-not-tolerance-new-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/epress.am\/en\/2011\/10\/03\/turkeys-armenians-demand-rights-not-tolerance-new-study.html","title":{"rendered":"Turkey’s Armenians Demand Rights, Not Tolerance: New Study"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new study, which explores various issues faced by Turkey\u2019s Armenians in the republican period, asserts that Armenian citizens of the country are demanding their rights, not tolerance, Today’s Zaman reports<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen fighting with discrimination, one thing that should never be used but which we frequently hear is the concept of \u2018tolerance\u2019 in reference to Ottoman history and with the view that different religions and cultures have lived \u2018side-by-side in peace\u2019 for centuries on these lands,\u201d said the report, \u201cHearing Out Turkey\u2019s Armenians: Problems, Demands, and Suggestions for Solution,\u201d written by academics G\u00fcnay G\u00f6ksu \u00d6zdo\u011fan and Ohannes K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7da\u011f\u0131 for the Turkish Economic and Social Studies Foundation (TESEV).<\/p>\n

K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7da\u011f\u0131 said \u201ctolerance\u201d implies a favor given from authorities at the top levels to lower level citizens who are \u201cnot much liked.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLegitimacy should come from rights, not from tolerance,\u201d he said and added that making a new constitution which does not have any perceived references to ethno-cultural identities is important in that regard.<\/p>\n

\u201cAn understanding of equal citizenship is needed,\u201d he also said.<\/p>\n

Currently, Article 66 of the Constitution says, \u201cEveryone bound to the Turkish state through the bond of citizenship is a Turk.\u201d By many in Turkey, including Armenians, this \u2014 especially the emphasis on \u201cTurk\u201d \u2014 is perceived as allowing a discriminatory mentality that is against rights-based inclusiveness and equality.<\/p>\n

The 170-page study was prepared in light of information and views gathered during four workshops this and last year with participants \u2014 Turkey\u2019s Armenians, including teachers, journalists, heads of foundations, academics and professionals \u2014 as well as discussions between the participants.<\/p>\n

The subheadings of the broad study are: Armenian Identity and Discrimination, Education; The Patriarchate and the Patriarchal Election; Violations of Freedom of Religion and Religious Rights; Foundations and Associations: Legal Status and Ownership-Management-Organization Issues; Confronting History; and Armenia and Diaspora.<\/p>\n

According to participants of the study, it is no longer enough for the government to remove the barriers that make it difficult for Armenians to keep their identities and cultures alive, or that restrict educational opportunities; direct support of the government is needed for the survival of the Armenian education and culture.<\/p>\n

K\u0131l\u0131\u00e7da\u011f\u0131 said all participants agree that Turkey has changed in a positive way in the last 10 years but added that the \u201copenings\u201d and initiatives of the governments are seen as \u201csuperficial\u201d and aimed at increasing the potential votes of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) as well as that the whole process was excessively dependent on the will and personality of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdo\u011fan.<\/p>\n

The study said some practices reinforces this perception. For example, the historical Armenian church on Akhtamar Island in Turkey\u2019s eastern province of Van (pictured) was not returned to the Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey but opened for worship for only one day a year. In that regard, the following words on the Akhtamar Church by the TESEV study participant are noteworthy:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Armenian community, which has avoided visibility in the Turkish society and which has isolated itself throughout the republican history due to discriminatory policies and attitudes, started to raise its voice since the mid 1990s, and its demands for equal citizenship and respect for the Armenian identity reverberated in the democratization process starting in the 2000s.\u201d<\/p>\n

The participants of the study also said they were concerned about the perception of Armenians; namely, that the word \u201cArmenian\u201d is used as an insult.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhenever an Armenian becomes visible in the public domain, s\/he is perceived as the collective representative and spokesperson of the Armenians of Turkey or even of all Armenians. For example, an Armenian appearing on a discussion program on TV is perceived as if speaking on behalf of all Armenians. In fact, this approach has, to some extent, been accepted by Turkish Armenians; hence, Armenian individuals pay extra attention to what they do and what they say, so that \u2018nothing bad is reflected on the Armenians\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study points out that the word \u201cArmenian\u201d is used as an insult from time to time either by bureaucrats and politicians or by the people at large.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn 1997, during the government of Tansu \u00c7iller, then-Interior Minister Meral Ak\u015fener of the True Path Party [DYP] used the expression \u2018Ermeni d\u00f6l\u00fc\u2019 [Armenian progeny] to insult Kurdistan Workers\u2019 Party [PKK] leader Abdullah \u00d6calan, an incident that is still remembered to this day. Likewise, a few years ago, Republican People\u2019s Party [CHP] \u0130zmir deputy Canan Ar\u0131tman \u2018accused\u2019 President Abdullah G\u00fcl of being Armenian. And G\u00fcl did indeed perceive it as an insult and sued Ar\u0131tman.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study included suggestions to civil society organizations, media and universities. One such suggestion is about \u201cconfronting 1915.\u201d This part of the study says: \u201cThe matter is confronting the dark phenomenon that led to the mass annihilation of Armenians in the last period of Ottoman history. Tangible steps should be taken not only to reveal the facts but also to repair and indemnify what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are also recommendations to the Armenian community of Turkey. One is: \u201cInstead of accepting a passive position within the \u2018community\u2019 and instead of sufficing with the mediation of the patriarchate, voicing problems in the public realm and spreading civil citizenship initiatives would be effective in reaching a solution.\u201d<\/p>\n

The study also has suggestions for parliament, political parties, the government and the bureaucracy. Some highlights are:<\/p>\n