On the eve of the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, leading Arab and Amazigh human rights organizations called on the Turkish government to recognize the truth of the historic events, issue an unequivocal apology, and move towards accountability and reparations. The concerted campaign by Ottoman leaders a century ago resulted in the deaths and exile of the vast majority of their Armenian citizens, but successive Turkish governments have failed to recognize or take responsibility for the deliberate and systematic mass extermination of the ethnic group.
Signatories to the statement calling on recognition of the Armenian Genocide include the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, the El Nadim Center for the Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence, Tamkeen for Legal Aid, Lawyers Without Borders, the World Amazigh Assembly, the National Federation of Amazigh Associations in Morocco, and the Aleppo Compatriotic Charitable Organization.
“We call on President Erdogan and Prime Minister Davutoglu to recognize the Armenian genocide and the responsibility of Turkey’s predecessor government for the terrible crimes against the Armenian community,” said Ziad Abdel Watab, Deputy Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.“ As human rights organizations, we reiterate our call for unequivocal truth, justice, and accountability for the victims of this Genocide.”
“The historic record is well-settled, and it is well past time for the Turkish government to end its denials and come to terms with its past, for the benefit of Turks, Armenians, and all of humanity,” said Khaled Mansour, board member of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. “By recognizing the massive crimes and human rights abuses that took place within its own nation, even if a century ago, Turkey could initiate a unique path in a region whose political conflicts have degenerated into bloody ethnic and sectarian conflicts.”
A full copy of the statement appears below
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