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We must speak up for free expression in Turkey

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Amnesty International Turkey

Journalists and human rights activists are being unlawfully held in Turkish prisons, says Stefan Simanowitz, Amnesty International’s Media Manager for Europe, Turkey and the Balkans.

A month ago, Hatice Kilic and her three daughters waited outside Sakran Prison in Izmir beneath a dark sky. The temperature was close to freezing but they did not feel the cold. All their attention was focused on those metal gates and how they would soon roll open and Taner Kilic — husband and father — would walk through them and into their arms.

Earlier that day, the Istanbul trial court had ruled to conditionally release Taner Kilic, a lawyer and chair of Amnesty International Turkey who has been held, detained on terrorism charges, since last June. His wife and children had come to the prison to pick him up in a state of elated expectation.

Just after midnight, the prison gates opened and Taner Kilic was driven out in a police car. But he was not a free man. Instead of being released he was driven past his family to a military prison where he was locked in another cell. Unbeknownst to the welcoming party, the prosecutor had appealed the court’s decision to release him and a second court in Istanbul accepted this appeal.

Thin charges

Kilic has committed no crime. He is charged with “membership of a terrorist organization” based on the false allegation that he downloaded ByLock, a messaging application authorities say was used by those who organized the 2016 coup attempt. But after nearly nine months behind bars, no credible evidence has been presented to substantiate this claim. On the contrary, two independent forensic experts found that there was no trace of ByLock ever having been on his phone. But if he is found guilty, he could face up to 15 years in jail.

In December, authorities admitted mistakes were made in the cases of thousands of people who have been detained for supposedly downloading the Bylock app. They published lists containing the details of more than 11,400 mobile phone users clearing them of the alleged wrongdoing. This resulted in a mass release of prisoners. Unfortunately, Taner was not one of them.

Kilic has become a potent symbol of the thousands of people unjustly jailed as part of the crackdown that has gripped Turkey since the failed coup in 2016.

Journalists sentenced

Two weeks ago, Ahmet Altan, Mehmet Altan and Nazlı Ilicak became the first Turkish journalists to be convicted of involvement in the coup attempt. They received aggravated life sentences for “attempting to overthrow the government” merely for doing their work as journalists.

The bitter irony of being found guilty of “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” will not be lost on Mehmet Altan whose release was ordered just last month by Turkey’s Constitutional Court, ruling that his detention violated his constitutional rights such as the right to liberty, security and to freedom of expression. The trial court refused to implement the ruling, flouting the constitution.

Armenian Legal Center Highlights Link between Property & Religious Rights at International Conference in DC Video

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Kate Nahapetian,Property & Religious Rights at International Conference in DC

By Kate Nahapetian, Executive Director
Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC)

Members of Congress, Religious Leaders and Advocates from Across the World Gather at Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom
Washington, DC – Kate Nahapetian, Executive Director of the Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC), spoke on a December 6th panel on the Protection of Sacred Sites and Property Rights at the Archon International Conference on Religious Freedom in Washington, DC organized by the Order of St. Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

The overarching theme of this year’s discussions was, “Persecution of Christians in the Holy Lands and the Middle East: Consequences and Solutions.”  Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou of Tufts University Fletcher School for Law & Diplomacy and a former Commissioner with the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom opened the conversation by highlighting the purpose of the frequent destruction of sacred sites, which “are designed to humiliate to remind [religious minorities] that they are second class citizens.”

In her opening remarks, Nahapetian outlined the historic weight of the issue, telling the audience that, “Property issues were integral to realizing the [Armenian] Genocide because if you dispossess the community, you ensure that they are impoverished and that they cannot resist the persecution. If you take away their religious sites, you ensure that they will not return.”

Other panelists, including Archbishop Vicken Aykazian, Ecumenical Director and Diocesan Legate of Diocese of the Armenian Church of America (Eastern), touched on the confiscation of church properties in Turkey pointing out that, “The Armenian Patriarchate in Jerusalem has 950 pieces of property in Constantinople, Smyrna and some parts of Asia Minor. [They] have been trying to get in touch with the Turkish authorities for the last ten years.” According to the Archbishop, to this day not a single piece has been given back.

In a similar vein, Nahapetian further noted that, “Of the over 2000 Armenian churches that existed before the Armenian Genocide, less than 50 of them are operational today in Turkey. Only three of those 50 are outside of Istanbul, and it’s no coincidence that there are very few Armenians outside of Istanbul.”

Nahapetian suggested several solutions to the issue, including creating third party arbitration for issues of religious minority property confiscation, as the court systems in offending countries like Turkey are frequently hostile to such claims and often mount numerous bureaucratic and judicial obstacles to pursuing them.

However, she also explained the frequent insufficiency of treaties in protecting religious minorities and their properties from politically motivated destruction and dispossession, reminding the audience that, “[Treaties protecting the Christian community] are not enough. Before the genocide there were treaties that protected the Christian community of the Ottoman Empire.”

Instead, Nahapetian offered another possible solution, “to document the properties to make them toxic for third party use.” She argued that even in the absence of proper legal remedies, which will inevitably take time to establish, “You can decrease the profit motive in using these properties by third parties who care…including corporations or other investors.” If these properties came with significant political consequence down the road, investing in them, “repurposing” them, would become too expensive an endeavor for third parties to undertake, increasing the incentive to voluntarily return them to the expelled communities.

Nahapetian went on to introduce the ALC’s long term project for doing just that, its Property Documentation Database, announced earlier this year, which catalogues stolen and confiscated properties in modern day Turkey.  To submit documentation concerning stolen or lost properties from the Armenian Genocide, individuals can visit: https://armenianlegal.org/document-preservation-form/.

Other panelists included Ambassador Patrick Theros, Representative of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the United States and Rabbi Arthur Schneier, founder of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. The panel was chaired by Dr. Anthony Limberakis Commander, Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

Members of Congress from both the Senate and House Foreign Relations Committee, academics from across the country, and religious leaders and human rights advocates from the Greek, Armenian, Syriac and Coptic communities addressed other panels during the three day conference from December 4-6, 2017.

The Armenian Legal Center for Justice and Human Rights (ALC) fights to redress human rights violations emanating from the Armenian Genocide that continue to this day and undermine stability in a region that has for far too long been marred by policies founded on genocide, not human rights and justice.  ALC promotes scholarship on the legal avenues for addressing the challenges emanating from the Armenian Genocide, in addition to pursuing cases in national and international courts, while promoting the protection of Armenian cultural heritage through the return of stolen properties and artifacts.

Photo Caption:  L to R: Dr. Elizabeth Prodromou, Rabbi Arthur Schneier; Kate Nahapetian, Ambassador Patrick Theros and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian. Photo by Anna Mehrabyan.

Kate Nahapetian
Executive Director
Armenian Legal Center
for Justice and Human Rights (ALC)
1711 N Street NW, Washington DC 20036
(202) 742-8702
kate@armenianlegal.org
http://www.armenianlegal.org 
https://www.facebook.com/armenianlegalcenter 
https://twitter.com/ALCJHR   
Admitted in Washington, DC, California & New York

 

Arianne Caoili: I am not interested in politics, economy is my passion

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Arianne Bo Caoili, international chess master and wife of famous Armenian chess player Levon Aronian,

YEREVAN. – Arianne Bo Caoili, international chess master and wife of famous Armenian chess player Levon Aronian, has been appointed an adviser to the Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan. In an interview with Armenian News-NEWS.am Arianne Caoili told about her new job and commented on some media reports following her appointment.

What is the reason for change from chess to political career? According to official statement from government’s office, you will be engaged in providing recommendations for attracting investments, as well as cooperation with the international agencies dealing with finances and trade. What will be the focus of your work?

From my perspective, it is not a big change, because I quit chess long ago. I played when I was a child, but I quit it when I was about 15-16. I guess the change that we are seeing is more that I am working with the government. My background has always been consulting to the private sector and public sector. Now I am in public sector, but as a volunteer, I will do my best to contribute to Armenia’s development. I do not consider my job has to do with the politics, I am not interested in politics. There is a big difference between public policy and politics. The focus I am interested in is strictly the areas of economy that are the drivers of economy: innovation, education and investments. One clear area where I hope to do my best is Armenia’s commercial relations internationally as well as the relations with the Diaspora. There is a huge potential in Diaspora and we have to use it.

You have an experience of working as a consultant to the state agencies in Australia. Will you work with the companies and agencies in Australia and Asia-Pacific region? Do you think Armenia can attract investments from this region?

Armenia is a bit far away, but my background is not strictly confined to Australia or Asia, it is much more with sovereign wealth funds owned by governments all over the globe. I have a few platforms and institutions that I would like connect with Armenia. The world is getting smaller and we, as Armenians, need to look to the future and to have a global mentality, but of course with localized spirit.

You said, we as Armenians. Do you perceive yourself as an Armenian now?

I’ve been asked this question for many years. And, my answer is: yes. When I moved here in 2013, I immediately felt at home. I traveled to 60 countries and lived in Germany, Australia and the Philippines. When I moved to Armenia, it was the first time in my life that I felt at home. Then I got married and I am “technically” also going to be Armenian. And, I am very proud of that.

Some media reports suggest you have several businesses in Armenia. Is it true? What is the main area of your work?

I am volunteering for this job [in government’s office – ed.]. I am very open about what I do in Armenia. Yes, I am doing business. My consulting firm, although it is not strictly for Armenians and it has foreign clients mostly, is very much involved in management consulting, strategy and policy analysis. And, of course, I have “Champord” (“Traveler” newspaper) which is not for profit. My passion is economics.

You seem not to play chess at a professional level since 2012. Why did you quit chess after a successful career?

I quit just before the university. All of my family are doctors in the United States. They are all neurosurgeons, heart surgeons. So, my father told me I had to stop chess and study medicine. It was a clear decision from my parents: “you have to study now.”

Armenia is now pushing an idea that if you start playing chess at an early age, you would help in the future. How do you think chess can help you in your new endeavor?

I am very proud of the fact that Armenia was the first country in the world to make chess compulsory. I do think that if you start chess at a young age, it will really help you in problem solving. It teaches you that mistakes are ok. It is ok to make mistakes and to lose as long as you get up and fight again. It gives people a fighting spirit, and it is very important in life and in business. I think chess is good for character.

Are you surprised at media interest to your appointment? What is your attitude? 

I just hope that I can do my best and use the skills that I have to contribute. My measure of success is impact. If I can create a positive impact, no matter how small, I will be happy. I hope that public will view my participation positively. I will be giving an online press conference on Tuesday and everyone can ask questions. I am free to answer them.

Syria: A Testament To International Moral Bankruptcy

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Alon ben meir

Alon ben meir

By Alon Ben-Meir,

Much has been written about Syria’s civil war which has engulfed the country for the past six years, but sadly the mounting death and destruction in Syria has long since become mere statistics. The international community grew comfortably numb to the horror, the likes of which we haven’t seen since World War II. Both internal and external players have been nurturing their vested interests by prolonging the deadly conflict, hoping to improve their position to serve their long-term objectives. The irony is that none of the external main players—Russia, Iran, US, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia—and the domestic actors (the Assad regime, Sunnis, and Kurds) will end up with such lasting gains that outweigh the horrifying losses that have been inflicted on the country and its citizens.
What happened to the sentiment of “never again” that was universally embraced in the wake of World War II to prevent calamities such as this from occurring? How low will the moral bar of the international community sink before we awake to the unfolding catastrophe?
How many more men, women, and children must die, and how much ruin can the country further sustain before we act to stop this madness that seems to infect every party involved, when nothing else matters but their criminal self-interest?
‘Crimes against humanity’ became a mere slogan, shaming every domestic and foreign party that could have stopped the slaughter but did nothing. They immunized themselves, assumed no responsibility, and discharged their moral culpability while the blood of innocent Syrian people continues to stream, marring what’s left of their conscience.
While Syrian men and women suffered untold losses, pain, agony, and deprivation, the children—yes, millions of children—have suffered beyond the pale of wrenching ache and anguish, quietly despairing for they remain helpless and destitute.
According to World Vision International, “millions of children under five are now more vulnerable than ever to physical trauma, injuries, communicable diseases, and malnutrition.” At least 8.2 million children inside Syria and across the region are now experiencing displacement, shattered health systems, and food insecurity, while over 2 million are growing up as refugees.
Nearly three million under the age of five have grown up knowing only war. One in four children is at risk of severe mental health disorders, with potentially lifelong consequences. Attacks on hospitals have left 43 percent of Syrian hospitals functional, while half of Syria’s doctors have fled the country.
As many as 80,000 children in Syria are believed to be infected with polio, which was eradicated in Syria in 1995. The ongoing bombing and shelling is the main cause behind the children’s psychological trauma that will leave indelible emotional scars from which they will suffer throughout their adult lives. During the five-year span of the conflict, life expectancy at birth has dropped by 15 years, and to top it all, tens of thousands of children were killed.
And if this is not enough, just think about the damage that has been inflicted on these children, who have been deprived of basic education with one in every four schoolsdamaged, destroyed, or used for displaced people. There were 400,000 more children out of school in 2015 than 2014, as more than 4,000 attacks against schools have made these educational institutions financially insolvent.
These are not mere numbers. We are talking about a catastrophe in the making for all to see. Just imagine, two generations have been lost; never again will they know normalcy but only anguish and uncertainty, while the world watches with complacency.
No one is talking about a solution that could bring this calamitous war to a conclusion. The UNSC has been inept at best. Russia’s veto-wielding power has and continues to prevent the passage of any solution that does not meet its total requirements. President Putin will continue to support Assad and spare no effort to maintain Russia’s presence in Syria as a springboard to enhance its regional influence.
Iran, who is fighting for regional hegemony, will continue to support Assad’s regime until the last Syrian soldier. The mullahs do so in the ‘name of the almighty,’ which gives them the ‘moral authority’ to ravage the country for as long as it takes to secure their hegemonic ambitions from the Mediterranean to the Gulf.
Turkey’s President Erdogan, who wishes to spread his wings throughout the Middle East, is fighting to secure a foot-hold in Syria. He is indiscriminately bombing the Syrian Kurdish fortifications, accusing them of supporting the PKK to prevent them from establishing their own autonomous rule, which can only further destabilize Syria.
The US was the only country that could have spared this horror, under the Obama administration. Sadly, Obama sat on his hands, allowing Russia and Iran to continue to pillage the country and consolidate their gains. President Trump, with all his boasting, has yet to lift a finger other than ineffectively bombing a Syrian air field in response to Assad’s use of chemical weapons only to show his bravado, while shamefully stopping the training of anti-Assad rebels and rendering them vulnerable to the merciless attacks by Syrian, Russian, and Iranian forces.
Saudi Arabia continues to provide money and materials to the rebels only to serve its interests as it continues to wage a proxy war against Shiite Iran for regional dominance, making Syria the battleground between the two sects while the Syrian people pay the price.
Leave it of course to Assad to rampage the country only to stay in power. Many dictators have treated their people with ruthlessness and cruelty to maintain their grip on power, but no despot in recent years has inflicted so much devastation, desolation, and despair on his own country like Assad has, while doing Russia’s and Iran’s biddings.
Take a look at the monstrosity that Assad has committed—that would squeeze the heart of any normal person with the capacity to feel. Nearly 500,000 Syrians have been killedsince the beginning of the civil war in 2011. An estimated 13.5 million people, including over 6 million children, are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection; 6.3 million people are internally displaced and nearly five million Syrians have fled the country and become refugees.
In addition to the staggering human toll, the cost of the conflict in Syria to date is estimated at $275 billion, and there is no end in sight to the astronomical losses. One would think that at a minimum the international community would respond to the human crisis by providing the necessary funding, but unsurprisingly in this area too, the international community falls appallingly short. The United Nations has requested a record amount of $8 billion in aid this year for Syria, and 65 percent of UNICEF’s appeal is underfunded, while over $1 trillion is spent collectively on the military by the five permanent members of the UNSC.
The dismal failures of all the governments and institutions involved directly and indirectly in the Syrian calamity leaves us nowhere but to appeal to the masses. People of conscience, regardless of their country of residence and irrespective of their religious, cultural, or ideological orientation, you must rise now and make your voices heard. Speak up for the voiceless Syrian people who have been betrayed by corrupt head of states and condemned to dispersion, destruction, and death, which is a dreadfully sad testament to the international community’s moral bankruptcy.

Cyprus Parliament calls on the international community for #ArmenianGenocide recognition

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Ahead of the 102nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, the Parliament of Cyprus has called on the international community to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Ermenihaber reports citing Kibrispostasi news agency.

At the beginning of the Parliament session, Speaker Demetris Syllouris delivered a speech noting that Turkey has implemented a policy of ethnic cleansing against the Armenian people, and although 100 years have passed since the committal of the Armenian Genocide, Turkey continues to deny it.

Syllouris noted that Cyprus was among the first states in the world to recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, and in 1990, the Parliament of Cyprus declared April 24 as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day. The Parliament has also adopted the law on the criminalization of the genocide denial and the war crimes against the humanity.

Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian also delivered a speech at the Parliament, noting that the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide still remain unpunished.

“More than one hundred year has passed. We do not seek vengeance, we seek justice. We want the historical facts over this tragedy to be unanimously accepted,” he added.

Yerevan: Golden Apricot presents first 360° educational film in Armenia

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apricot festivalOn the sidelines of the Golden Apricot International Film Festival, the first ever Armenian 360° educational movie, produced by Technology and Science, was presented in Yerevan.
Speaking to Tert.am, the company’s director, Vahe Shakaryan, said they produce movies for school-age children in an effort to facilitate their learning of different subjects.
“Films of the kind are in high demand abroad, so we must do everything possible to provide a free access to them . We are hopeful that by September, we will have at least three movies to screen in different schools. This movie is about astronomy; the next two movies will deal with biology and chemistry,” he explained.
The recent movie’s scenario, which was produced in Armenia, was written jointly by psychologists and pedagogues.
Shakaryan said the choice of disciplines focused on the subjects children normally have difficulty learning.
“Our purpose is to develop in the children a desire to return to books, making them delve deeper into the subjects they learn,” he said, adding that they are planning film screenings also in the regions.
The authors have prepared short-length movies (10-15 min.) not to bore the children.

It is time for international recognition of Nagorno-Karabakh – Karen Mirzoyan

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f57356c8e2210b_57356c8e22141.thumbArmenia and Nagorno-Karabakh can cope with all the difficulties by combined effort, Foreign Minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR) Karen Mirzoyan told Tert.am.

As to a possibility of Armenia recognizing Nagorno-Karabakh’s independence, he said:

“I would not say Armenia could be the only state to recognize Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh]. It is now time for international recognition of Artsakh. Not only Armenia, but the international community must recognize Artsakh. It will be the best security guarantee for Artsakh.”

As to Azerbaijan’s threats to unleash war if Armenia recognizes Nagorno-Karabakh, Mr Mirzoyan said:

“Azerbaijan’s leadership is issuing numerous threats in any case. We must curb its ambitions by all possible means.”

Karabakh boy dedicates international tournament win to his father who fell in 4-day war

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default arstachGrigori Hajyan from the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR/Artsakh), who captured first place in an international wushu tournament, devoted his victory to his father who had died during the four-day war which Azerbaijan unleashed in early April.

“I dedicate this victory of mine to the bright memory of my father, who fell during the defense of Artsakh,” Grigori said, according to Artsakhpress news agency. “I want to become world champion—and I will—, so I can wave Artsakh’s triumphant flag everywhere.”

Grigori’s father, Norayr Hajyan, had fallen in the early morning hours on April 5, during the self-defense battle in NKR Talish village.

National teams from Armenia, NKR, Georgia, and Iran competed in the aforementioned tournament, which was held in Armenia’s capital city of Yerevan.

Saudi Arabia breaks 20-year execution record: Amnesty International

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61d5acb5-c704-4868-8d60-9bff6f5153c9At least 151 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia so far this year, the highest figure in the last 20 years, Amnesty International says.

In a Monday statement, the rights group said Saudi authorities, on average, have put to death one person every other day in 2015.

The number shows a dramatic 68-percent rise in comparison with 90 executions carried out over the whole of the last year.

The last time Riyadh executed over 150 people in a single year was in 1995, when 192 executions were recorded, according to the statement.

“The Saudi Arabian authorities appear intent on continuing a bloody execution spree which has seen at least 151 people put to death so far this year,” said James Lynch, Amnesty International’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa Program.

The statement also noted that nearly half of this year’s executions were for offenses that do not meet the threshold of “most serious crimes” for which the death penalty can be given under international human rights law.

“Under international human rights standards, most serious crimes are crimes that involve intentional killing,” it said.

Under the Saudi law, apostasy, armed robbery, drug trafficking, rape and murder carry the death penalty. Most Saudi executions are carried out by beheading with a sword.

According to Amnesty, 71 foreign nationals were among those executed in Saudi Arabia this year.

“Foreign nationals, mostly migrant workers from developing countries, are particularly vulnerable as they typically lack knowledge of Arabic and are denied adequate translation during their trials,” the UK-based human rights group said.

Riyadh has been under fire for having one of the world’s highest execution rates.

Earlier this year, Amnesty said in a report that court proceedings in Saudi Arabia “fall far short” of global norms of fairness.

Video of masterful inaugural speech at the International Symposium Yves Ternon #armeniangenocide

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Yves Ternon, member of the Scientific Council of the Holocaust

Yves Ternon, member of the Scientific Council of the Holocaust

Video recorded March 25 Arto Pehlivanian at the Sorbonne. Inaugural Address of the historian Yves Ternon, member of the Scientific Council of the Holocaust Memorial, President of the International Scientific Council (ISC)