Garo Paylan and Selina Dogan extend congratulations to Armenian people

May 10, 2018 By administrator

Garo Paylan and Selina Dogan – ethnic Armenian lawmakers of the Turkish parliament, extended congratulations on the recent events in Armenia, reports Armenpress.

“The Armenian people won in fight for democracy. Congratulations!” Paylan, MP of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), said on Twitter.

MP of the Republican People’s Party (CHP) Selina Dogan also posted on Twitter which says: “Developments are taking place in Armenia that will pass into the history of the world democracy. No power can stop the people’s demand for change and democracy. Congratulations to the victory of the leaders and people fighting for this demand. #GetzeHayastan!”

Armenian lawmakers elected Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister of Armenia on May 8.

59 MPs voted in favor, 42 voted against.

The extraordinary sitting of the Armenian parliament kicked off 12:00 with 100 MPs in attendance for the second round of vote to elect a Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan, the opposition leader who spearheaded the recent nationwide demonstrations, was the only candidate for the position, just like during the first round on May 1.

English –translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan

Turkish-Armenian MP Raises ‘Yeva’ film ban in parliament

March 24, 2018 By administrator

Selina Dogan, an Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament

Selina Dogan, an Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament representing the Republican People’s Party (CHP) has brought to the legislature’s attention the issue of the ban placed on the screening of Iranian-Armenian filmmaker Anahid Abad’s “Yeva” at a women’s festival currently underway in Turkey.

Dogan also presented a written request addressed to the Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu querying about the reasons for the ban on the film, Asbarez.com reports.

Dogan highlighted that “Yeva” was to be screened at the “Filmmor” international women’s film festival in Istanbul, but the screening was banned at the request of another country.In her letter to the Interior Ministry Dogan asked whether the ministry had reviewed the film, and if yes, which portions of the film were found to be objectionable to warrant a ban.

She also asked the ministry to delineate the articles of the constitution that were violated by the film.Dogan also added that prohibiting a film depicting a woman’s personal struggles, which is well within the parameters of the festival can “be viewed as an answer to the question why Turkey lags behind the international standards in the fields of science, art, and sports.”

“Yeva” tells the story of a woman who escapes her ex-husband residing in Iran and finds shelter in one of the villages in Artsakh.The film was scheduled to be screened on March 17. However, hours before the screening the Istanbul Governor’s office informed the organizers of the decision by the Interior Ministry to ban the event, referring to a letter received sent to the ministry by the Azerbaijani government.

The organizer of the film festival, Melek Ozman announced that the film was banned due to the active interference of Azerbaijan’s leadership.

Turkish-Armenian MP Selina Dogan slams measure banning use of ‘genocide’

July 19, 2017 By administrator

Selina Dogan of the People’s Democratic Party

A Turkish-Armenian opposition MP has voiced her criticism over a recently proposed legislative measure envisaging sanctions for the use of “genocide” in the country’s parliament.
Selina Dogan of the People’s Democratic Party described the 18-clause package (initiated by the ruling Justice and Development party and its coalition partner Nationalist Movement) as an attempt to silence the opposition, sources from her press service told Tert.am.

The bill was proposed as an amendment to the parliament’s rules of procedure to impose fines or non-pecuniary sanctions upon lawmakers who ever use “genocide” or make reference to Kurdistan in public speeches.

Dogan accused the Turkish authorities for spreading hatred against ethnic and religious minorities. “If those speaking about Genocide are to incur fines for insulting Turkey’s historical past, then what should be the punishment for those who insult the Armenians from the same podium?” she asked the Majilis.

While the Armenians pray for those regions’ prosperity, the Turks keep characterizing Armenians as fast-foes, Dogan added.

“Nobody can and must insult the shared past of the peoples who ever resided or reside on Turkey’s territory. What about the other nations? Is insulting the Armenians’ historical past permitted? Can any parliament member use insulting remarks about the Jews? Do they enjoy freedom when it comes to the Greeks or Assyrians?”

“The Armenian Patriarchate in Turkey served a special liturgy on the first anniversary of the [failed] coup to pray for those who died on July 15 last year; the Jewish community delivered prayers for its part. And what did you do? You called the coup organizer, Fetullah Gulen, an Armenian; you wrote a book about Gulen’s collusion with the Jews,” she added.

Out of the 18 clauses outlined in the package, 11 have been already adopted.

Selina Dogan 2016 marked ‘terrible year’ for Turkey,

January 5, 2017 By administrator

Last year turned out a critical period for Turkey, an Armenian member of the country’s parliament said, analyzing the developments of last year.
Speaking to Tert.am, Selina Dogan of the Republican People’s Party referred particularly to the July 5 failed coup attempt that led to the arrest of hundreds. “There is absolutely no freedom of speech here as we have seen repeated pressures against the media. Yet, we are still hopeful to see freedom and democracy although TV channels owned by Alevis were closed down as early as a few days ago,” she said, adding that popular rebellions against the existing restrictions continue.
The politician also highlighted the economic pressures in the country.
“We are preparing for a fight, for continuing our fight,” she added.
As for the problems facing the local Armenians, Ms Dogan said a key development expected in the nearest future is the election of the Istanbul-Armenian patriarch.
“Certainly, the Armenians here have their fears too,” she said, citing the continuing policy of xenophobia, restrictions on freedom of speech and ethnic discrimination as major threats to the community.
The Turkish-Armenian MP said she expects the upcoming constitutional referendum to be a major development in the country this year.
“They wish to eliminate the parliamentary system to found a presidential system of governance. The greatest change here is that the entire power passes on to the president,” she added. “What [President Recep Tayyip] Erdogan practically wishes is to be the leader of not only one [political] party but also the entire republic.”

“This will be a backward step – a regress – for Turkey,” the politician said, noting that the distribution of power is a key issue for the EU to which the country aspires to accede as a full-fledged member.

Turkish nationalists replicate the original Armenian MP Selina Dogan who called Diyarbakir by the name of Tigranakert

February 4, 2016 By administrator

Selina Dogan, the Turkish MP Armenian opposition

New messages on his Facebook site Selina Dogan, the Turkish MP Armenian opposition party (CHP) Republican People’s Party, has caused a stir among Turkish nationalists. With members of the Istanbul branch of the Republican People’s Party, Selina Dogan went to Diyarbakir, the capital of Turkish Kurdistan which she presented on its website under the name of Tigranakert, the ancient capital of Armenia Tigranes the Great (Tigran). Turkish nationalists responded to the Armenian member of the Turkish Parliament by dozens of articles on social networks.

Krikor Amirzayan