The exhibit on the “Nakba – Flight and Expulsion of the Palestinians 1948“ – “Die Nakba: Flucht und Vertreibung der Palästinenser 1948” will be in Mainz, from Nov. 9 – 25, at the Evangelische Studierendengemeinde, Am Ginsenheimer Spieß 1, 55122 Mainz. It will also be featured as part of a Palestinian cultural festival in Zürich, Switzerland, from Nov. 15 – December 12, at the Rote Fabrik, http://www.rotefabrik.ch/de/konzept

          

Tag: Nakba, Mainz, Zürich

At the Shakespeare festival in Essen, Germany, youth from theatre schools in Shanghai, Sibiu (Rumania), Ramallah, New York, and Essen joined from October 29 to November 8, to perform Shakespeare’s Midsummernight’s Dream (Sommernachtstraum). The individual groups performed the piece in their own languages separately, then presented a multi-lingual international production together at the Folkwang University of the Arts (Folkwang Universität der Künste).

• http://essen.de/de/meldungern/pressemeldung_597237.html
• http://www.derwesten.de/staedte/essen/kultur/zwischen-theater-und-politik-id6047348.html
• http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendungen/kulturheute/1599824

Tag: Shakespeare, Folkwang Universität der Künste

An important international conference took place at the Potsdam University on November 5 on the controversial subject of the Armenian genocide.Read further...

Tag: Ragib Zarakolu, Potsdam University, Fetye Cetin, Elke Hartmann

Ragip Zarakolu, a well-known publisher and defender of freedom of speech was arrested on October 28 in Istanbul along with 43 other people on charges of membership in the Union of Kurdish Communities (KCK). Professor Büsra Ersanli, from the Faculty of Political Science and International Relations at Istanbul’s Marmara university, was also arrested. Zarakolu, director of the Publishing House Belge, received the 2008 International Publishers Association Freedom to Publish Prize. He is a founding members of the Turkish Human Rights Organization. He was scheduled to speak at a conference in Potsdam, Germany on November 5, on the theme, “The Internal Discussion in Turkey on 1915/1916,” i.e. the genocide against the Armenians. The arrests come on the heels of a historic decision handed down by the European Court of Human Rights on October 25, ruling that the Turkish government prosecution of historian Taner Akcam for his views on the Armenian genocide violated his freedom of expression.
Intellectuals and human rights activists immediately launched a campaign to free Mr. Zarakolu and Prof. Ersanli, among others arrests for political reasons.

• http://www.info-turk.be
• http://bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/133789-44-people-arrested---among-them-ersanli-and-zarakolu
• http://www.internationalpen.org.uk/go/news/turkey-writer-and-academic-ragip-zarakolu-arrested-alongside-professor-b-sra-ersanli

Tag: Ragip Zarakolu, KCK, Büsra Ersanli, Turkish Human Rights Organization

The first German edition of my book appeared just in time for the Frankfurt Book Fair. Published by Verlag Hans Schiler in Berlin (http://www.schiler.de) under the title, Jenseits der Feuerwand: Armenien – Irak – Palästina: Vom Zorn zur Versöhnung, ISBN 978-3-89930-368-1, it can be ordered by email from info@schiler.de. or click here…

  Flyer auf Deutsch

Tag: Hans Schiler Verlag

The European Court of Human Rights handed down a groundbreaking ruling on October 25, declaring that Article 301 of the Turkish penal code, which considers “insulting Turkishness” to be a crime, constitutes a violation of freedom of expression. The case examined was that of Turkish historian Prof. Taner Akcam, who had been the subject of an investigation and harassment in Turkey, due to his scholarly research into the 1915 genocide against the Armenians.
http://www.huliq.com/10061/taner-akcam-turkish-journalist-vindicated-armenian-genocide-caseRead further...

Tag: Turkey, Taner Akcam, European Court of Human Rights

The exhibit on "The Nakba – Flight and Expulsion of the Palestinians 1948” can be seen in Wiesbaden at the CVJM-Haus, Oranienstr. 15, from Oct. 24 to Nov. 4. Open Monday-Friday, 12:00 – 16:00.

Tag: Nakba

Prof. Taner Akcam, the leading Turkish scholar of the Armenian genocide, made headlines when he revealed that he had received information from reliable sources in Istanbul, according to which the Turkish government was mounting an effort to counter Armenian claims of genocide in 1915, by fabricating historical studies that not only deny the genocide, but go so far as to assert that those historians who have documented the genocide, have simply invented the entire story. Prof. Akcam received the information from a private source who had access to Turkish Foreign Ministry circles. The latter reported that an American professor had proposed to ministry officials that they launch a campaign promoting and financing "scholarly research" by American researchers, to counter the widely accepted claim that it was genocide. The proposal was accepted and since then (2005) some American scholars have received payment to conduct such research.
http://asbarez.com/96992/prof-akcam-reveals-turkish-plan-to-pay-scholars-to-deny-the-armenian-genocide/

Tag: Turkey, Taner Akcam

A documentary prepared by the Vatican will present the 1915 genocide against the Armenians as a historical fact. Among the records made available are documents showing that Pope Benedict XV back in 1915 issued a letter to the Sultan Mehmet V, urging him to stop the killings.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/74320/

12.07.2011 – As the September date for the U.N. General Assembly meeting approaches, during which the issue of Palestinian statehood should be on the agenda, a group of Israeli right-wingers have launched a vile campaign to deny that Palestinians were expelled from their lands in 1948. As reported in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on June 18, the campaign to rewrite history not only denies the “Nakba” (expulsion and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in 1948), but claims that the entire affair was a mere invention.Read further...

Tag: Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Haaretz, Al Nakba, Tirzu

On June 18, the Surp Giragos Church in Diyarbakır hosted a service attended by the local mayor, diaspora Armenians, professors, historians, and clergy. The church, one of the largest in the Middle East, was restored through the efforts of Armenians from Istanbul and the diaspora, as well as the Diyabakır Sur Municipality and the Turkish Culture Ministry. A larger service is scheduled for October.

• http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/72851
• http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=a-small-church-service-in-diyarbakir-signals-bigger-reconciliation-2011-06-19
  

Tag: Diyarbakır, Surp Giragos Church

The case of Dogan Akhanlı, a German citizen and human rights activist of Turkish descent, came up again in a hearing at the Istanbul 11th High Criminal Court on June 15. Akhanli was framed up on charges of armed robbery, jailed for four months, and released late last year. The Prosecutor Celal Kara called for a life sentence arguing that the armed robbery (for which there was no proof of Akhanlı’s participation) constituted an “attempt to overthrow the constitutional order of the Turkish republic by forces.”
http://www.bianet.org/english/freedom-of-expression/130817-writer-akhanli-faces-life-sentence-despite-lack-of-evidence

Tag: Dogan Akhanlı, Celal Kara

An exhibit at the Paris UNESCO House, from June 15-24, featuring Armenian Khachkars (cross stones), provoked a scandal after UNESCO representatives removed references to place names, including a large map. Since many of the Khachkars presented in photographs at the exhibit are located outside Armenia, in present-day Azarbaijan and Turkey, they bear testimony to the presence of Armenian life and civilization in these geographical areas which were once part of historic Armenia. No explanations were given for the removal of the place names and map.
The exhibit is an event organized at a high level, sponsored by the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Culture, and attended by diplomats, historians, and art experts.

• http://www.epress.am/en/2011/06/17/scandal-surrounding-armenian-khachkar-exhibit-in-paris-unesco-house.html
• http://www.panorama.am/en/culture/2011/06/unesco-khachkar
• http://www.diasporamag.com/magazine/grosplan/chemin-de-croix-a-lunesco--lart-deskhatchkars.html
  

An open letter of protest to UNESCO was sent by the Collectif VAN (Vigilance Armenienne contre le Negationnisme) whose representatives were present at the inauguration of the exhibit.
http://www.collectifvan.org/article.php?r=0&id=55039

Tag: UNESCO,, Armenian Khachkars, cross stones

The rector of the Stuttgart University cancelled a room for a meeting on May 28 during which a lecture and discussion of the 1915 Armenian genocide were to be presented. In motivating his decision, the rector told organizers that there had been protests by Turks “in Berlin” and that he thought one should maintain “neutrality” on the subject. The Central Council of Armenians in Germany, among others, condemned the move.
http://www.zentralrat.org/de/node/869

Tag: Stuttgart University, Turks In Berlin, Central Council of Armenians in Germany

The “US to Gaza” flotilla is scheduled to arrive in Gaza in late June, on the anniversary of the Mavi Marmora campaign. Since Turkey has supported the humanitarian aid initiative, Israel will raise the issue of the 1915 Armenian genocide in parliament. According to Yossi Sarid, this is due to Israeli anger at Turkey’s support.
http://ustogaza.org
http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/middle-east/israel-may-recognise-ottoman-armenian-genocide

Tag: Gaza, Mavi Marmora, Yossi Sarid, Armenian genocide

Due to pressure from Israel, mediated by Canada, G8 ministers deleted a reference to the 1967 borders in their final declaration after meeting in France on May 26-27. Instead they criticized Palestinian plans to promote statehood at the UNGA in September.
http://www.imemc.org/article/61340
Read further...

Tag: G8, UN General Assembly, 1967 borders

Ein Rundschreiben an israelischen Diplomaten stellt einen Plan dar, wie sie Lobbyarbeit gegen den Palästinenserstaat machen sollen.
http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,767837,00.html
Read further...

Tag: Der Spiegel

According to secret cables published by Haaretz, the Israeli government is mobilizing its diplomats to block the initiative for declaration of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September.
http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/haaretz-exclusive-secret-cables-show-israel-s-battle-plan-over-palestinian-un-bid-1.366852
Read further...

Tag: Haaretz, UN General Assembly

Thre Russian, Azerbaijani, and Armenian presidents met in Sochi and declared their intention to seek a peaceful solution to the conflict.
1) http://www.mirrorspectator.com/?p=4742
2) http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=azerbaijan-armenia-back-peaceful-resolution-karabagh-2011-03-06

Tag: Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia

From March 7-20, activists will organize events protesting Israel’s apartheid policies.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/164115.html

Tag: Apartheid

In the wake of the Arab revolution sweeping north Africa, and the Guf region, Israeli authorities are finally addressing the question: could it happen here? And, if so, what should Israel do?
http://news.antiwar.com/2011/03/080israeli-military-not-able-to-crush-west-bank-uprising/

Tag: West Bank, Israel

Demonstrators in Istanbul demand freedom of expression for the press.
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=hundreds-of-turkish-journalists-protest-crackdown-2011-03-13

Tag: Freedom Of Expression, Freedom Of The Press

The youth orchestra made up of Israeli, Palestinian, and other Arab musicians received the Dresden Peace Prize.
http://www.danielbarenboim.com/index.php?id=14&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=485&tx_ttnews[backPid]=10&cHash=5692f1755f

Tag: Barenboim, West-Eastern Divan orchestra

For the first time, the Turkish government has named an Armenian scholar to a government position, in the Secretariat for European Union Affairs. http://www.eurasianet.org/node/62998

Tag: Armenia/Turkey

In the upcoming June elections in Turkey, seven Armenians have announced they will run for office. http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/world/news/60960/

The Turkish government has announced it will take part in events observing the Armenian genocide, traditonally organized on April 24, the anniversary of the mass arrests of Armenian intellectuals and leaders in 1915.
1) http://www.huliq.com/8738/turkey-may-send-minister-armenian-genocide-observance
2) http://www.panarmenian.net/

Tag: Armenian genocide

Bei dem Neujahrsempfang der Deutsch-Arabischen Gesellschaft in Berlin am 26.2, hat Peter Scholl-Latour die Revolutionen in der arabischen Welt kommentiert. Vorstandsmitglied und ehemaliger Diplomat Dr. Gerhard Fulda, der zur Zeit in Kairo war, hat seine Erlebnisse mit Begeisterung geschildert. Ein Bericht von Dr. Fulda ist in der NZZ erschienen. http://www.nzz.ch/nachrichten/startseite/fatale_vorliebe_fuer_militaerregime_1.9528992.html

Tag: Peter Scholl-Latour , Deutsch-Arabischen Gesellschaft

Der Kölner Oberbürgermeister Jürgen Roters lud unseren Freund Dogan Akhanli gestern zu einem Empfang ins Rathaus. Den Dank des OB an die Vertreter der Solidaritätskampagne, die zur Freilassung Akhanlis beigetragen haben, möchten wir hiermit an alle Unterstützer weitergeben! Das Video dazu unter: www.ksta.de http://bcove.me/fi6sofar
Der Prozess gegen Dogan Akhanli wird am 9. März in Istanbul fortgesetzt. Akhanli wird wegen seines einjährigen Einreiseverbots in die Türkei nicht an seinem Prozess teilnehmen können.
Am 20. April veranstaltet das Literaturhaus Köln in Kooperation mit dem KulturForum eine Lesung & Musik mit Dogan Akhanli.

Ein Schwurgericht in Istanbul bekräftigte Anfang Februar den Freispruch für die Soziologin Pinar Selek und widersprach damit dem Obersten Berufungsgericht in Ankara, das eine Verurteilung der Angeklagten wegen siebenfachen Mordes verlangt hatte. Die Staatsanwaltschaft legte jedoch Einspruch gegen den zum dritten Mal bekräftigten Freispruch für Selek ein. Damit geht der Fall erneut zum Obersten Berufungsgerichtshof in Ankara. Über dreißig Menschen aus Deutschland waren als Prozessbeobachter nach Istanbul gereist, darunter Günter Wallraff, Christa Schuenke (PEN-Deutschland) und Vertreter des KulturForum. Auch Yasar Kemal und Rakel Dink waren vor Ort.

Vier Jahre nach der Ermordung des armenisch-türkischen Journalisten Hrant Dink leiten die türkischen Behörden Ermittlungen gegen mehr als zwei Dutzend hohe Beamte ein, darunter der ehemalige Gouverneur und der Polizeipräsident Istanbuls. Die Entscheidung fiel Anfang Februar vor einem Istanbuler Gericht.

Tag: Dogan Akhanli, Pinar Selek , Hrant Dink

Am 5. Februar hat die Arbeitsgruppe Genozid und Trauma in Frankfurt Muriel Mirak-Weißbach eingeladen, einen Vortrag zu halten über den Völkermord an den Armeniern aus der Sicht der Familiengeschichte. Auszüge aus der Rede, wurden in der Online-Zeitschrift HAY Society abgedruckt.
http://www.hay-society.de/haysociety/essay-a-analyse.html

Tag: HAY Society, Muriel Mirak-Weissbach

Am 24.02.2011 findet eine Parlamentsdebatte über den Report im Plenum des Deustchen Bundestag statt. Es geht um den UNO-Bericht über den Krieg in Gaza Ende 2008/Anfang 2009.
http://dersemit.net/startseite/374-bericht-von-irene-eckert-zum-goldstone-report.html

Tag: Palestine

Ragib Zarakolu, a writer and human rights activist, received the “Hakob Maghapart” medal in Yerevan, for his campaign for recognition of the genocide against the Armenians in 1915.

• http://asbarez.com/93453/turkish-activist-says-genocide-recognition-will-raise-turkeys-dignity/
• http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=turkish-human-rights-defender-receives-medal-in-armenia-2011-02-16

Tag: Ragib Zarakolu, Genocide

In wake of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions, Palestinian and international activists are escalating their efforts to achieve justice. Among the leading initiatives is that of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS), and a call by several civil society groups for “people of conscience” to visit Palestine from July 8-19, 2011.

• http://www.bdsmovement.net/?q=node/794
• http://www.palestinejn.org/component/content/article/1-latest-news/121-palestinians-call-on-all-people-of-conscience-come-visit-palestine-this-summer

Tag: Egypt, Tunisia, Palestine

(Die Stuttgarter Erklärung füre die Gründung eines gemeinsames Staates Palästine”) is also gaining wide international support.

• http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27359.htm
• http://kupola.de/petition/main_de.html

Tag: Stuttgarter Erklärung, Palestine

A January book exhibition in Yerevan featured a volume entitled Speaking to One Another, a collection of interviews with Armenians and Turks about the 1915 genocide.
http://www.armenieninfo.net/armenia-southcaucasus/628-turkey-armenia-dialogue.htmlRead further...

The revolution ignited in Tunisia and sweeping across Egypt may have an impact on Armenia, where opposition movements are planning demonstrations beginning February 18.Read the articleRead further...

Tag: Armenia, Caucasus, Nord Africa

The event, organized by the Jewish Cultural Center in Prague, focussed on Armenia’s Christian heritage. Read the article

Tag: Armenian Church

The exhibit focusses on the book Speaking to One Another, a compilation of personal accounts of the 1915 genocide. Read the article... Read further...

Tag: Armenian genocide

Commemorations of Hrant Dink on the 4th Anniversary of his Assassination
First article            |   Second articleRead further...

Tag: Hrant Dink

Members of the family of Hrant Dink murdered in 2007, have welcomed the expansion of investigations into his death. Read the article Read further...

Tag: Hrant Dink

On January 19, the fourth anniversary of the murder of AGOS editor Hrant Dink, over a thousand Turks and Kurds from progressive organizations joined in Ankara to commemorate the event and to demand that the perpetrators be brought to justice.Read further...

Tag: Hrant Dink, Commemoration in Ankara, Paris

In the context of a week-long series of events in Germany in commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the assassination of Hrant Dink (Photo), a meeting was held in Cologne on January 16, organized by the Hrant Dink Forum – Köln , addressed also by Dogan Akhanli. A Turkish-born German citizen and novelist, Dogan was imprisoned ... by Turkish authorities on hoked-up charges...Read further...

Tag: Hrant Dink, Dogan Akhanli