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ARE THE ARMENIANS IN TURKEY OPPRESSED AT PRESENT?
Armenian nationalist propagandists
from time to time claim that the Armenians of Turkey are being
persecuted. This is done, not only to reinforce their claims
that the Turks persecuted Armenians throughout history, but
also to provide a unifying bond for Armenian action groups
and to get foreign states to intervene in Turkish internal
affairs. Like the other Armenian claims, this also is not
based on fact.
The 40,000 - 50,000 Armenians
living in Turkey today are in no way separated from the remainder
of the population. They are full Turkish citizens, with the
same rights and privileges as other Turkish citizens, with
their lives, liberties and happiness guaranteed by law.
The Armenians of Turkey continue
to worship in their own churches and teach in their own language
in their own schools. They publish newspapers, books and magazines
in Armenian and have their own social and cultural institutions
in addition to participating fully in those open to all Turks.
The Armenian community in Istanbul has 30 schools, 17 cultural
and social organizations, two daily newspapers called Jamanak
and Marmara, two sports clubs, named Shishly (Șisli) and Taksim,
and many health establishments as well as numerous religious
foundations set up to support these activities.
Most of the Turkish Armenians
continue to be Gregorian, and are led by a Patriarch. In addition
there are a number of Catholic and Protestant Armenians who
have their own churches and other institutions.
The Armenians of Turkey are
as free to live prosperous and happy lives as are Turks of
other religions. Many of them are prosperous merchants as
well as leading members of the arts and professions. The Armenians
of Turkey are proud to be Turkish citizens and, along with
all other Turks, deeply resent the lies about their country
spread in their name by outside Armenian nationalists. In
particular they abhorred the terrorist attacks carried out
by these groups on Turkish diplomats, citizens; and interests
throughout the world.
On November 1st
1981 the Armenian Patriarch held a memorial service at the
Patriarchate to commemorate the Turkish diplomats slaughtered
by Armenian terrorists and to condemn these acts done in the
name of the Armenian people. In February 1982 the Patriarch
vigorously denied the claims made by the Council of Europe
that Turkey is oppressing its minorities, stating "The
Armenians of Turkey are Turkish citizens, they live in peace
in Turkey, they practice their religion freely and benefit
from the freedom of belief." Following the Armenian terrorist
assassination of Turkish Consul-General Kemal Ankan in Los
Angeles on 28 January, 1982, the Armenian Patriarch stated
"The Turkish Armenians, like all other Turkish citizens,
learned of this with great sorrow", and appealed for
"all Armenians living outside Turkey to rise up against
these illegal activities and murders." Turkish Armenians
themselves thus put the lie to the claims of the Armenian
propagandists.
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