NEWS

In the open letter published in Die Zeit, 43 academics, artist and intellectuals demanded the Armenian Genocide draft is accepted.

Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) Chair Aram Hamparian sent a petition to the US Ambassador to Turkey John Bass on May 3. Signed by Hamparian, the petition is about HDP MP Garo Paylan who was subjected to physical violence during a parliamentary session on parliamentary immunity.

Held captive by Ottoman army, Anzac soldiers reveal rather unknown aspects of the Armenian Genocide through their journals. In the stories that came to light thanks to the studies of New Zealander historian and journalist James Robins, experiences of Anzac soldiers who witnessed the genocide are told. This interview of Robins is about his studies that reach from 1915 to the present.

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein made a call to Turkish government for allowing independent investigation on the grave human rights violations happened in the regions under curfew. Hussein stated that “the most worrisome” reports are the ones claiming that 100 people were burned to death in the basements in Cizre.

Twice-postponed Armenian Genocide draft will be brought to Bundestag's agenda on June 2. Green Party member and Vice President of the Bundestag Claudia Roth spoke to Agos. Reminding that Ambassador of Turkey to Germany Hüseyin Avni Karslıoğlu warned Bundestag about the draft, Roth said, “We don't accept it. I hope the groups in the parliament won't obey Turkey once again and the draft will be accepted as planned.”

Europa Nostra Award ceremony was held in Istanbul because of the ongoing curfew in Diyarbakir. Speaking at the ceremony, Diyarbakir Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation Chair Ergun Ayık said, “We wish we held this ceremony in our church. We miss the good old days.”

The expert report about Diyarbakir Bar Association Chair Tahir Elçi, who was shot dead, is prepared 5 months after the murder. In the report, it is stated that it cannot be “medically or physically” known who shot Elçi.

First Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) Thomas Oppermann said, “On June 2, Bundestag will make a decision recognizing the mass killing of Armenians during World War I as genocide.”

101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated with Aurora Prize, which is one of the most innovative events of the year and named after Aurora Mardiganian, a genocide survivor who witnessed the killing of her relatives. The winner of the prize that was granted for the first time is Marguerite Barankitse (Maggy), who saved hundreds of orphans' lives during the civil war in Burundi.