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US Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Acknowledges Armenia


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#1 Yervant1

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Posted 22 May 2019 - 06:46 AM

US Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
            Acknowledges Armenian Genocide
            By Harut Sassounian
            Publisher, The California Courier
            www.TheCaliforniaCourier.com

In recent years and months, Arab countries have been liberating
themselves from the nefarious political influence of the Turkish
government and are beginning to take an honest position on the
Armenian Genocide.

The Arab governments, despite their long-standing sympathy and support
for survivors of the Armenian Genocide who sought shelter in various
Middle Eastern countries, had been reluctant to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide due to their shared Islamic faith with Turkey.

The first Arab state to break the yoke of the Turkish blockade to
acknowledge this genocidal crime was Lebanon. On April 3, 1997, the
Lebanese Chamber of Deputies (Parliament) adopted a resolution
recognizing the Armenian Genocide. A second resolution was adopted by
the Lebanese Parliament on May 11, 2000, stating that it “recognizes
and condemns the genocide perpetrated against the Armenian people and
expresses its complete solidarity with demands of its citizens.”

Since then, Syria’s President and various Parliament members have
spoken about the Armenian Genocide several times, but have yet to
adopt an official Parliamentary resolution recognizing it as genocide.

There have been similar moves in Egypt where a lawsuit was filed
against Turkey on the Armenian Genocide. However, no formal resolution
has been adopted by the Egyptian Parliament.

In March, the Interim Libyan government that is attempting to
overthrow Libya’s central regime issued a statement recognizing the
Armenian Genocide. This came as a complete surprise since there is no
Armenian community in Libya.

Another Arab country is rumored to be considering the acknowledgement
of the Armenian Genocide, but I prefer not to name it in order not to
alert the Turkish government and prevent it from lobbying against it.

More recently, an unexpected acknowledgement was made on April 25,
2019 when The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) issued
its first official statement recognizing the Armenian Genocide.

According to its website, “ADC is a civil rights organization
committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and
promoting their rich cultural heritage. ADC was founded by former U.S.
Senator James Abourezk in 1980. Today, ADC is the largest Arab
American grassroots organization in the U.S. ADC supports the human
and civil rights of all people and opposes racism and bigotry in any
form.”

Here is the full text of ADC’s sympathetic statement: “Over 100 years
ago, the Ottoman Empire systematically massacred 1.5 million Armenians
and forcibly displaced the Armenian people from their historic lands.
Today, we remember the Armenian Genocide and commemorate all of those
who lost their lives and homes. The ADC stands in solidarity with the
Armenian people. Following the systematic massacre that took place
between 1915-1918, many Armenian survivors fled to nearby Arab lands
to seek refuge to later build new homes. Over the centuries, Armenians
established thriving communities in Arab countries, particularly in
the Fertile Crescent. The Armenian community has been an intrinsic
part of Arab society, existing in Palestine for centuries, as well as
in Lebanon and Syria. As we mark our moral stain on our global
society, the ADC stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our Armenian
brothers and sisters. Our communities know too well the price of
systematic dispossession and oppression, and together we will continue
to defend those facing injustice and persecution.”

I am sure Armenians worldwide thank ADC for its compassionate stand.
In response to an email I sent to ADC, Abed Ayoub, ADC’s legal and
policy Director, wrote that this is the first time that ADC has issued
an official statement on the Armenian Genocide.

In response to my question as to what prompted ADC to issue such a
statement this year, Mr. Ayoub stated: “Over the course of the past
couple years we have had the privilege of working with young
Armenian-Americans on issues that impact us all, and as a result of
this relationship we began exploring the idea of issuing a statement
as a show of solidarity. Additionally, many of our members have
connections and roots to the community. Finally, with the rise of hate
and bigotry across the world we felt now is an important time to issue
a statement.”

When I asked if ADC is planning to issue a similar statement on next
April 24, Mr. Ayoub responded affirmatively.

I also asked Mr. Ayoub if ADC had received any criticism for its
statement from the Turkish government, and Turkish or Islamic groups
in the United States, he stated that ADC had received no such
criticism. However, “our membership was overwhelmingly supportive of
the statement.”

Finally, when I asked what ADC thought about Pres. Trump’s refusal to
use the term Armenian Genocide, Mr. Ayoub answered: “Most of what
President Trump does is troubling, however, his refusal to use the
term Armenian Genocide is in line with prior Administrations. Failure
to use the term is a failure to recognize the pain and suffering
inflicted on millions of innocent lives.”

Naturally, I welcome ADC’s statement on the Armenian Genocide and Mr.
Ayoub’s answers to my questions. I suggest that Armenian organizations
send ADC’s statement to Embassies of all Arab countries in Washington,
D.C., asking them to urge their governments to acknowledge the
Armenian Genocide.


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#2 onjig

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Posted 22 May 2019 - 11:04 PM

Thank you ADC, welcome to the side of truth ```






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