Turkish Intellectuals Speak Out

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PRESS RELEASE

TÜDAY (Human Rights Society Turkey-Germany)

Melchiorstr.3, 50670 Köln, Tel. 0221/72 40 77

Telefax: 0221/739 24 24

Contact person: Mrs. Hülya Engin

email: barisicintarih@hotmail.com

 

TÜDAY welcomes and supports the demands of the initiative "History for

Peace." For the first time Turkish intellectuals unanimously express their

point of view on a taboo in Turkey, namely the "Armenian Question"

 

"NO to animosity and discrimination in education"

 

"NO to brainwashing of children and the youth"

 

Artists, Academics, Educators and Lawyers in Turkey found the initiative

 

"History for Peace."

 

Instruction of History should be free of censorship and manipulation

 

More than 300 renowned personalities in public life of Turkey ­

artists, lawyers, university teachers, educators, union-workers,

retired military judges, journalists and historians ­ address the

ministry of education of Turkey with the initiative "History for

Piece", demanding that it withdraw the circular of April 14, 2003

which prescribes a deliberate falsification of history in school

books and instruction.

 

This circular requires that schools and secondary school teachers

create a new subject with the objective to invalidate the

"baseless allegations of Armenians, Pontian Greeks and Syriac

Orthodox." Curricula and textbooks are now to be correspondingly

revised and rewritten. Teachers are to be trained in special

continuing education centers to become agents of a denial policy.

Essay competitions for pupils are being held in schools (under the

motto: "Who will write the most nationalistic, anti-Armenian essay?").

 

In the October 4, 2003 declaration of the initiative we read: "As

citizens and parents we are deeply concerned about the ministry of

education's new guidelines which introduce changes in history curricula

and textbooks. Any one-sided point of view, regardless of thoughts

and goals behind it, should not determine a country's educational

policy, particularly when the latter has the potential of provoking

a political conflict. We want our children to be taught in accordance

with international directives that are binding on the instruction of

controversial and explosive topics in schools. We want our children

to be brought up in a spirit of respect and tolerance to others, of

agreement between nations and ethnic groups, of mutual understanding

and trust. As we are reminded by the Europe-Counsel's 31.10.2001

decision, also signed by Turkey, "History education is the basis for

a democratic Europe." Not only international agreements but also our

statutes and laws forbid the abuse of history instruction and its use

as a means to discriminate ethnic groups and to violate human rights.

 

The above-mentioned circular demands that in new textbooks,

Armenians, Greeks and Syriac Orthodox be presented as enemies. Our

examination and observation group indicates that in certain sections

of new textbooks Armenians, Pontian Greeks and Syriac Orthodox

are repeatedly characterized as "enemies", "spies","traitors"

and "barbarians." Synagogues and churches of minorities are called

"dangerous communities." The Church as an institution is equated with

"terror."

 

We, the undersigned of this declaration, demand the immediate removal

of this measure carried out by the Ministry of Education. Each positive

step in this direction is a step towards the democratization and

elevation of educational standards, as well as to the respect for

human rights."

 

We from the TÜDAY support the long-term efforts of this initiative,

which is joined by a growing number of intellectuals. We will keep

you informed about newer developments in this movement.

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Very interesting. Thanks for the post. When you see something like this initiative by Turkey to actually encourage hate...it really makes you wonder...who are these people in their government who feel the need to think this way - to be so nasty about it etc etc - turns ones stomach really...

 

But very good to see that this is generating opposition within the country...this could really turn out to be a boon!