Aslan Yavuz ŞİR

February 1, 2016

Harut Sassounian, who criticized Doğu Perinçek’s victory against Switzerland in the European Court of Human Right and called for violence against Perinçek, has now targeted Oya Bain, an esteemed member of the Turkish American community. Sassounian’s attitude reveals the disappointment caused by the fact that 2015 did not turn out to be a year as Armenians expected. However, what is worse is the fact that Sassounian’s attitude reveals how violence and racism could manifest itself in radical forms Armenian thought and actions after 2015.

In his latest article titled “Portrait of a Turkish-American Genocide Denialist”,[1] Sassounian, distorting Oya Bain’s words in an interview, [2] makes crude remarks about scholars[3] who gained great respect with their works and therefore, many whom have come under various pressures from Armenians. Up till now, no Armenian or proponents of the Armenian allegations were able to come up with an academic or realistic answer to these scholars. On the contrary, Armenians support people who lean toward the Armenian narrative in academic chairs in the US and various parts, the establishment of which were facilitated by Armenians with millions of dollars of donations and fund transfers. Scholars who do not share the views of Armenians are prevented even from attending scholarly meetings or delivering speeches, not to mention doing scholarly research.[4] Through foundations, “charities”, and institutes, this industry controlled by Armenians throws around millions of dollars to turn genocide allegations into the dominant narrative and to suppress alternate views and scientific knowledge. The Turkish American community’s successful efforts to defend its sensitivities and interests in the US are still very small compared to the efforts of the Armenian industry in the international scale. However, what those like Sassounian fail to understand is fact that the only asset of the Turkish community is the law and the truth, and it is this fact -which they cannot not stand- that infuriates them the most.

It must be born in mind that the terrorist attacks against Turkish diplomats and personnel began 43 years ago, on January 27, 1973, with the assassination of two Turkish diplomats, Consul General Mehmet Baydar and Vice Consul Bahadir Demir. Although this much time has passed, the hatred that fed the people and organizations who assassinated Baydar, Demir, and many more is still alive and maintained by those like Sassounian.

This pathological thought that regards Turkish officials in specific and all Turks in general as fair game still continues today within the radical Armenian way of thought. You could be branded as a “denialist” just for being a Turk, or you could be a name in the “Hall of Shame”[5] for disagreeing with Armenians. You will be prevented from talking. You could be sued, be spat on. You or government officials could be harassed all over the world. As a matter of fact, these radical Armenians do not need any reason; being Turkish or a person seeking the truth is enough of a reason for them. In the eyes of Sassounian, there is no difference between a Turkish diplomat murdered 43 years ago and an activist who strives for the continuation of the Turkish American community. This is the reason why ASALA now openly makes statements,[6] as 2015 did not turn out to be a year as Armenians expected. It is this point of view that caused ASALA to survive and preserve its narrative and organization capacity for all these years. This hatred and tendency to violence is still preserved, and the fact that those like Sassounian are able to speak their mind without shame is the clearest indication of this hatred and tendency.

Armenians, unfortunately, were exposed to the narratives of these racist and hateful people, and took them seriously. Armenians now have a simple, but inevitable choice ahead of them. Either they will be held captive by the racism and antiquated hatred which is survived by people like Sassounian, or they will save their future generations from these extreme narratives and rage. This racism and antiquated hatred survived by those like Sassounian serve nothing other than preserving century-old prejudices and obsessions. Salvation from these extreme narratives and rage will ensure that Turks will be perceived not as “monsters” that need to be fought with and harmed, but as people with a different historical memory. This change of perception, after 100 years, will finally lead Armenians and Turks, who in the past lived side-by-side for centuries, to come together and build a better future for both sides.