Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

[Alexandros]

Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation


Blogian on 09 Jan 2009

Encouraged by the recent apology to Armenians by thousands of Turkish intelectuals and disissidents, a Turkish citizen has done the unprecedented: Berzan Boti (not his real name) of Siirt is giving all the land he inherited to an Assyrian organization. Along with Armenians, indigenous Assyrians were also victims of the WWI genocide at the hands of Ottoman Empire’s government during WWI:

Boti’s letter to Sabri Atman, founder and director of the Assyrian Seyfo Center in Europe who will now be responsible for the returned land (south of the Lake Van), states:

“When I found out that the properties that I and my brothers inherited from our father wasn’t our own, but properties taken from the murdered Assyrians in 1915 I felt an indescribable feeling of guilt and shame. I’ve been thinking long and hard before I have come to this decision. I tried to put myself in their position. I have personally apologized to every Assyrian and Armenian I’ve meet. But this does not get rid of the crime our ancestors committed. Even if I am personally not responsible for what happened in 1915, I felt as I had to do more than just to apologize. Finally, I came to the decision to give back all properties that I inherited from my forefathers to Seyfo Center, who struggles for a confession of the Seyfo genocide in 1915”.

Link

[Sako]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

One word ... WOW!

[jgk3]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

One word ... WOW!

I'm impressed too.

[Pazooki]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

I'm impressed too.

My jaw dropped.

[Pedro Xaramillo]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

Wow that is impressive, stuff like this makes one think friendly relations can be possible and maybe Turks will recognise what their ancestors did

[Azad]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

Hard to believe. It is on ONE blog and not mentioned ANY place in ANY media.

[Pedro Xaramillo]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

Yeah bro, but Blogian is fairly accurate and there is a link to the media at the Blogian site :

http://www.assyriatimes.com/engine/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3355

[Crimson Glow]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

Now THAT is unprecedented. That's beyond a mere recognition of the crime. On the other hand, it makes me think that these kinds of actions are only going to fuel Turkey's fears of reparations should they recognize the genocide. I don't believe there are enough progressive thinkers in Turkey who chose morality over politics and blind patriotism to push the government to do the right thing.

[Sako]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

It's these kinds of people that Turkey is afraid of. One spark is enough to set a fire.

[Alexandros]

Re: Turk Gives Away Family Land as Genocide Reparation

Kurdish Doctor Issues Statement on Turkish Genocide of Assyrians

Posted GMT 9-24-2009 9:46:53

Siirt, Turkey (AINA) -- Dr. Ekrem Bilek, the president of the Medical Society of the city of Siirt, located in south-east Turkey, and who is a Kurd, has issued a statement on the Turkish genocide of Assyrians, Greeks and Armenians in World War One. The genocide, called Seyfo in Assyrian, began on April 24, 1915 and over the course of the next three years claimed 750,000 Assyrians (75%), 500,000 Greeks and 1.5 million Armenians. The genocide was targeted at the three main Christian groups of the Ottoman Empire.

Dr. Bilek's statement follows:

In order for past sorrows and tribulations not to be repeated again and for those with inter-cultural differences to live together in a harmonious way, one must directly confront his or her own history. Normally, the first degree of responsibility for the crimes that are committed and that continue to be committed against humanity falls upon political authorities and powers. However, to remain silent about them is to indirectly become a party to the same crimes.

Anyone who sides with humanitarian values, especially intellectuals and democrats, have the responsibility to confront, condemn and punish these crimes. Fulfilling this responsibility by prosecuting the culprits will contribute to inter-faith dialogue and for cultures to live together in peace.

Any leading action taken by individuals, even though it may be considered a small step, will enable political powers and authorities to confront their past as well as give hope for past grievances to be cleared away. Most importantly such actions will prevent further tragedies from taking place and will contribute towards peace prevailing amongst peoples. In light of this consideration and the humanitarian action taken by Mr Berzan Boti and Mr Sabri Atman, I think similarly, this will mark the beginning of the dialogue between the Kurdish and Assyrian peoples.

While wholeheartedly supporting this humanitarian action which took place late last year, as responsibility falls upon any intellectual, similarly, I would like to point out that I impose upon myself to build the first house for the first family that will return to its land. I hope that this additional small step taken by myself will contribute further towards the peace, brotherhood and tolerance of differences and towards individuals living together freely in peace.

Dr. Ekrem Bilek
President, Siirt Medical Society

The Seyfo Center, an Assyrian Genocide Research Center, contributed to this report.

Link