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Dear colleagues,
Here finally is the translation of the press release of the istanbul conference organizers and participants
'The Joint Declaration of the Conference Organizers and Participants'
27 May 2005
The three day conference entitled ‘The Otoman Armenians during the Era of Otoman Decline’ that we, as academics and public intellectuals of Turkey, had planned with Bosphorus University as host was unfortunately forced to be deferred as a consequence of pressures, threats and slander.
We protest that two deputies serving under the roof of the Turkish National Assembly, which is presumed to be the guarantor of scientific activities, academic freedom and security of life and property, have engaged in provocations that are totally in opposition to these fundamental principles, and that the spokesperson of the government incriminated all the conference participants by serious claims such as ‘thrusting a knife into the nation’s back.’ We are additionally ashamed that this spokesperson also carries the title of ‘Minister of Justice.’ We think that it would be more appropriate for him to be utilized with a duty outside of that of law and justice. We herewith notify the public that this conference will be convened in the near future.
We organize this conference to seek answers to the question ‘what happened before, during and after 1915?’ We attempt to understand and recount a historical issue that during the last years has become trapped and increasingly politicized between the radical Armenian national and official Turkish theses.
Scientific meetings are not necessarily covered like television debates conducted on certain issues. Scientific meetings also do not have the prerogative to bring together all sides who are in opposition to one another and who are also convinced of their own ‘truths.’ Furthermore, the decision to determine who should comprıise the participants of a scientific conference is the most natural right of the hosts and the most fundamental application of the freedom of thought that is supposed to exist at universities. No one individual, organization and institution has the right to intervene in a scientific conference organized outside of its own body.
In addition, we find the unjust and prejudiced accusations made against the not yet presented papers of a not yet actualized conference totally unlawful. Had the actualization of this conference been tolerated, the rich, varied and not at all monotonous approaches to the issue of what happened before, during and after 1915 would have emerged.
We, the participants of this conference whose signatures are enclosed below, want to especially point out, as we also noted on our press release dated 17 May 2005, that ‘‘The emergence of different, critical and alternative voices, the demonstration of how Turkey actually contains such a rich multiplicity of thoughts would be, once again, to the utmost benefit of Turkey.’ We believe that the actualization of our conference in the very near future would be one of the most significant steps taken in our country on the path to academic freedom, to the independence of universities, and in general toward democracy.'
I have asked them about how we could support them and was told that they would like us to emphasize most the violation of the fundamental freedom of expression and thought that occurred in this instance. In relation to how to go about doing so and what exactly to do, they leave that part entirely up to us to determine -- what is important for them is our ultimate support.
Today's press coverage on the issue was excellent and almost entirely positive and supportive of the conference and the universities; the milliyet newspaper gave the cancellation as the headline, and its editor in chief hasan cemal wrote a magnificent, scathing critique about what happened (i will translate that for you as well once i catch my breath..). I think the feeling is that, on the whole, what the government and the state tried to do backfired; I do not think they expected such a strong reaction and have therefore retreated (I hope for good).
Associate Professor Fatma Muge Gocek
University of Michigan
Sociology Department
Here finally is the translation of the press release of the istanbul conference organizers and participants
'The Joint Declaration of the Conference Organizers and Participants'
27 May 2005
The three day conference entitled ‘The Otoman Armenians during the Era of Otoman Decline’ that we, as academics and public intellectuals of Turkey, had planned with Bosphorus University as host was unfortunately forced to be deferred as a consequence of pressures, threats and slander.
We protest that two deputies serving under the roof of the Turkish National Assembly, which is presumed to be the guarantor of scientific activities, academic freedom and security of life and property, have engaged in provocations that are totally in opposition to these fundamental principles, and that the spokesperson of the government incriminated all the conference participants by serious claims such as ‘thrusting a knife into the nation’s back.’ We are additionally ashamed that this spokesperson also carries the title of ‘Minister of Justice.’ We think that it would be more appropriate for him to be utilized with a duty outside of that of law and justice. We herewith notify the public that this conference will be convened in the near future.
We organize this conference to seek answers to the question ‘what happened before, during and after 1915?’ We attempt to understand and recount a historical issue that during the last years has become trapped and increasingly politicized between the radical Armenian national and official Turkish theses.
Scientific meetings are not necessarily covered like television debates conducted on certain issues. Scientific meetings also do not have the prerogative to bring together all sides who are in opposition to one another and who are also convinced of their own ‘truths.’ Furthermore, the decision to determine who should comprıise the participants of a scientific conference is the most natural right of the hosts and the most fundamental application of the freedom of thought that is supposed to exist at universities. No one individual, organization and institution has the right to intervene in a scientific conference organized outside of its own body.
In addition, we find the unjust and prejudiced accusations made against the not yet presented papers of a not yet actualized conference totally unlawful. Had the actualization of this conference been tolerated, the rich, varied and not at all monotonous approaches to the issue of what happened before, during and after 1915 would have emerged.
We, the participants of this conference whose signatures are enclosed below, want to especially point out, as we also noted on our press release dated 17 May 2005, that ‘‘The emergence of different, critical and alternative voices, the demonstration of how Turkey actually contains such a rich multiplicity of thoughts would be, once again, to the utmost benefit of Turkey.’ We believe that the actualization of our conference in the very near future would be one of the most significant steps taken in our country on the path to academic freedom, to the independence of universities, and in general toward democracy.'
I have asked them about how we could support them and was told that they would like us to emphasize most the violation of the fundamental freedom of expression and thought that occurred in this instance. In relation to how to go about doing so and what exactly to do, they leave that part entirely up to us to determine -- what is important for them is our ultimate support.
Today's press coverage on the issue was excellent and almost entirely positive and supportive of the conference and the universities; the milliyet newspaper gave the cancellation as the headline, and its editor in chief hasan cemal wrote a magnificent, scathing critique about what happened (i will translate that for you as well once i catch my breath..). I think the feeling is that, on the whole, what the government and the state tried to do backfired; I do not think they expected such a strong reaction and have therefore retreated (I hope for good).
Associate Professor Fatma Muge Gocek
University of Michigan
Sociology Department