A Shocking Lawsuit: Recognize Genocide

Cemal DOĞAN/ GAZETE HABERTURK 

Bendal Celil Ezman, a Turkish lawyer registered at Ankara Barr Association first apologized from Armenians then made the first step ever to officially convince Turkish Republic to recognize the so called Armenian genocide.

“Recognize the genocide; have Talat Pasha [by some accused of being responsible for 1915 events. Because when Interior Minister, he ordered the arrest of Armenian leaders in Istanbul on April 24, 1915 and requested the Tehcir (deportation) Law of May 1915] and his colleagues tried; have the statue of former Boğazlıyan District Governor Kemal Bey [found guilty of Tehcir and was executed in 1919] removed” are what Ezman asked the court’s verdict for.

The lawsuit is of its first kind ever in Turkey. One of the supporters of “I apologize from Armenians” campaign, Ezman says he is not afraid of reactions. There are boulevards, valleys and squares named after Talat Pasha, also known as Mehmet Talat, who generally is perceived as a hero of Ottoman times. Ezman included cancellation of his name from all places named after him.

Previously Ezman filed a compliant against Hasan Celal Güzel, a former minister, for insulting those who supported “I apologize” campaign. A civil Turkish court in Ankara held the case Tuesday. As relevant to the case, Ezman asked the court also to verdict for Turkey to officially recognize 1915 events as “genocide” by Sait Halim Pasha government of Ottoman Empire against Armenian citizens.

In the same trial of former minister Güzel for insult, Ezman also asked the old files of Boğazlıyan District Governor Kemal Bey’s verdict files be reviewed. “Despite our demand from the court to bring execution files of the hearings through 1918-1922 of Tehcir events of April, May 1915; the files have not yet been brought before the court and the inquiry for the said subject on our demand is ignored consciously,” Ezman said. “Turkey has to face its past.”