Denial of Armenian Genocide

Genocide Denial

Why did the Turkish government deny the Armenian genocide?

The eighth stage of genocide is genocide denial, which most likely proves that the genocide occurred. It is comparable to a double massacre as it works to extinguish the memory of the event. It can be characterized in different manners; the most common are: it was self-defense, the killing was unintentional, there was no genocide. (Gregory Stanton) Denial has various intentions: ideological, strategic, socio-political but the consequences for the targeted individuals are always catastrophic. (Prof. dr. Smail Čekić) The Turkish government attempted to deny the Armenian genocide by trying to change the nature of the genocide and manipulating the death toll due to their fear of financial and physical reimbursement, their influence on Hitler, and the Turk’s psychological instability.

Armenian genocide refers to the first genocide of the 20th century committed by the Ottoman Empire, under the rule of the Young Turks. The Ottoman Empire embarked upon the systematic slaughter of its civilian Armenian population, a Christian minority. A very common form of genocide denial employed by Ottoman Turkey was to question and minimize the severity of the death toll. Turkish media claimed the Armenian death toll was inflated as only 600,000 Armenians died and not 1.5 million. Regardless, does it make it better if the Turks succeeded in killing 600,000 Armenians and not almost its entire population? Furthermore, the government acknowledged the death of Armenian citizens during World War I but counters the Muslim Turks perished as well. According to Turkish propaganda, three million Muslims died, but the key word is “Muslims” and not “Turks”. Many Turkish Muslims died fighting the Arab Muslims who were seeking freedom from the Ottoman Empire. The Turks died, unfortunately, because their own government led them into an unwinnable war against the European allies. (Frequently Asked Questions About the Armenian Genocide)

The Armenian genocide occurred during World War I; as a result, the Ottoman Turkey used the time period to their advantage. The Ottoman Empire insisted it was not their intention to slaughter the Armenians as it was a necessary “war measure”. There were rumors that the Armenians sided with the Russians, who are Christians, during World War I. The Russians had reportedly promised the Armenians a homeland, which the Turks used as an excuse to kill Armenians. Additionally, the Turks claimed the Armenians killed Turks as well which is an obvious denial tactic, and perhaps the most insulting, in which it is to blame the victims. It is true that at one point the Armenians fought back successfully; however, self-defense cannot equate to murder. Bare in mind, the Armenians were killed by their own government. (The Armenian Genocide and Turkey’s Attempt to Deny It)

Turkey’s plan of denial symbolizes a timewaster. Turkey continues to obstruct the establishment of commemorative monuments by Armenian migration communities. It also habitually deceives Turkish citizens by raising untrue worries and allegations of atrocities committed by Armenians. Turkey has also improved the reputation of the Young Turk criminals by giving them postmortem honors and reburials. The nation has a continuous policy of methodically removing the record of an Armenian existence in Turkey. Despite the 3,000 year presence, there is no archeological site in Turkey permitted designation as historically Armenian. Armenian buildings, fluctuating from thousand year old churches to complete antique cities, have been exposed to deliberate vandalism and some to complete destruction. Ottoman Turkey victimized and destroyed the Armenian population whereas Republican Turkey systematically removed physical archives of a civilization with the purpose of tarnishing even its existence. (Frequently Asked Questions: Denial)

As of today, there is a wide consent among the scientific community that the event is considered a genocide although Turkey continues to deny it. The first reason is the influence of acknowledgment and assertions for damages aimed against Turkey. Recognition calls for moral compensation and the first step to justice. It confirms the incredible injustice underwent by the genocide victims and leads to future reconciliation, a stepping stone to move on. (Frequently Asked Questions: Denial) The next step would be to reimburse the victims’ offspring of lost possessions and property as Germany did. This could prove difficult for Turkey as it is not financially rich as Germany. Turkey would have to compensate