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Turkish-Armenian Writer Reports Death Threats

Sevan Nisanyan

November 18, 2009

Turkish-Armenian newspaper columnist Sevan Nisanyan says he has received hundreds of deaths threats after altering a famous quote from the founder of modern Turkey to make a case for reforms in the country, RFE/RL's Armenian Service reports.

Nisanyan took a quote from a 1923 speech by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, Turkey's founding father, in which he urged Turkish youth to fight hard for their homeland.

"Your first duty is to preserve and to defend Turkish independence and the Turkish Republic forever," declared Ataturk.

Nisanyan -- an Istanbul-based, ethnic Armenian intellectual -- wrote in an October 29 article published by the "Taraf" daily that, "Your first duty is to be a human being. This is the very foundation of your existence and your future. This foundation is your most precious treasure."

Nisanyan told RFE/RL that his appeal infuriated nationalist Turks and he has since received about 800 e-mails and letters containing verbal abuse and threats to kill him.

He said "people have gone mad" and added that he believes "the military is behind this uproar."

Nisanyan add that he has appealed to Turkish police for protection.

He said police have been "the more liberal party in [Turkey in] recent years" and "have been friendly and helped me a lot."

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Comments

by: DR

November 18, 2009 21:16

When Kemal's aids warned him that Smyrna was engulfed in fire and thousands of innocent people are burning to death and the city is being destroyed, he shrugged his shoulders and said; "Small price to pay for complete victory". Why should posterity in Turkey be any different.

by: H. from: K.

November 19, 2009 08:29

Mr Nisanyan knowingly and willingly wanted and expressed his view on Mustafa Kemal's speach. So, those people who did not like his view expressed their view in their way. So, people expressing their free views and intentions. Is there any problem with this... Nisanyan knew what he was going to get as an answer for his action.

by: DR

November 19, 2009 21:58

Only backward people and a backward nation will threaten someone for expressing his views. This was exhibited a few years ago when Hrant Dink was killed.

by: H. from: K.

November 20, 2009 17:16

I know Hrant Dink personally. His love of Turkish people and Turkiye as an Armenian was not fully respected and shared as much as he requested from the so-called "Armenian" diaspora. Ethnic (blood seeking nations) and religious bigots are purly responsible for that unfortunate crime. And it seems ms. DR was present and witnessed during the event had taken place when Kemal was saying and shrugging his shoulders in 1922 in İzmir.

by: DR

November 28, 2009 23:49

H from K, you are right. I was not present in the outskirts of Smyrna when Kemal made the comments in question. However, I doubt you were there either, to prove that he did not. Maybe you should read "Paradise Lost: Smyrna 1922" by Giles Milton, who has done extensive historic research to back up claims, which the comment I made is one of them also. Giles Milton is an un-biased author. He is neither Armenian, nor Turkish.