New Zealand Mosque Massacre: Armenian organizations and community members condemn attack on Muslim community, reject attacker’s misappropriation of Armenian history and language

New York, March 18, 2019

Armenian organizations and community members around the world today issued the following statement in response to the attack on the Muslim community of New Zealand:

“Armenians around the world condemn the terror attacks against two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15, 2019. We also condemn the terrorist’s appropriation of Armenian language and history, including references to the Battles of Sarikamish and Sardarabad more than a century ago. Today, and always, we stand in solidarity with our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world and condemn any and all manifestation of hatred against Muslim communities.”

LIST OF SIGNATORIES (at time of distribution of this press release; you may join it here: https://www.change.org/p/world-global-community-armenians-respond-to-new-zealand-massacre):

ORGANIZATIONS 
Aleppo NGO (Armenia)
Armenian General Benevolent Union (USA)
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) (USA)
Nor Zartonk (Turkey)
Organization of Istanbul Armenians (OIA) (USA)
Zoravik Armenian Activist Collective (Massachusetts, USA)

INDIVIDUALS
Nancy Agabian (New York, USA)
Liana Aghajanian (Michigan, USA)
Mika Artyan (London, UK)
Sevag Arzoumanian (Massachusets, USA)
Sarkis Balkhian (Yerevan, ARMENIA)
Houri Berberian (California, USA)
Nigol Bezjian (Beirut, LEBANON)
Melissa Bilal (Istanbul, TURKEY)
Eric Bogosian (New York, USA)
Chris Bohjalian (Vermont, USA)
Alina Dakessian ((Beirut, LEBANON)
Antranig Dakessian (Beirut, LEBANON)
Silvina Der Meguerditchian (Berlin, GERMANY)
Atom Egoyan (Toronto, CANADA)
Ayda Erbal (New York, USA)
Houry Geudelekian (New York, USA)
Mamikon Hovsepyan (Yerevan, ARMENIA)
Sarah Ignatius (Massachusetts, USA)
Virginia Kerovpyan (Paris, FRANCE)
Arsinee Khanjian (Toronto, CANADA)
Raffi Khatchadourian (New York, USA)
Mary Kouyoumdjian (New York, USA)
Nancy Kricorian (New York, USA)
Shahe Mankerian (California, USA)
Mari Manoogian (Michigan, USA)
Sosy Mishoyan (Yerevan, ARMENIA)
Nare Mkrtchyan (California, USA)
Sato Moughalian (New York, USA)
Khatchig Mouradian (New York, USA)
Eric Nazarian (California, USA)
Marc Nichanian (Lisbon, PORTUGAL)
Garo Paylan (Istanbul, TURKEY)
Nelli Sargsyan (Vermont, USA)
Aram Saroyan (California, USA)
Judith Saryan (Massachusetts, USA)
Elyse Semerdjian (Washington, USA)
Anna Shahnazaryan (Yerevan, ARMENIA)
Vahe Tachjian (Berlin, GERMANY)
Serj Tankian (California, USA)
Hratch Tchilingirian (London, UK)
Sayat Tekir (Istanbul, TURKEY)
Henry Theriault (Massachusetts, USA)
Artyom Tonoyan (Minnesota, USA)
Scout Tufankjian (New York, USA)
Sarah Leah Whitson (New York, USA)

Armenia and Orlando

*Also on Unzipped: Gay Armenia

Armenia president Serj Sargsyan strongly condemns “horrendous manifestation of intolerance” and “any expression of hatred”. At least, this is how he formulated his reaction to Orlando in a letter of condolences to the US president Obama following attack on LGBT club Pulse.

President Serzh Sargsyan sent a letter of condolences to the President of the United States Barack Obama on a horrible terrorist act which took place at a club in Orlando, claiming several dozens of innocent lives and wounded. The President of Armenia strongly condemned this horrendous manifestation of intolerance and underscored that the misfortune, that has befallen the friendly American people, proves once again that any expression of hatred is still a serious challenge to the humanity and it is our shared responsibility and mission to address them.

ՑԱՎԱԿՑԱԿԱՆ ՆԱԽԱԳԱՀ ՍԵՐԺ ՍԱՐԳՍՅԱՆԸ ՑԱՎԱԿՑԱԿԱՆ ՀԵՌԱԳԻՐ Է ՀՂԵԼ ԱՄՆ ՆԱԽԱԳԱՀ ԲԱՐԱՔ ՕԲԱՄԱՅԻՆ 13.06.2016 Նախագահ Սերժ Սարգսյանը ցավակցական հեռագիր է հղել Ամերիկայի Միացյալ Նահանգների Նախագահ Բարաք Օբամային՝ Օռլանդո քաղաքի ակումբում տեղի ունեցած սահմռկեցուցիչ ահաբեկչության կապակցությամբ, որի հետևանքով զոհվել և վիրավորվել են մի քանի տասնյակ անմեղ մարդիկ: Հանրապետության Նախագահը խստորեն դատապարտել է անհանդուրժողականության այս զարհուրելի երևույթը և ընդգծել, որ բարեկամ ամերիկացի ժողովրդին պատուհասած այդ դժբախտությունը կրկին ապացուցեց, որ ատելության բոլոր դրսևորումները, որոնց հաղթահարումը բոլորի հավաքական պարտքն ու առաքելությունն է, նույնիսկ 21-րդ դարում շարունակում են մնալ լրջագույն մարտահրավեր մարդկության համար:

4 years ago his party spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov (currently deputy speaker of the Armenian parliament) endorsed firebombers of gay friendly DIY bar in Armenia capital Yerevan.

“All those who are trying to protect homosexuals, who are perverting our society, are defaming the Armenian national identity. As an Armenian citizen and member of a national-conservative party, I find the rebellion of the two young Armenian people against the homosexuals, who have created a den of perversion in our country and have a goal of alienating the society from its moral values, completely right and justified. And those human rights defenders, who are trying to earn cheap dividends from this incident, I urge them first and foremost to protect the national and universal values”, said Eduard Sharmazanov.

He echoed his colleague, MP from ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Artsvik Minasyan (currently minister of economy) who justified the attack towards LGBT friendly bar, saying the firebombers acted in accordance with the "context of our societal & national ideology, in the right way”. It was then revealed that Armenian MPs from the ARF Dashnaktsutyun party Artsvik Minasyan and Hrayr Karapetyan bailed out one of the detained arsonists, while the other one was released on signature that he won’t leave the country.

DIY firebombers were effectively pardoned. They got conditional sentencing and a symbolic fine.

And now Armenia president condemns Orlando using pretty strong wording, albeit without the mention of “LGBT”. A change of heart or simply a hypocrisy directed at outside world? How genuine Armenia president was when condemning Orlando would be determined by whether his regime would indeed crack down on anti-LGBT hatred inside Armenia.

Following Orlando, a significant proportion of users (not just trolls) on Armenian social networks, particularly the Armenian segment of Facebook, either kept silence or could not resist their ‘happiness’ at killing of LGBT people.

They were effectively proclaiming the killer a hero. These are the same people who change their profile pictures demanding the world to recognise the Armenian Genocide. These are the same people who were outraged when an axe murderer of Armenian was pardoned by Azeri president and turned into a ‘national hero’.

One of the organisers of Orlando solidarity event in Yerevan, executive director of PINK Armenia Mamikon Hovsepyan, said “it was painful for him to witness Armenians’ reaction to the attack, which included advocacy of hatred and insults targeting the LGBT+ community.”

“People without the elementary capacity to think began to justify the criminal. I do not understand how a crime against humanity can be justified. Many in Armenia have been aggressive and have even expressed support for the terrorists, inviting them to Armenia, which is very sad and inhumane. Today we came here to express our solidarity with the families of the victims.” Hovsepyan said.

The activist added that he was left “dumbstruck” by Armenian President, head of ruling Republican Party Serzh Sargsyan sending his condolences to U.S. President Barack Obama in connection with the shooting; “It would have been great had [the condolences] been genuine and heartfelt. But I don’t believe it; because the same party that justified 4 years ago [the attack on a LGBT-friendly pub in Yerevan] today extended its condolences in connection with a similar act. I do find it ironic, and yet I’d like to believe that they’ve changed.” 

It was disheartening to read PINK Armenia calling fellow Armenians ‘to respect innocent victims & not defend terrorist acts’.

We call on our fellow Armenian friends and citizens to respect the innocent victims, and not to defend terrorism and terrorist acts.

Կոչ ենք անում մեր հայրենակիցներին հարգել անմեղ զոհերին, այլ ոչ թե պաշտպանել ահաբեկչությունն ու ահաբեկչական գործողությունները։

Even two main US-based Diaspora Armenian publications (Asbarez and The Armenian Weekly) kept silence on Orlando for 3 days, before posting a more general op-ed or a report from Yerevan. As my Facebook friends noted, it's because no straight Armenian was killed.

I have to say that mainstream media in Armenia, at least on this occasion, overall reported on the events respectfully, including regarding LGBT people (example).

As was mentioned on the Russian service of BBC, in relation to reactions in Russia, this event showed that not everyone in our society a homophobe ("У нас есть четкое понимание того, что общество уже не едино в гомофобии.”). This is applicable to Armenia too. Not necessarily the most optimistic conclusion but a basis for hope.

Fascism during Vartavar

Armenian Aryans, ultra-nationalists, anti-semitic and homophobic group based in Armenia, apparently hijacked the Vartavar celebrations in Garni again.

Horrific picture.

No wonder that Norwegian right wing terrorist may have found links in Armenia too.

*picture by Onnik Krikorian

Norway terrorist’s alleged diary indicate links to Armenia far right nationalists

The extract below is believed to be from Norway mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik diary or manifesto. It suggests that this guy may have developed links to far right nationalists / neo-nazi in Armenia too.

Quote thanks to Nazarian posting /emphasis mine/:

“March 2010

I have ended my “email acquisition phase” ending up with a grand total of 5700 Facebook contacts (2 accounts) and a total of 8000 high quality email addresses (representing all spheres of cultural conservative thought). I now have a direct way forwarding my compendium to a good portion of the most dedicated nationalist oriented individuals in all Western European countries, including the US, Australia, Canada, South Africa, certain Eastern European countries, Armenia, Israel and even India. This task has taken me several months and it pained me to purge all my FB contacts. I’ve talked and discussed with hundreds of patriotic individuals (many whom are nationalist oriented intellectuals fighting the good fight), many good people, which made the decision to purge the contacts even harder. I have now moderated by FB profile considerably and transformed it to a politically correct profile. I do fear sometimes that my endeavours relating to the research of the book, and acquisitions of these addresses has resulted in me being put on various watch lists. I know that at least a few of the profiles I invited are fake, and used for information gathering for various European and US intelligence agencies. The question is; have they flagged me? I guess I will find out eventually...”
***
This information about possible links of Norwegian murderer to Armenian nationalist groups or individuals is very worrying, indeed. This is what should be considered a matter of national security and swiftly investigated by relevant agencies in Armenia.

I may only hope that the enormous tragedy in Norway will serve as a wake-up call for people and governments in broader Europe, including Armenia, on the rise of neo-nazi and other full-of-hatred groups in the continent.

Terrorist-like threat to Armenian government: silence the writer

Group of Armenian ultra-nationalists, a copycat of Russia’s and others’ neo-nazi, united under the so called Hayrenik (‘Motherland’) movement, published a post on their website threatening the life of Armenian author writing under the name Dori An. Dori An is the author of award winning gay-themed short story in Yerevan. In one of his posts, he also touches the recently headlining issue of gay Charents (prominent Armenian poet). This outrages ultra-nationalists which call it a “war against Armenian nation, therefore against us”. Of course, according to them, all is planned from the “outside” to “demoralise” our society. [This is in line with the recent surge of homophobic and hate attacks in Armenia, including some local media and comments in Armenian sector of Facebook.]

They provide Armenian government with the ultimatum type message: either you silence Dori An, using “legal means”, or we will do it by our means and methods. ‘Message’ is accompanied by Al-Qaeda terrorist-like picture, or its poor copycat.

[...]

Failing to produce any ‘results’ by ‘fighting external enemies’, and failing on all fronts, these ultra-nationalists try to create ‘internal enemies’ to justify their very own existence.

This is a direct threat to person’s life and the right for free speech, the very basic human rights protected under Armenian constitution. After all, this is effectively a terrorist-like ultimatum to Armenian government, and law enforcement agencies in Armenia should take up the case for further proceedings.

For more and comments - see Unzipped: Gay Armenia

*photo of Russia's neo-nazi, via San Francisco Sentinel

How Russia-based Armenian film director Anna Melikyan 'escaped' Mumbai terror attack

She is most famous for her film "Mermaid". Writing for Hollywood Reporter, Anna Melikyan notes of life "full of mystical coincidences":

"I was born in Armenia, in Yerevan, and moved to Moscow right after graduating from school. My way to filmmaking was a logical step -- actually I did it all my life, although I didn't know that it was directing. I made some shows at school even when I was in a kindergarten. We had a special part of class time that we called "Fairy Tales From Anna." All the children would sit in the circle and I was in the center of it, telling fairy tales. Now I'm doing the same thing, I'm telling fairy tales.

"Mermaid" is a very personal film. I can't say that it's absolutely autobiographical, it wouldn't be true, but it's still much related to me. The themes in "Mermaid" -- wish fulfillment, destiny, accidents and mystical happiness in our everyday life -- all of them are interesting for me. This is probably because these things actually happen. For example, I was in the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai (I was presenting "Mermaid" at the festival there), and I decided to change my plane tickets and come back home earlier. I just arrived in Moscow, and I turned on the TV and saw the terrible images of the hotel on fire, and how it was taken by terrorists. If I didn't change my tickets, I would have been there. Life is full of mystical coincidences."

*photo: "Mermaid" - A young woman lives in a world of her own making after she decides to stop speaking in this bittersweet, whimsical tale from writer-director Anna Melikyan. (source)

Threat of terrorism in Yerevan? Only political dialogue may avert a devastating turn of events in Armenia

This warning by ex-candidate for Armenian presidency Arman Melikyan voiced on Friday passed without an attention it deserves.

Arman Melikyan considers the situation in Armenia “very worrying”. He believes that the kind of pressure put by the authorities upon opposition without allowing for counteraction will lead to resistance stepping into non-legal means. “This situation will give a birth to terrorism. I am warning about this today. Unless there is political dialogue between parties involved in this stand-off, no one should be surprised if we witness explosions, political killings in Yerevan; we should not turn a blind eye on this.”

He dismissed newly formed governmental coalition’s capability to defuse political crisis in Armenia, as the sides of that coalition are essentially the same parties who were in power over the last 10 years. Instead of solving the problems, this type of coalitions under the current circumstances may transform into additional means of repressions.

There is only seven-member opposition group (Heritage party) in our parliament, and the authorities are doing whatever possible to pressurise and limit their abilities, says Melikyan.

I completely agree with him. Continuous pressures put by the authorities upon political decent, serious limits on possibilities to exercise political will and rights within the legal framework leads to radicalisation of our society and may result in formation of groups or initiatives (if have not already) which could see no other way but non-legal methods to exercise civil rights and achieve changes.

It is still not too late to avert this devastating turn of events. I urge Armenian authorities to follow Melikyan’s and others’ calls. The authorities have to bring back civil liberties, release political prisoners and initiate serious dialogue with the opposition – real opposition, not the one which suites authorities. Today there is still chance to avoid the worst, tomorrow it may be too late.

I heart NY

9/11. Stared at TV screen in my Yerevan apartment, it was CNN, it seemed surreal, but it was very real. I’ve always been against terror, and particularly will never justify terror against ordinary people. This time my pain was even more unbearable, since I knew that a very close person to me is working in one of those Twin Towers. For several long and horrifying hours, I did not know that he was slightly late to work, and therefore, was saved… For several hours, there was no proper phone line between Armenia and US. I would later joke that Armenian ‘tradition’ of being late to work was a life-saver…

I feel sad that disgust towards Bush administration policy (and I share that disgust!) made many people, otherwise bright and intelligent, to sort of ‘justify’ this attack. How could they? How could they forget that people who attacked NY on 9/11 were proposing instead a world that is against everything I am (they are!) passionate about – freedom, democracy, human rights…

I had one of those ‘I heart New York’ T-shirts. It was kind of touristy present from someone, which I would never consider wearing otherwise. But I felt immense urge to take that T-shirt out of my wardrobe, put it on and get out of my flat… And that what exactly I did 6 years ago. There was nothing else I could do at that time to express my solidarity with New Yorkers. It was emotional, it felt right.