A verdict of non-prosecution was issued in the investigation opened against the 24 April 1915 Armenian Genocide commemoration event, which is organized annually by the Human Rights Association (IHD) since 2005. Referring to the European Convention on Human Rights and the precedents of the European Court of Human Rights, the Prosecutor’s Office accepted the “…different interpretations of matters concerning historians…” within freedom of expression, “… despite their unacceptable and discomforting quality.”
Police units told the IHD that they are allowed to make a statement without using the words, ‘Genocide’ and ‘Massacre’ before the commemoration; whereas the participants refused to make a statement without using the notion of genocide. Two rights advocates were taken into custody due to the banners; the statement was prevented with a later investigation due to ‘incitement towards resentment and hostility.’
30.05.2018
bianet.org