US President Joe Biden’s description of the events in the Ottoman lands as “genocide” in the statement he made about the anniversary of the 24 April 1915 events brought back the events that happened 106 years ago.
Head of Dicle University Faculty of Letters Department of History Assoc. Dr. Oktay Bozan said that Biden’s description of the events of 1915 was based on cheap political calculations, far from historical reality.
“The Turkish army has destroyed the terror corridor by organizing 3 important operations in Syria, despite the strongest states in the world such as Russia and the USA. Instead of surrendering to the policies of the western bloc and the USA in the Mediterranean, Turkey displayed a resisting appearance for the law of the sea. In addition, Turkey took sides with Azerbaijan in Nagorno-Karabakh and ended the 28-year Armenian occupation. Apart from all developments, the so-called “genocide” label is being used against the increasing prestige of Turkey in the world. Western states are trying to discredit Turkey in particular and Muslims in general through the Armenian diaspora.”
“Western parliaments have become the toy of the diaspora”
Explaining that the 1915 incidents were not genocide, Bozan said, “The Armenians living in Armenia and Turkey, the diaspora should void the so-called genocide accusations. As long as the diaspora, which has turned into a toy of the Western parliaments, scratches this issue, our Armenian citizens will suffer from this.”
“Muslims considered Armenians as brothers, Armenians considered Muslims confidants”
Underlining that the Turkish-Armenian and Muslim-Armenian relations date back centuries, Assoc. Dr. Oktay Bozan drew attention to the ancient solidarity, saying that the Armenian people are seen as “loyal subjects” in the Ottoman Empire.
“Historically, Armenians are the closest non-Muslim community to Muslims. As a matter of fact, the term loyal nation is used for Armenians in Ottoman records. No nation was as advantageous as the Armenians during the Ottoman period. Historian and statesman Ali Emiri Efendi from Diyarbakır describes the water and soil brotherhood of the ancient nations in his work “Vilayeti Şarkiye”; When a Muslim goes on a pilgrimage, he surrenders his family to his Armenian neighbor, and an Armenian to his Muslim neighbor when he goes to Jerusalem or Europe. Muslims regarded Armenians as brothers and Armenians considered Muslims confidants. This ancient brotherhood continued until Hinchak and Dashnak organizations were established.”
What happened in Diyarbakır
Using the Ottoman archive documents, Assoc. Dr. Bozan also talked about the bloody incident that the Armenian Hinchak and Dashnak committees brought out in Diyarbakir on November 1, 1895.
“After the 1877-1878 Ottoman-Russian War, the idea of establishing an independent state among the Armenians living within the Ottoman borders started to flourish. Diyarbakır Armenians also started a rebellion against the state. During this period, Armenian bishops and committee members suggested the Armenians to establish an independent state. In 1895, some unrest arose between Armenians and Muslims in Diyarbakır.
In Diyarbakır city center, on Friday, November 1, 1895, again, contrary to the usual, church bells began to ring. Non-Muslims’ shops were not opened that day. While Muslims were performing Friday prayers in mosques, Armenian committee members attacked the mosques of Ulu Mosque, Fatih Pasha, Behram Pasha, Ali Pasha, Sultan Sasaa, Sin, Arab Sheikh and Sheikh Matar, as they had previously planned. In the first attacks, 125 Muslims and 60 Armenians died. Parallel to the events, the bazaar was set on fire. 878 shops, workshops and stores were burned in the fire that occurred. 677 of these shops belonged to Muslims and 201 belonged to non-Muslims. Not only Diyarbakır, but also the region’s lifeblood was badly damaged. The name “Çarşıya Şewitî (Yanık Çarşı)” in the public’s memory comes from these events. After the bloody Friday that took place in Diyarbakır, the events spread throughout the region. 3 thousand 500 people lost their lives in these incidents.”
“Western states should apologize”
Pointing out that great tragedies were experienced in 1915 with the provocation and guidance of Britain, France, the USA and Russia, the historian Bozan said, “Western states should come out and apologize to Turks, Kurds and Armenians. Because it is the West that made these ancient nations hurt each other and caused painful tragedies. Today, those who talk about the genocide should come out and apologize. These states were the main factor in the events of 1915. “Before the missionary activities and the consulate were established, there was no problem between Muslims and Armenians,” he said.
Armenians did what the terrorist organization PKK did in Sur 100 years ago
Stating that in 1915 the Armenian gangs founded the “Dam Battalion” in Sur district, Assoc. Dr. Oktay Bozan talked about the unknowns about that period.
“Around a thousand Armenians who escaped from the Ottoman-Russian war, founded the” Dam Battalion “in Sur district. They turned the tops of houses, schools and churches into weapon depots. Committees pretending to be autonomous regions collected tribute and put pressure on Muslim families. When we look at the events of 1915 and 2015, we saw that a dirty 100-year-old scenario was staged. Because the members of the terrorist organization also settled in Sur district and applied for pit politics.”
