Turkish authorities block memorial activities on 109th anniversary of Armenian Genocide

ISTANBUL — As the world commemorates the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide of 1915 committed by the Ottoman Empire which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1.5 million Armenians, the 24 April Foundation criticized the obstruction of commemorative activities to honor the victims by the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Traditionally, the 24 April Foundation organizes events in Taksim, Tonel, and Sishan to remember the tragic events of the genocide. However, this year, the Foundation’s request to hold a memorial gathering in front of the Süreyya Opera House in the Kadikoy neighborhood of Istanbul was denied by the Istanbul governor’s office, sparking controversy and condemnation.

The Foundation highlighted a pattern of suppression, noting that similar events commemorating the Armenian Genocide in Istanbul and across Turkey have been consistently obstructed from 2010 to 2020. This recurring denial of the right to remember and honor the victims underscores a concerning lack of democratic principles.

Members of the Foundation have called for a reevaluation of the decision to block commemorative events, emphasizing the importance of upholding democratic values and respecting the rights of all communities to remember their history without censorship or interference.