ISTANBUL, Turkey -- On April 24, the Istanbul branch of the Human Rights Organization of Turkey organized an event in Istanbul commemorating the Armenian Genocide. The commemoration was held in what was formerly the "tobacco warehouse," now renovated and being used for exhibitions, events and meetings.

The event opened with the Armenian and Assyrian songs performed by the group "Kardes Turkuler" (Songs of Brotherhood).

Lawyer Eren Keskin's greeted the audience, numbering around 150, and said, "Today is the 24th of April, the 94th anniversary of the arrests in Istanbul which started the Armenian genocide in 1915." She added, "The official history [in Turkey] denies the genocide, but we know what happened and we believe it's important to tell people the truth. So, today we will commemorate the most brilliant intellectuals of the Ottoman Armenians: poets, writers physicians, lawyers, members of parliament, who were taken away on the 24th April 1915 and murdered."

The Bosphorus Performance Arts Group presented the life stories and poems of three great Armenian poets who perished during the Armenian Genocide--Roupen Sevag, Siamanto, and Taniel Varoujan--as well as the life and work of writer, lawyer and member of parliament Krikor Zohrab, who was also killed during the genocide. The presentation was accompanied by photographs projected on a screen and Armenian folk music played in the background.

Publisher Ragip Zarakolu talked about Teotig, the Armenian writer who was arrested together with others but escaped miraculously, and his famous book Hushartzan Abril Dasnimegi, which will be published in Turkish soon by the Belge publishing house. An exhibition of pages from this book was held in conjunction with the event, with lit candles under each page. A brief Turkish translation of each page was also provided.

In turn, Eren Keskin talked about Gomidas, while songs performed by Gomidas himself (recorded in 1912 in Paris) were played in the background and Gomidas' photographs projected on the screen. At the end Eren Keskin said, "let's leave the last word to Gomidas Vartabed." Then Gomidas song "Karun a" was heard while images of the deportation of Armenians were projected on the screen.

By Ayse Gunaysu
www.hairenik.com