AGENDA

United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein made a call to Turkish government for allowing independent investigation on the grave human rights violations happened in the regions under curfew. Hussein stated that “the most worrisome” reports are the ones claiming that 100 people were burned to death in the basements in Cizre.

The expert report about Diyarbakir Bar Association Chair Tahir Elçi, who was shot dead, is prepared 5 months after the murder. In the report, it is stated that it cannot be “medically or physically” known who shot Elçi.

HDP Co-Chair Selahattin Demirtaş spoke about the lifting of the parliamentary immunity: “They will try to bring some of our MPs to the court, which became AKP's law committee, and lynch them. Do they think that we will keep silent? We won't let you to prosecute us in the courts that are dependent on you. None of our friends will go to police, prosecutor or court, when they are called to give statement.”

First Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SDP) Thomas Oppermann said, “On June 2, Bundestag will make a decision recognizing the mass killing of Armenians during World War I as genocide.”

Surp Giragos Church won 2015 European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Award for its restoration, but cannot receive it because of the curfew in Sur. The ceremony will be held in Istanbul on May 5.

Surp Giragos Armenian Church Foundation filed an annulment action against the expropriation in Sur province of Diyarbakir. In the petition for annulment, it is pointed out that the expropriation is against the law.

In the trial of the public officials who are responsible for Dink murder, which was held on April 19, the demand for recusal of the suspects is refused.

HDP Co-Chair Figen Yüksekdağ, during the group meeting of HDP, apologized for the Armenian Genocide. Yüksekdağ said, “On 101st anniversary of the genocide, we apologize to Armenian people. We apologize to Aunt Elizabeth, to Uncle Krikor. We apologize to our friend, comrade Garo and to our sister Roza.”

101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide was commemorated in Istanbul on April 24, which is considered as the beginning of the genocide.

Armenian MPs in the Turkish parliament assessed April 24 mass held in the Patriarchate and President Erdoğan's letter of condolence.