Garo Paylan shakes up things in Turkey again

Garo Paylan is 1) a Turkish Member of Parliament 2) from the pro-Kurdish party HDP 3) of Armenian descent.

Besides this incredible mix, the man has been known for years for reviving the issue of the 1915 Armenian Genocide in the very land where it took place: Turkey. This earned him death threats on many occasions.

And this year, Paylan shook things up again by submitting a bill to recognize the Genocide of the Armenians. In Turkey.

The text demands, in addition to the recognition of the genocide:

• to define those responsible
• to remove the names of the perpetrators from public places
• to name those places after the civil servants who opposed the genocide
• to grant Turkish citizenship to the victims and their families.

Paylan's approach is fascinating because of his unique position: a Turkish citizen, a Turkish elected official, he rightly believes that it is up to Turkey to face its own history.

The text he submitted reads:

If such a thing happens, it will not be important what the leaders and parliaments of other countries say about it. Only the Turkish society can heal the wounds of the Armenian people. The Armenian Genocide was committed in these lands, and justice can only be established here in Turkey.

Of course, in a country where minorities are still oppressed, such a text would make authorities react.

President Erdogan's party AKP quickly reacted by threatening to launch legal action against Garo Paylan.

The spokesperson mentioned a "politically immoral" act, and demanded an "apology to the Turkish people" from the MP.

This episode gives a very interesting insight into the current mentality in Turkey around the issue of the 1915 genocide:

• Introducing legislation to recognize it is considered immoral.

• The well-known perpetrators of the genocide have public places named after them.

• A MP who dares to open the question is threatened with legal action.

• The mention of a Turkish people, who would feel insulted by the claims of its minorities, shows to what extent nationalism and its racist effects are rooted in the Turkish state system.

Despite the international consensus on the issue, including the recognition last year by the United States, Turkey still denies everything.

And it doesn't look like it's ready to change course.