ANKARA (Armradio) — Garo Paylan, a member of Parliament of Armenian descent who is a member of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP), in a speech on the floor of parliament decried the treatment of Armenians and showed some photos, on Thursday, March 3, a story in the (now seized) Today’s Zaman reported.
The photos showed graffiti that had been daubed on the ruined walls of southeastern villages during the recent curfews. The words “Armenian bastards” in Turkish could be clearly seen on the photos and the situation has triggered a serious racism debate in Turkey.
Paylan first showed the photos and then stated that the situation is in itself a crime. He said this crime was committed not only by the security forces but also by the prime minister.
Last week Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu was in Bingol when he said “Armenian gangs cooperated with the Russians during World War I.”
Paylan, during his speech, asked whether it would be fair for him to use the phrase “Turkish gangs” about the Turks and Kurds who sometimes join the Islamic State.
Lastly, he asked “what kind of racism is it?”, drawing a thunderous applause in Parliament from Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) deputies.
