Armenians react to Tanju Özcan

Bolu Mayor Tanju Özcan's remarks on his social media account regarding PKK leader Öcalan have drawn a reaction from Armenians.

Luys Media reacted to Tanju Özcan's post and stated the following:

ARMENIANS REACT TO TANJU ÖZCAN

To the Public and People of Conscience

We, as Armenians, one of the ancient peoples of this country, receive the racist and hate-filled post made by Bolu Mayor Mr. Tanju Özcan with deep sadness and anger. The word "Armenian" cannot be used as an element of insult. These discourses cannot be explained by politics or freedom of thought. This is outright racism, a hate crime, and an open attack on human dignity.

We Armenians have been living on these lands for centuries. Our joys, our sorrows, and our hopes are one with every child of this country! We are a part of this country with our labor and our sweat. Today; as in the past, we are here to live together, to produce, and to exist in peace... We do not accept being constantly treated as "foreigners" or "others" with such rhetoric.

Using the "Armenian" identity as an element of insult from a position that should represent every segment of society serves no purpose other than fueling discrimination, hate speech, and hostility. We condemn Mr. Özcan for this hate speech and hope that he will reconsider his posts.

-The lands of the motherland are not a cultural mosaic, but an ebru (marbling)! Because a mosaic consists of separate pieces, whereas we are the children of a culture that has blended and intertwined...

News Source: 12punto