Open Wounds: Armenians, Turks, and a Century of Genocide

The assassination of Hrant Dink in 2007 sparked a debate in Turkey about the Ottoman Armenians and led to a reawakening of Turkish-Armenian reconciliation. Turkish intellectuals acknowledge the price a society must pay to forget such traumatic events and that Turkey cannot solve its recurrent conflicts with its minorities without addressing its original sin: the Armenian Genocide.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 432 pages
Publication date: 30 March 2023
Publisher: C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd

The assassination of Hrant Dink, a prominent advocate for Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, in Istanbul in 2007 reignited the debate in Turkey regarding the annihilation of Ottoman Armenians. This event prompted many Turks to re-examine their Armenian heritage, reflecting on the forced Islamization and Turkification of their grandparents and the hardships they endured to keep their stories secret. A public discourse emerged regarding the confiscation of Armenian property by the Turkish state, and books were published detailing the extermination of minorities. The silence that had prevailed for decades was shattered.

After the First World War, Turkey sought to erase the memory of the atrocities committed against Armenians and forcibly removed them from their historic lands, with the international community turning a blind eye. This act of amnesia, as argued by Cheterian, resulted in a century of genocide. Turkish intellectuals recognize the collective toll that society must pay to forget such traumatic events and acknowledge that Turkey cannot resolve its recurrent conflicts with its minorities, such as the Kurds today, without addressing its foundational sin: the Armenian Genocide.

The Republic of Turkey was founded on the principles of democracy and inclusivity, but the legacy of the Armenian Genocide continues to haunt the country. The denial and suppression of this history have contributed to the polarization and tensions between different communities in Turkey. It is essential for Turkey to confront its past and acknowledge the atrocities committed against Armenians to move forward towards a more inclusive and democratic society. This requires a comprehensive and honest examination of the history, including the role of the Turkish state and society in perpetrating the genocide.

Furthermore, it is crucial for Turkey to take concrete steps to address the ongoing consequences of the genocide, including the restoration of Armenian cultural heritage sites, the compensation of survivors and their descendants, and the prevention of genocide denial and hate speech. Only by facing the truth and taking responsibility for its past can Turkey hope to heal the wounds of the past and build a more peaceful and prosperous future for all its citizens.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781787389687