Civilnet
During the First World War, when the Arabs from Hijaz to the Levant were revolting against the Ottomans aspiring for independence, Arab journalists were among the first of those who reported on a daily basis the mass atrocities being committed against the Armenians by the Ottoman Empire.
Syrian journalist Fayez al-Ghussein’s book “Martyred Armenia” and numerous articles, reports and literary works by others like Mohamed Kurd Ali, Fikri Abaza, Wali ud-Din Yagan and others played a monumental role in documenting the day-to-day systematic annihilation of the entire Armenian population.
After 100 years, hesitation and mixed reactions dominate the Arab media regarding the issues related to the Armenian Genocide.
Saudi based Al-Arabiya ran a headline on April 23 with the word “genocide” in quotes but the then removed the quotes in its articles published the next day:
24 April 2015:
Lebanese Armenians commemorate genocide
Armenians around the world commemorate genocide (Photo gallery)
25 April 2015:
Erdogan lashes out at EU and leaders calling Armenian massacre ‘genocide’
26 April 2015:
Erdogan: Russia, France ‘last’ to talk about genocide
Qatar-based Aljazeera’s main Arabic service, known for the Islamist tendencies of many of its anchors and reporters, although did not give much space to the centennial of the Armenian Genocide, but one of the two articles published on the days of the commemoration at least made more resonance with the general understanding of human rights worldwide. It was titled “Armenian Massacres… Between Historical Weight and Political Dimensions.” The other article written by an Istanbul-born reporter, sounded more like the mouthpiece of the Turkish government, titled “The Ottoman Government’s Position Regarding the Armenian Atrocities.”
Arab Gulf countries like the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait had official delegations at the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations in Yerevan. The UAE delegation was headed by the minister of health. However, there was very little attention to the events by the Gulf media. Khaleej Times published only one article on April 24, titled “Armenia marks centennial of killing of 1.5 million.” While among several Gulf based TV stations, Sky News Arabia was the only one actively covering the centennial events, always caring to put the word genocide in quotes.
23 April 2015
جدل متجدد بين "إبادة" الأرمن و"قتلهم"Renewed debate of Armenian “Genocide” or “Killing”
24 April 2015Armenia… A Century After “Genocide”أرمينيا.. قرن على "الإبادة"Armenia Commemorates The Centennial of the Ottoman Massacresأرمينيا تحيي الذكرى المئوية للمجازر العثمانيةWhy Turkey Doesn’t Recognize The “Armenian Genocide”?لماذا لا تعترف تركيا بـ"مذابح الأرمن"؟“Armenian Genocide” Centennial (Photo Gallery)"مئوية" مذابح الأرمنInternational Presence at the Commemoration of Armenian Massacresحضور دولي في إحياء ذكرى مذابح الأرمن
London-based Saudi newspaper Al-Hayat published a powerful column criticizing the policy of denial which is being carried on under President Erdogan, titled “The Eyes and Ears of Sultan Erdogan Against Armenians and Arabs.” Besides publishing also some informative news pieces.
Coming to the Egyptian media, in the last couple of years there has been several reports and articles criticizing and condemning Turkey and its role in the conflicts across the Middle East. Egypt has been on odds with Turkey since the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood from power in the country. Dozens of Egyptian journalists and media delegations were in Yerevan to cover the centennial events. State funded Al-Ahram published a series of Articles, focusing not only on the Armenian Genocide, but also on the Armenian culture, music and art. Here are some of those headlines:
100 Years After the Armenian Genocide.. No Retreat, no Surrenderمائة عام على مذابح الأرمن .. لا تراجع ولا استسلام“Armenian Massacres” Questioning The Truth"مذبحة الارمن " بين التشكيك والحقيقةCentennial of Turkish Massacres Against Armenians on the Egyptian Satelliteمئوية المذابح التركية ضد الأرمن على الفضائية المصريةArmenia: 100 Years On The Battle for the Restoration of Rightsأرمينيا 100عام على معركة استرداد الحقWorld leaders join minute's silence at ceremony marking Armenian genocidePHOTO GALLERY: Armenians mark 100th anniversary of genocide around the worldArmenian Genocide centennial commemorated in Egypt
The Lebanese media is a pioneer of freedom of speech in the region. Many Lebanese newspapers and TVs devoted special focus to the centennial events. Assafir newspaper, which is known for its pro-Syrian government stance and editorials, published more than a dozen articles in the course of 2-3 days, representing various perspectives. The word genocide was sometimes placed in quotes, sometimes not. Here are the headlines:
Armenians of Diyarbakir: 100 Years of Solitude2015-04-23 | أرمن دياربكر: 100 عام من العزلةArmenian President Calls Erdogan to Make a “Stronger” Initiative on the Memorial Day2015-04-23 | الرئيس الأرميني يدعو إردوغان إلى مبادرة "أقوى" في ذكرى المجازرArmenia: The Road to Reconciliation Passes Through Recognizing the “Genocide”2015-04-24 | أرمينيا: المصالحة مع تركيا تمرّ عبر اعترافها بـ«الإبادة»“Genocide Centennial:” Armenians Are Angry2015-04-24 | «مئوية الإبادة»: الأرمن.. عاتبونArmenian Holocaust2015-04-24 | المحرقة الأرمينيةArmenia Commemorates the First Genocide Centennial2015-04-24 | أرمينيا تحيي الذكرى المئوية الأولى للإبادةArmenian Genocide Centennial2015-04-24 | الذكرى المئوية للإبادة الارمنيةThe Memory of the Armenian “Genocide” Lives After 100 Years2015-04-24 | ذكرى "إبادة" الأرمن حية بعد مئة عامOn Armenian Genocide Denial2015-04-24 | في إنكار المجزرة الأرمنيةWe Are All Armenians2015-04-25 | كلنا أرمنWe Recognize The Genocide2015-04-25 | «نعترف بالإبادة»“Armenian Parties” Commemorate the Centennial of the “Genocide:” Our Revolution is Against Injustice2015-04-25 | «الأحزاب الأرمنية» تحيي مئوية «الإبادة»: ثورتنا ضد الظلمWorld TV Screens Unite on the Armenian Genocide Commemoration Day2015-04-25 | شاشات العالم تتوحّد في ذكرى الإبادة الأرمنيّةErdogan Attacks European Leaders: They Rely on Armenian Lies2015-04-25 | أردوغان يهاجم قادة أوروبا: يعتمدون الأكاذيب الأرمنيةThe Misery of the World's Conscience2015-04-27 | بؤس الضمير العالميOn Armenians, Arabs and a Century of Displacement...2015-04-27 | عن الأرمن والعرب وقرن من التشرد...Turkey and its “Costly Isolation”2015-04-27 | تركيا و«عزلتها الثمينة»
Beirut-based Al-Nahar newspaper, known for its more liberal editorials, also published lengthy articles and reports on the centennial events.
Huge Demonstrations on the Centennial Commemoration: We Won’t Forget And Turkey Must Recognize and Compensateمسيرة ضخمة ومهرجان في ذكرى الإبادة: لن ننسى... وعلى تركيا الاعتراف والتعويضNew Dawn After 100 Yearsبعد مئة عام فجر جديدArab Eyewitnesses on the Armenian Genocideشواهد العرب على إبادة الأرمن
London-based Arabic newspaper Al-Quds Al-Arabi, which means Arab Jerusalem, has been known as one of the most liberal and critical platforms in the Arab media. Most of its editors and reporters have been secular Palestinian intellectuals since its foundation in the late 1980s until 2003, when it was bought by Qatar. Since then, the newspaper's policy has changed. Here are some of its headlines:
My Mother’s Eyes.. Thoughts on the Genocide of the Armenian People
عينا أمّي… أفكار عن الإبادة الجماعية للشعب الأرمني
Israel Insisting on Not Recognizing the Armenian Massacres
إسرائيل مصممة على عدم الاعتراف بمذبحة الأرمن
Armenia Launches the Formal Commemoration of the Centennial of Armenian Massacres
ارمينيا تبدأ مراسم إحياء الذكرى المئوية لمذابح الأرمن
وزير الإعلام اللبناني يطالب المجتمع الدولي بإحقاق الحق في القضية الأرمنية
Editorial: Centennial Commemoration of Armenian Tragedy.. Beyond Labels
الذكرى المئوية لمأساة الأرمن.. أبعد من التسميات - رأي القدس
Coming to war torn Syria, the media divisiveness on this issue somehow also mirrors the shattered image of the county in every other aspect. Turkey’s support for the armed rebel forces in the north of the country has pushed the Syrian government in the last few years to adopt a harsher stance against Turkey, using also the occasion of the Armenian Genocide anniversary. While the head of the Syrian National Assembly headed an official delegation at the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemoration in Yerevan, media sources linked with the Syrian government published numerous reports and news about the commemorative events.
On the other hand, Syrian opposition and activists circles, be it on social media or television and newspapers were more inclined to the official Turkish government position rather than Turkish civil society and the activist community inside Turkey. The Turkish government has been sponsoring the rebel movement and opposition circles since the start of the Syrian conflict. The owner of Orient TV, a staunch opposition figure, has been regularly posting hate speech against Syria’s minorities, especially Armenians, for over a year now. A report published by Orient TV claims that the atrocities committed by the Syrian Government is heavier than the century old “Armenian Massacres,” making an unsuccessful comparison by delving into victimhood competition involving denialism.
All in all, Arab media interpretations regarding the Armenian Genocide are very much connected with the respective country or the political circle to which it is connected. It mirrors the state of the divisiveness and uncertainty among Arab opinion makers regarding major human rights issues across the region and worldwide.
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