Turkish Dutch convicted for Inciting Violence Against Armenians

Armenian Community of Holland welcomes verdict

Press release. Joint Armenian Organisations  

The Hague/Almelo, 17 March 2017 - Today the Court in Almelo convicted the chairman of the Turkish Azerbaijani Cultural Association in The Hague for inciting violence against Armenians. The Armenian community in the Netherlands, namely the Dutch Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy (Hay Tad) an the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) welcomes the verdict, as it puts a halt to the aggression against the Armenian minority in the Netherlands and elsewhere.

The court decided to convict the man with a more severe punishment than the prosecutor had demanded. Namely, 120 hours of community service and one month of suspended imprisonment with a probation of 2 years. The prosecutor demanded 80 hours of community service and a suspended imprisonment of 2 weeks with a probation of 2 years.

The more severe punishment is necessary according to the court, because of the seriousness of the fact, and the way that it occurred. He referred also to the fact that the man stands with his statement and did not show any insight in the case. Furthermore, there is a danger of recidivism.

He is prosecuted for having chanted: “Karabakh will be the grave of the Armenians” during a Turkish rally in Almelo.

As previously announced, on 1 June 2014 a Turkish demonstration took place in Almelo, against the Genocide memorial erected on the churchyard of the Armenian Apostolic Church in that city.

The Armenian community, namely the Dutch Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy (Hay Tad) and the Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands (FAON) had filed a police report against the statements made during that demonstration.

Dutch Armenian Committee for Justice and Democracy - Hay Tad

Federation of Armenian Organisations in the Netherlands - FAON.