Ragip Zarakolu: ‘The Turkish Authorities Go on Leading Policy of Denial of the Armenian Genocide’

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 7, ARMENPRESS: A meeting with Ragip Zarakolu, famous Turkish activist, director and owner of Belge Publishing House, was held today at the Armenian National Library. Belge Publishing House published a number of works of art and science on the Armenian Genocide, as well as books on Turkey’s violations against national minorities and works of many Armenian authors. Ragip Zarakolu says this year they published Teodik’s ‘Monument April 11’ book, dedicated to Hrant Dink, who ‘was the last Armenian intellectual, killed in Constantinople after 1915’.

‘Our publishing house was found 1977; since then we have always worked and will go on working for the truth,’ Mr. Zarakolu said. He added that they face many difficulties when spreading their books, as bookshops do not want to sell books, which may have any connection with the Armenian Cause. ‘In the past the Turkish authorities were lodging sues against us and tried to exert economic pressure on us,’ the publisher said. ‘The Turkish authorities go on leading policy of denial of the Armenian Genocide’.

He added that the Turkish authorities sponsor the spreading of literature of denial, ‘however now the situation has been improved due to the internet, which grants people an opportunity to get acquainted with the truth’. Istanbul Penal Court No2 sentenced Ragıp Zarakolu to 5 years of imprisonment in connection with British writer George Jerjian’s book, entitled ‘The Truth Will Set Us Free’, about the Armenian genocide. The charges related to Article 301. According to a later verdict of the court, Ragıp Zarakolu was imposed a penalty instead of imprisonment.