Truth and Accountability League Issues Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg Urging Meta to Ban Armenian Genocide Denial

 

Holds Mark Zuckerberg accountable for Meta’s ongoing facilitation of genocide denial and anti-Armenian propaganda

 

Los Angeles — Truth And Accountability League (TAAL), a nonprofit advocacy organization dedicated to combating disinformation, bias, and propaganda against the Armenian people, has released an open letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling for an immediate policy change prohibiting denial and distortion of the Armenian Genocide across Meta’s platforms.

 

TAAL’s letter highlights the disparity between Meta’s prohibition of Holocaust denial and its continued allowance of Armenian Genocide denial, despite overwhelming scholarly consensus and formal recognition by governments around the world. The organization argues that genocide denial is a form of abuse, a driver of ongoing violence, and a violation of the principles Meta claims to uphold.

 

In a statement, TAAL Founder and Chair Vic Gerami said:

“Armenians are a small global community, yet our trauma is vast. Our history should be understood in solidarity with all peoples who have survived genocide. Shared trauma and intersectionality ought to unite victims of mass atrocities. Instead, Armenians are too often treated as second class citizens when our suffering is denied or minimized.”

 

Open Letter to Mark Zuckerberg

 

Dear Mr. Zuckerberg,

 

Several years ago, Facebook took a principled and necessary step by prohibiting content that denies or distorts the Holocaust. It was the right decision, rooted in truth, historical responsibility, and a commitment to preventing the spread of harmful disinformation that fuels hatred and violence.

 

I am writing to urge Meta to apply that same standard to the Armenian Genocide, which remains one of the most documented and universally recognized atrocities of the twentieth century. The Armenian Genocide is acknowledged by historians, scholars, human rights organizations, and dozens of governments that have affirmed it as historical fact. These include the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Greece, Cyprus, Russia, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Lithuania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Austria, Portugal, Luxembourg, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Lebanon, Syria, and Vatican City, among others.

 

In the United States, recognition progressed through a rare moment of overwhelming bipartisan consensus. The House of Representatives passed its resolution in November 2019 with near unanimity, followed by the Senate in December 2019 with unanimous approval. President Biden then issued the first formal presidential recognition in April 2021.

 

This recognition by governments reflects what scholars have known for decades. The International Association of Genocide Scholars, along with leading historians, archivists, and legal experts, has repeatedly affirmed that there is no legitimate academic debate about whether the Armenian Genocide occurred. The historical record is clear and supported by Ottoman archives, diplomatic reports, survivor testimonies, and extensive scholarly literature.

 

The consequences of denial have been profound and far-reaching. In 1939, Adolf Hitler referenced the world’s silence regarding the Armenian Genocide while preparing for the invasion of Poland, asking his generals, “Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians.” His words demonstrate the direct line between unchallenged denial and future atrocities. When crimes against humanity are ignored or minimized, perpetrators take note.

 

Denial does not exist in a vacuum. It has contributed directly to a century of persecution and violence against Armenians. Most recently, the campaign of ethnic cleansing in Artsakh was justified through the same rhetoric of erasure that has circulated freely on social media. Disinformation and denial online embolden those who believe they can act with impunity. These narratives helped pave the way for the forced displacement of more than one hundred thousand Armenians from their ancestral homeland in 2023.

 

This is not about comparing tragedies. It is not about weighing one genocide against another or suggesting any hierarchy of suffering. The Holocaust is a singular historic crime against humanity. The Armenian Genocide is also a historic crime against humanity. Both deserve the same standard of truth and protection from denial, distortion, and deceit. Denial of any genocide harms real communities, fosters hostility, emboldens extremists, and continues the cycle of erasure.

 

For Armenians, the consequences of denial are ongoing. The descendants of survivors endure coordinated disinformation campaigns funded and disseminated by state actors. These campaigns aim to erase history, delegitimize trauma, and justify continuing violence. Social media platforms, especially Meta’s, have become central battlegrounds where this disinformation circulates without restriction. The harm is not theoretical. It is active, immediate, and deeply felt.

 

Several years ago, when Meta updated its policies to remove Holocaust denial, Armenians hoped that the company would apply the same principle to all recognized genocides. The precedent has been established. Meta acknowledged that genocide denial is not an opinion but a mechanism of abuse. By exempting the Armenian Genocide from these protections, Meta has created a disparity that should not exist.

 

I respectfully ask that Meta update its policies to include denial and distortion of the Armenian Genocide as prohibited content. This would not only align with historical truth but also affirm Meta’s stated values regarding safety, dignity, and the protection of vulnerable communities. Equal treatment of all recognized genocides strengthens Meta’s credibility and advances the global fight against hate and misinformation.

 

Truth should not be selective. Safety should not be selective. If denial is harmful, it is harmful regardless of which community is targeted.

 

Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I hope Meta will take this important step toward consistency, fairness, and historical integrity.

 

Sincerely,

Vic Gerami

Founder and Chair

Truth and Accountability League (TAAL)