Turkish newspaper addresses fight over calling Ataturk Armenian
A columnist for the Milliyet daily of Turkey, Melih Asik, addressed a controversial video that received a lot of attention in the Turkish internet a few days ago.
In the aforementioned video, a person complains that money is being spent on the renovation of the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey.
In response, the “reporter” emphasizes to this person that it is thanks to Ataturk that he did not become Armenian, to which the person replies that Ataturk was an Armenian, too.
Subsequently, a passerby who witnessed the interview begins to hit the person who called Ataturk Armenian.
The aforementioned columnist for Milliyet complains that the word “Armenian” is still used as an insult in Turkey.
He stresses that Armenians in Turkey are equal and respected citizens like everyone else.
“Armenians are a nation with culture. They have played an important role in our [i.e. Turkey’s] history. There should be nothing but respect for Armenians. Being Armenian is neither a sin nor a mistake. Insult should not be made by ethnic differences.,” the Milliyet columnist added.
