10 January 2009, 17:12
In Turkey, Prosecutor's Office starts investigation against those who apologised for genocide of Armenians
The Turkish Public Prosecutor has launched an investigation against a group of Turkish citizens who published in one of Turkish websites a public apology to the Armenian nation for the massacre of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
On December 15, 2008, the Turkish website named "Ozurdiliyoruz.com" launched a campaign "Armenians, forgive us". During two days, the petition published in the website under this slogan was signed by about 11,000 persons. To counterbalance this initiative, an anti-campaign was launched - the website sizozurdileyin.com appeared, where the opponents of this apology were offered to leave their votes.
Six accusers brought an action to the Ankara Court demanding to close the website with the apology letter, as the Radio Liberty reports. The organizers of the apology action - more than two hundred scientists, writers and journalists - were accused of insulting the Turkish nation.
"We demand to penalize them with a huge fine for insulting the Turkish nation and to close this Internet website," said a spokesman of the Turkish Prosecutor's Office. The Office will summon the organizers of the apology campaign for giving evidences.
According to the Agency Panorama.am, currently, the website opened for signing-in the apology to the Armenian nation has signatures of 26,770 Turks.
