WASHINGTON, April 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Armenian
National Institute (ANI) announced the launch of an Arabic version
of its widely consulted website on the Armenian Genocide, which
will continue to be expanded over the coming months. The site can
be accessed at arabic.armenian-genocide.org or through the main ANI
site at https://www.armenian-genocide.org/.
The ANI website contains extensive records on the history and
affirmation of the World War I-era Armenian Genocide, when 1.5
million Armenians fell victim to the Young Turk government's policy
of mass deportation and annihilation. The initial release of the
Arabic language site includes the Chronology of the Genocide, FAQs,
original documentation, archival material, references on
international affirmation, and contemporaneous photo evidence, as
well as links to the online Armenian Genocide Museum of America,
legal documents, focused exhibits, teaching resources and more.
"These resources have not been available to Arabic speakers in
the past, yet the role many Arab states played in mitigating the
effects of the Armenian Genocide and the dangers posed by the
Turkish government's efforts to deny and rewrite that history are
as alive as ever. We know the consequences of Turkey's censorship on its own history and are
pleased to provide these resources to Arabic reading scholars,
teachers, and the public," stated ANI Chairman Van Krikorian. "During the Genocide, of course
the Ottoman Turkish government used Arabic script, including to
record the government's own post-war trials where Turkish leaders
were convicted of planning and executing the extermination of the
Armenian race. We will be adding original Arabic script documents
in time as well. Most of all, we thank all those who contributed to
this project's development and look forward to its expansion,"
Krikorian noted.
Large diaspora communities formed across the Arab world after
the Armenian Genocide. In contrast to the destruction of ancient
Armenian centers across Ottoman Turkey, newly-formed Middle East communities created by survivors
and refugees recovered and flourished over the following decades,
and substantial Armenian communities continue to exist across the
region. Countries like Lebanon and Syria are also among the list of 30 countries
that have formally recognized the Armenian Genocide.
Among the earliest critics of the Young Turk policy of genocide
was the Sharif of Mecca, Al-Husayn
ibn 'Ali, who called upon fellow Muslims to protect, help, and
defend the deported Armenians. This remarkable pronouncement by the
guardian of the Holy Places of Islam was largely heeded and stood
in sharp contrast to the proclamation of jihad by the religious
leadership in the Ottoman capital of Istanbul.
The ANI site also includes links to memorials around the world,
including to the "Armenian Genocide Memorial Church" in
Der Zor, Syria which was intentionally destroyed by
terrorist forces coordinating with the Erdogan regime in
Turkey in 2014.
Once again, a first-rate team of supporters and volunteers
helped ANI's professional staff realize the production of the
Arabic language version of the ANI website. Genny Chekerjian took
on the task of translating substantial portions of the large
quantity of information posted on the site. Hagop Vartivarian provided editorial support,
while Vatche Sarkissian closely
collaborated with Chekerjian to provide as accurate a rendition of
vital records as possible, and coordinated with longtime ANI
webmaster Mark Malkasian to upload
the site in the Arabic script.
"The continuous expansion of the ANI website and its
translations have been the collaborative project of numerous
supporters across the Armenian diaspora and our non-Armenian
friends who appreciate the importance of making the critical
records on Armenian Genocide affirmation easily accessible," stated
ANI Director Dr. Rouben Adalian.
"From across the continents they have shared their time, talent,
and encouragement. The Arabic version is a work in progress, and we
welcome constructive comments from scholars and the community of
concerned individuals working to defend human rights and protect
human life everywhere in the world."
ANI maintains a broad range of online resources about the
Armenian Genocide. The online museum is an interactive site
allowing visitors to proceed at their own pace and includes a very
popular introductory video. Several digital exhibits released by
ANI since the centennial of the Armenian Genocide cover many
aspects of the experience of the Armenian people starting in 1915.
The ANI digital exhibits are based on photographic collections from
U.S. archival repositories and document the extensive humanitarian
intervention of American volunteers, who arrived in Armenia and across the Middle East in the immediate aftermath of the
genocide.
The leading institutional website on the Armenian Genocide since
its inception 24 years ago, the ANI website annually registers
millions of hits. Widely consulted by educators and students, the
site is also a major source of information in preparation of
April 24 commemorative activities
utilized by journalists, government officials, and the public. The
creation of the Arabic language ANI site follows the earlier
successful launch of the Turkish and Spanish language versions of
the site. More information on the Armenian Genocide can also be
ascertained via the ANI Twitter handle.
Founded in 1997, the Armenian National Institute (ANI) is a
501(c)(3) educational charity based in Washington, D.C., and is
dedicated to the study, research, and affirmation of the Armenian
Genocide.
NR# 2021-01