Armen Karo Student Assoctiation

Lebanon - The General Security Department has prohibited the broadcast on Lebanese televisions of the Armenian music video sung by Eileen Khatchadourian. The song is called Zartir Vortyiag (Awake my child). It is an ancient Armenian patriotic song which tells the story of a mother who said her son "will fight the enemy with the sacred banner on  the  right shoulder " .

"The song does not mention the word  Turkey or the Ottoman Empire," Khatchadourian said, "I was told I could only show the clip on April 24th, the day commemorating the genocide of the  Armenians on the local channels only, namely the Future TV and LBCI. When I asked why, the answer was that "Lebanon currently has very good relations with Turkey and we do not want the song to offend the Turkish ambassador, '" she says,"I then replied that the song does not mention Turkey, I am a Lebanese Armenian,  and my community has members in the Lebanese Parliament, and that Lebanon is one of the first countries to recognize the Armenian Genocide".

The Armenian parties, Tashnag, Henchag & Ramgavar have been advised of the case and intend to protest.

The news was a big shock to the Lebanese and International community. Documentaries about the Armenian Genocide were broadcasted this  past week  in France, Germany, Canada, USA and most countries.

In Turkey, Penal Code 301 prohibits any citizen  from talking about the Genocide. A prominent Turkish lawyer is being sued under Article 301 of the Turkish penal code for submitting a case to an Ankara court to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Turkish Televisions and newspapers cannot use the word Genocide in any article or TV program.

Is Turkish Penal Code 301 being applied in Lebanon  by the Turkish Ambassador? Did Lebanon forget that in  the  year 2000, its government had  recognized the Armenian Genocide? Is the Turkish Ambassador more important to the Lebanese government than its citizens?