Posted by Khatchig Mouradian
Hungarian Activists to hold demonstrations this week. “This mistake has to be rectified by us, Hungarians!”
wrote one. “Today, I am ashamed of being a Hungarian,” wrote another. “I
apologize to all Armenians, and particularly to the family of Gurgen
Margaryan,” said a third.
Politicians, religious leaders, and activists in Hungary
issued statements apologizing to Armenians and criticizing the extradition.
They echoed the sentiments of tens of thousands of
Hungarians outraged by their government’s decision to extradite Margaryan’s
murderer, Ramil Safarov, to his home country Azerbaijan, where he received a
hero’s welcome, was pardoned, and promoted.
In 2004, Safarov murdered Margaryan, an Armenian
lieutenant, in Hungary with an axe, while the latter was asleep. He was
sentenced to life in prison.
Politicians, religious leaders, and activists in Hungary
commented on the extradition, apologizing to Armenians and criticizing the
extradition.
The president of the Hungarian Catholic Bishops’
Conference, Card. Péter Erdő, issued a statement expressing “full solidarity
with the Armenian Christians and with the Armenian people that has so much
suffered in the past.”
“We ask the Almighty that through the intercession of the
Blessed Virgin Mary He might lead and protect the whole Armenian people and
bless them with the gift of justice and peace,” read the statement.
Wreaths were placed in memory of Margaryan at Deák square
in Budapest.
Various newspapers and blogs published articles
denouncing the Hungarian government.
Demonstrations are planned for early this week in front
of the Ministry of Justice and the Parliament of Hungary to express outrage at
the decision to extradite Safarov.
Thousands of Hungarians joined Facebook groups
apologizing for their government’s action. One such group, called “Sorry,
Armenia,” had close to 8,000 “Likes” as of Sept. 2.
Another Facebook group, “Hungarians are sorry, Armenia,”
had 2,000 “Likes.”
Wreaths were placed in memory of Margaryan at Deák square
in Budapest (see photo).
Fifteen Hungarians lined up on a street each holding a
letter of the phrase “Sorry, Armenia!” (see photo).
‘Unacceptable, amoral act’
Benedek Zsigmond, a Hungarian Armenologist, made moving
statements in Yerevan, in fluent Armenian, apologizing for the “unacceptable,
amoral act.” He added, “That which the Hungarian government has done flies in
the face of all moral and panhuman values.”
Fifteen Hungarians lined up on a street each holding a
letter of the phrase ‘Sorry, Armenia!’
“Many Hungarians are apologizing for the government’s
action. They do it both in Hungarian and in English. Moreover, some people say,
‘I feel shame that I am Hungarian,’” Zsigmond told the Armenian Weekly in an
interview.
Hungarians we interviewed not only expressed shame and outrage,
but insisted they would continue petitioning, protesting, and demonstrating
until their government did all it could to rectify the situation, and until
those involved in the extradition were held accountable.
Ildiko Fülep, a Hungarian living in Vienna, told the
Weekly, “As someone who knows Armenia’s culture and history, I’m deeply shocked
by my government’s decision. I feel like my government put a knife in the back
of Armenians, and it also cheated its own nation.”
‘Please, do not burn our flag’
Some Hungarians pleaded with Armenians to refrain from
burning the Hungarian flag during demonstrations against the Hungarian
government. “The Hungarian flag is not a symbol of the government, but the
Hungarian people!” said one.
Another Hungarian blogger we interviewed noted,
“Remember, that is also the flag of the tens of thousands of Hungarians who are
against the actions of the government, and will demonstrate and protest against
it.”
“Burn the photo of [Hungarian Prime Minister] Viktor
Orbán instead,” she added.
The Hungarian flag was burned during a demonstration in
Yerevan on Sept. 1.
A follow-up to this story will be published later this
week. Please send your letters, comments, and relevant links to the author at
editor@armenianweekly.com or contact him on Twitter by clicking here.
Hiç yorum yok:
Yorum Gönder
Not: Yalnızca bu blogun üyesi yorum gönderebilir.