"Anti-Discrimination Coalition for Equality" In support of Sashik Sultanyan

2021/07/01-1627717768.jpg
Read: 1650     12:00     31 Июль 2021    

On October 3, 2020, the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia opened a criminal case against the head of the Yazidi Center for Human Rights, Sashik Sultanyan, based on an interview published on Yezidinews.am in June of the same year.

The investigator referred to several statements by Sultanyan in support of criminal prosecution based on inciting national hatred among the Yezidis, an ethnic minority in Armenia.

On July 29, 2021, the criminal case was sent to the RA Prosecutor General's Office with an indictment with a request to transfer it to the court for approval.

The human rights organization, which promotes a culture of equality in the fight against discrimination in Armenia, is deeply concerned about the above-mentioned events and condemns the similar practice of the prosecutor's office, which uses the norms of criminal law adopted to prevent ethnic hatred to hinder the organization's activities. In the course of its human rights activities, the organization fought for the vision of increasing the level of human rights protection in Armenia and building a safer country.

The non-governmental organization "Anti-Discrimination Coalition for Equality" also mentions in its statement:

Only the fact that throughout the entire war of 2020, Sashik Sultanyan addressed his foreign colleagues on his Facebook page, always presenting Armenia as his homeland. Calling for unity, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the Motherland and victory, already proves that neither he nor his actions have ever sought to incite hatred or national enmity. Seeing and voicing existing problems does not indicate incitement to hatred, but the intention to find ways to solve them and create a more favorable social environment.

Freedom of speech, beliefs and human rights activities in Armenia should be guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or other characteristics.

The Republic of Armenia has ratified a number of international regional documents, according to which it has committed itself to take measures to preserve and develop the Yezidi language, culture, and identity. The activities of the organization of Sashik Sultanyan, including the thoughts voiced by him, concerned the effective implementation by the Republic of Armenia of the obligations assumed under the above-mentioned international agreements. Criticism of the Republic of Armenia as a State within the framework of the proper implementation of its international obligations cannot be regarded as inciting hostility towards the Armenian people. The ability to express such criticism is one of the foundations of a democratic state. Moreover, such criticism is the main tool of human rights activities.

The qualification of the use of critical tools by a representative of a national minority as inciting ethnic hatred can in itself be regarded as discrimination on the basis of nationality.

The Coalition calls on the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia to prevent such a precedent, which sowed the soil of systemic discrimination.





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"Anti-Discrimination Coalition for Equality" In support of Sashik Sultanyan

2021/07/01-1627717768.jpg
Read: 1651     12:00     31 Июль 2021    

On October 3, 2020, the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia opened a criminal case against the head of the Yazidi Center for Human Rights, Sashik Sultanyan, based on an interview published on Yezidinews.am in June of the same year.

The investigator referred to several statements by Sultanyan in support of criminal prosecution based on inciting national hatred among the Yezidis, an ethnic minority in Armenia.

On July 29, 2021, the criminal case was sent to the RA Prosecutor General's Office with an indictment with a request to transfer it to the court for approval.

The human rights organization, which promotes a culture of equality in the fight against discrimination in Armenia, is deeply concerned about the above-mentioned events and condemns the similar practice of the prosecutor's office, which uses the norms of criminal law adopted to prevent ethnic hatred to hinder the organization's activities. In the course of its human rights activities, the organization fought for the vision of increasing the level of human rights protection in Armenia and building a safer country.

The non-governmental organization "Anti-Discrimination Coalition for Equality" also mentions in its statement:

Only the fact that throughout the entire war of 2020, Sashik Sultanyan addressed his foreign colleagues on his Facebook page, always presenting Armenia as his homeland. Calling for unity, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the Motherland and victory, already proves that neither he nor his actions have ever sought to incite hatred or national enmity. Seeing and voicing existing problems does not indicate incitement to hatred, but the intention to find ways to solve them and create a more favorable social environment.

Freedom of speech, beliefs and human rights activities in Armenia should be guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of their ethnicity, religion or other characteristics.

The Republic of Armenia has ratified a number of international regional documents, according to which it has committed itself to take measures to preserve and develop the Yezidi language, culture, and identity. The activities of the organization of Sashik Sultanyan, including the thoughts voiced by him, concerned the effective implementation by the Republic of Armenia of the obligations assumed under the above-mentioned international agreements. Criticism of the Republic of Armenia as a State within the framework of the proper implementation of its international obligations cannot be regarded as inciting hostility towards the Armenian people. The ability to express such criticism is one of the foundations of a democratic state. Moreover, such criticism is the main tool of human rights activities.

The qualification of the use of critical tools by a representative of a national minority as inciting ethnic hatred can in itself be regarded as discrimination on the basis of nationality.

The Coalition calls on the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia to prevent such a precedent, which sowed the soil of systemic discrimination.





Tags: