European politics flex at Turkish-origin deputy over refusal to recognize 1915 incidents as genocide

Following the incident with Democratic Humanist Center (CDH) Deputy Mahinur Özdemir being expelled from her party in Belgium on Friday due to resisting pressure from members of her party and rejecting to call the 1915 incidents genocide, Europe's tolerance for freedom of speech began to be questioned once more. As the incident continues to be discussed, similar incidents in a number of European countries come to the minds of many. While the Belgian government and the European Union did not take initiative in regard to Özdemir's issue, previous incidents revealed that the Dutch parliament is also one of the leading countries in regard to intolerance of freedom of expression.

Former Dutch deputies of Turkish origin, Selçuk Öztürk and Tunahan Kuzu, were also expelled from the Dutch Labor Party in 2006 after they refused to apologize for critical remarks on the integration policy of Dutch Labor Party (PvdA) Deputy Prime Minister, Lodewijk Asscher. Öztürk and Kuzu said Asscher was planning to step up surveillance on four Turkish religious organizations in the Netherlands that Asscher said he felt were "hindering integration with the Dutch community." Asscher further claimed that the Turkish organizations were too introverted and focused too much on "strengthening Turkish-Islamic identity" and said the situation could lead to a "departure from Dutch customs, norms and values." In addition to Öztürk and Kuzu, Erdinç Saçan from the PvdA as well as Osman Elmacı and Ayhan Tonca from the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) were expelled from their parties in late 2006 due to their refusal to recognize the 1915 incidents as genocide.

European countries intolerance for freedom of expression also displayed itself in France when Sırma Oran Martz, who is a Turkish-origin politician, was confronted by the Armenian diaspora after she got into local politics by joining the Green Party in the city of her residence, Lyon-Villeurbane. Oran Martz was forced to resign from her position due to her refusal to recognize the 1915 incidents as genocide as stipulated by the Socialist-Green platform.

With reactions from many throughout the world on social media continuing, historian and demographer Professor Justin McCarthy of the University of Louisville said that "the Belgian parliament's stance against Özdemir is against democracy."

Although politicians from the Belgian government have not made any official comments supporting Özdemir, speaking exclusively to Daily Sabah, she said a number of politicians from the CDH as well as deputies from other Belgian parties have personally called her and expressed their full support. Özdemir further said: "The support from Turkey is highly significant. I am also receiving numerous emails and phone calls all of which express support, and describe the incident as a strike against democracy and against freedom of expression." She further emphasized that the support she has been receiving is not only from Turkey and Turks, but also from many people of different backgrounds throughout the world as well as Belgium.