Istanbul Authorities Ban Armenian Genocide Commemoration Event Planned for April 24

Authorities in Istanbul have once again banned a planned Armenian Genocide commemoration event scheduled for April 24, the annual day of remembrance observed by Armenians around the world. The decision affects an initiative by members of the local Armenian community who had sought to organize a public gathering to mark the occasion.

According to the Istanbul-based Armenian newspaper Agos, the organizers, known as the April 24 Remembrance Platform, had submitted a formal request to hold a commemorative rally. The event was planned to take place at 19:00 in the Kadıköy district, outside the Süreyya Opera House, a well-known cultural venue on the city’s Asian side.

The request was denied by the Istanbul governorate, continuing a pattern that has developed in recent years. According to the same source, organizers noted that similar applications have repeatedly been rejected, despite the fact that, before the COVID-19 pandemic, such commemorative events were regularly held in different parts of the city, particularly in Istanbul.

In a statement cited by Agos, the organizers stressed that holding remembrance events is a democratic right. They called on authorities to reconsider the decision and allow the gathering to proceed.

The group also underlined the purpose of the planned event, saying that such commemorations are meant to honor the memory of those killed in the Armenian Genocide. They added that these gatherings also serve a broader role in supporting public remembrance and encouraging societies to confront historical events openly.

The April 24 remembrance day holds deep significance for Armenians worldwide, marking the beginning of the mass arrests of Armenian intellectuals in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. Public commemorations have long been an important part of how communities remember the victims and reflect on historical accountability.

—

Support independent reporting from the region by subscribing to The Armenian Report. Our team is funded solely by readers like you.