1. What is defamation?
In short, defamation is a statement that injures a third party’s reputation.
Defamation includes both libel (written statements) and slander (spoken statements).
2. What is racial defamation?
Racial defamation can be defined as damaging statements or accusations made against an individual or group of individuals due to their race.
3. Do people of Turkish descent face any racial defamation in the United States of America?
Yes, people of Turkish descent constantly face racist, defamatory allegations primarily from the hostile organizations and their followers.
These attackers follow the ideology of the betrayer groups who fought in WWI as a proxy and belligerents against their own country Ottoman Empire and on the side of France, Russia, England and Italy (Entente powers).
These organizations claim that Turks have committed act(s) of genocide against their ancestors during WWI and the Turkish War of Independence. Not only these defamatory statements have no historical and legal merit, but also the Turkish-Americans who stand accused are being victimized only due to their racial heritage or national origin.
4. What type of racial defamations Turkish-Americans face with in their daily life?
The type of racially defamatory statements Turkish-Americans face today from the members of Armenian, Greek and other hostile diaspora organizations almost on a daily basis are general blanket statements such as:
• Being a member of Mongoloid, destructive, rapist and genocidal race (for being a Turk);
• Being a “genocide denier” if a Turkish-American refuses to accept the above statement.
5. In what environments Turkish-Americans face with racial defamation?
Turkish Americans may face these kinds of defamatory statements almost anywhere: On social media, at public places, at social gatherings, at work, at a restaurant, at school etc.
6. What is the root cause of these racial defamations against Turkish-Americans?
The root cause of these racially defamatory statements is the constant hate speech perpetuated by including Armenian, Greek and other diaspora organizations that are hostile to Turks, in the form of propaganda. These hostile diaspora organizations collect significant sums of money from their constituents for their Anti-Turkish political activism and lobbying, which motivates them to perpetuate such hate speech.
7. Who supports these racial defamations against Turkish-Americans?
Primarily Armenian, Greek and other diaspora organizations that are hostile to Turks and the politicians who accept political contributions and endorsements from them.
8. What do the defamers plan to gain from these attacks?
Please remember that these attackers are the offspring of the groups who fought for Entente Powers in WWI against Ottoman Empire.
They plan to gain more control power over their local politicians and create pressure on Turkiye indirectly and seek some form of political recognition from Turkiye and reparations in the form of money or land.
9. What motivates the politicians to support the defamers against Turks?
Politicians, especially “career politicians”, would like to get elected and if elected, they would like to retain that political power. For that matter, they are motivated by money in the form of campaign contributions, votes and political endorsements that would guarantee their election.
10. Are Senators politicians?
Yes, they are politicians elected for Senate seats in the US Congress. However, when Senators are sworn in, they swear to uphold the Constitution and remain impartial towards racial minorities in their official lawmaker capacities.
11. Is the President a politician?
Yes, the President is essentially a politician that gets elected for the Presidential position in the White House. However, when Presidents are sworn in, they swear to uphold the Constitution and remain impartial towards racial minorities in their executive capacities.
12. Why are Armenian-Americans or other defamers and their supporters not facing with any legal actions against them since they defame Turkish- Americans on all platforms every day?
Because, in US law all the victims need to submit their complaints to civil courts that they are the victims of racial defamatory actions. Until this process is completed and civil courts decide to ban Anti-Turkish activities and protect Turkish-Americans on US soil against racial attacks, no federal or state law will make any maneuver to protect Turkish-Americans.
In US law, a group or class of people cannot sue for what is called “group defamation” unfortunately. However, if a defamatory statement is made about a group or class of people and the group is small enough or the statement is presented in such a way that it is understood to refer to an individual or individuals who are members of the group or class, the individuals may have a claim. Turks, however, usually do not bring civil suits for the racial defamatory or hate speech that targets them thinking that hate speech may be covered by laws protecting free speech. This is in fact a crucial mistake that keeps the Turkish-American community from being able to establish valid legal precedents. However, when a civil suit is filed, the law would require claimants to demonstrate/prove a real defamation, or verifiable imminent threat.
13. What are the historical events of 1915 which Armenians and U.S. politicians keep talking about?
Leading decades to WWI and during WWI, England, France, Russia and Italy together formed a group called Entente powers which combined their smuggling activities, spy agents, intelligence, military forces and fought Ottoman Empire. They used as many minorities of Ottoman Empire who were the Ottoman citizens as proxy militants for their cold war and hot war operations for WWI.
Some of these minorities including eastern Anatolia Armenians and Assyrians (Süryani) cooperated with the Entente powers.
Entente powers promised some of the Ottoman lands to these minorities if they fight on Entente powers side to win the war against Turks.
War didn’t end as the Entente powers were expected. Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians and other secession seeker groups did not receive the promised lands because Turks fought back and protected their land from betrayers and Entente powers.
Since then, these Ottoman minorities are still used as proxy militants and cold war propaganda tools by the same Entente powers.
Especially during the decline of the Ottoman Empire and the WWI years, due to the influence of certain foreign countries, Armenians defined establishing an independent Armenia in Anatolia as their national goal. For this purpose, they led many terrorist attacks in different periods, starting from the 16th century and intensifying in the last quarter of the 19th century. These terrorist activities continued during WWI.
When these secessionists endangered the survival of the Ottoman Empire during WWI, in consultation with Germany, an ally of the Ottoman State at the time, Ottomans decided to conditionally and temporarily relocate and resettle the eastern war zone population of the Ottoman-Armenian population in May of 1915. This was mostly due to criminal acts encouraged by certain Armenian political factions (such as ARF) that directly targeted the Ottoman Army such as: Poisoning the bread and water of the army, spying for the Russian army, joining the enemy (Russian) army, deserting the army with their weapons etc. So, Eastern Anatolia Armenians and Turks were temporarily removed from the areas surrounding battlefields and relocated to other parts of Ottoman Empire in Syria, in consultation with German military leadership. Armenians allege 1.5 million Armenians died during this relocation, which is completely false. A very significant position of the relocated population actually survived the war and moved to other countries after the war.
14. What do Turkish Americans need to know about the WWI in a nutshell?
WWI was a hot war between Ottoman, German and Austrian-Hungarian Empires on one side and England, France, Russia, Italy and their proxy militants and supporters (who were Ottoman citizen and minorities which include Armenians, Assyrians and Greeks etc.) on the other side.
As the war ended, Ottoman, Russian and German Empires collapsed, and new successor states were formed to replace them. Multiple new counties were formed under the control of Entente powers. However, proxy militants did not get fully what they were promised by their Entente partners.
15. What are the international treaties and events that took place around the WWI era related to Ottoman Empire and the successor state Republic of Turkiye?
At the end of WWI, Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on October 30, 1918.
Under the terms of the armistice, Ottomans surrendered their remaining garrisons in Hejaz, Yemen, Syria, Mesopotamia, Tripolitania, and Cyrenaica; the Allies were to occupy the Straits of the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, Batum (now in southwest Georgia), and the Taurus tunnel system; and the Allies won the right to occupy “in case of disorder” the six provinces where Armenians lived in Anatolia (called “Vilayeti Sitte” in Turkish) and to seize “any strategic points” in case of a threat to Allied security. The Ottoman army was demobilized, and Turkish ports, railways, and other strategic points were made available for use by the Allies.
Following the Armistice of Mudros, on August 10, 1920, Treaty of Sèvres was signed as a post-WWI pact between the victorious Allied powers and representatives of the Ottoman government.
The treaty effectively abolished the Ottoman Empire and obliged Turkey to renounce all rights over Arab Asia and North Africa. The pact also provided for an independent Armenia, for an autonomous Kurdistan region, and for a Greek presence in Eastern Thrace and on the Anatolian west coast, as well as Greek control over the Aegean islands commanding the Dardanelles.
The Treaty of Sèvres was rejected by the new Turkish Grand National Assembly government, because its terms would only leave a small enclave to the remaining Turkish population in Central Anatolia following WWI. If they accepted these terms, surrounded by hostile powers, Turks would face a certain genocide in their own homeland.
However, as the Turkish Grand National Assembly government rejected the Treaty of Sèvres, the British Empire responded by arming the Greek Army through an international arms dealer called Basil Zaharoff and had the Greek Army invade the west coast of Anatolia, which triggered the Turkish War of Independence led by General Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.
As Ataturk’s forces came victorious, Treaty of Sèvres was eventually replaced by the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923, modern day Turkish Republic was founded, and the Turkish nation was saved from being subject to a certain genocide in their own homeland.
16. Is genocide a legal term like murder or theft?
Yes, genocide is a legal term like murder or theft, and it is the most destructive criminal act known to humankind. This legal term cannot be floated around casually without a court verdict from ICC, ICJ or a duly appointed international tribunal.
17. What is the definition of genocide?
Genocide is the action of a country’s government or an individual to destroy a certain ethnic group completely or partially with a clearly provable specific intent.
18. Which authorities can decide whether a government’s actions constitute genocide or not?
Only the judicial branch of the United Nations which is Intentional Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC) or International Tribunals can adjudicate matters related to genocide charges. No other authority has jurisdiction and rights to declare judgment or try an event under the genocide topic.
19. Can political parties or civil organizations or countries’ parliaments or senates declare an event as genocide?
Political parties or civil organizations or countries’ parliaments or senates do not have any jurisdiction or legal right to declare or judge a historical event as genocide. The power to adjudicate genocide matters is reserved to ICJ, ICC and other duly authorized International Tribunals.
20. Who has the official jurisdiction to try a complaint on genocide matters?
International Court of Justice (ICJ), International Criminal Court (ICC), and other duly authorized International Tribunals.
21. Which authority should people contact if they believe an event is a genocide in the history?
People can bring their case against International Criminal Court (ICC) unless there is an international tribunal is formed to adjudicate the matter. ICJ sees genocide cases that are brought by countries against other countries.
22. Can you list all genocides which were officially tried and had a court verdict by the ICJ and ICC?
Bosnia (Bosnia and Herzegovina v Serbia and Montenegro) by ICJ
Rwanda by International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda
Yugoslavia by International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia
Holocaust, in particular, was not tried by the ICC or ICJ. It was tried by the Nuremberg International Military Tribunal under crimes against humanity, disturbing peace etc. as The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (CPPCG) was not in effect at the time.
23. Can you list the events that are not officially tried and cannot be announced as genocide until an official trial takes place at ICJ?
Except Bosnia, Rwanda, Yugoslavia and the Nuremberg trials and cases none of the allegations including Japanese, Native Indians, Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians or South American Indigenous Nations and many more allegations have never been submitted to any duly appointed courts of law by the allegators (complainers).
No party can be presumed or declared guilty of genocide unless the ICJ, ICC or special tribunals release a verdict about it.
ICC, ICJ and international tribunals try all parties under the presumption of innocence and with the trappings of due process.
24. In what forms racial defamation against Turkish-Americans can occur?
Racial defamation can come in visual, verbal or written forms and may even lead to physical attacks.
25. In what environments can we face with racial defamation?
You may face defamation virtually in any environment; at work, while walking on the streets, while recreating in parks or public areas, or surfing online etc.
26. What should we do if we become a victim of a racial defamation in schools, work environment, in public places such as parks and streets and/or internet platforms?
You can immediately get in touch with TADA or contact your attorney since this is a criminal act against your civil rights. It is vital for your future and your own protection to raise your voice and defend your rights.
27. Are we protected from racial defamation by the laws in the United States?
Yes, all people in the United States including visitors and tourists are protected by the Constitution, The Civil Rights Act and other anti-racism statutes.
28. Do we have any rights to protect ourselves from the attackers?
You can always submit your complaints to civil courts if you believe your civil rights are violated by racial defamers.
29. What are our legal rights in the United States against racial defamation?
No one can discriminate against you due to your point of view on any topic (including genocide)
Your freedom of speech cannot be censored.
Your civil rights are listed in the US constitution and Civil Rights Act of 1964
30. What are our constitutional rights as Turkish-Americans?
YOU have a right to be free from discrimination based on your Turkish heritage in contracting, employment, or public accommodations like restaurants, hotels, or stores etc.
YOU have a right to be free from hate crimes motivated by hostility based on your Turkish identity. Hate crimes include murder, assault, battery, arson, or stalking. Hate crimes also authorize you as a companion to criminal prosecution to bring civil damage lawsuits against the wrongdoer to recover money to make you whole.
YOU have a right to be free from defamation, intimidation, threats, or coercion because of your Turkish heritage. These rights may be enforced by civil damage suits in federal or state courts to extract money from the wrongdoers. Per The US Constitution, all citizens enjoy equal protection under the law.
YOU have a right to dispute the unproven Armenian genocide claims in public forums or with public officials without retaliation or retribution including government firing, demotion, defamation, or any other adverse action. These rights may be enforced by civil damage suits in state or federal courts seeking money to compensate for your injuries or reinstatement.
31. What is freedom of speech?
Freedom of speech is the right to express any opinions without censorship or restraint.
You need to be careful about your freedom of speech, it has limits, if you defame others with your speech content you may easily get punished by the law.
32. What is hate speech?
One common definition of hate speech is: “Any form of expression through which speakers intend to vilify, humiliate or incite hatred against a group or a class of persons on the basis of race, religion, skin color, sexual identity, gender identity, ethnicity, disability or national origin.”
33. Is hate speech protected by freedom of speech?
Hate speech may be offensive and hurtful; however, it is generally protected by the First Amendment. But it does not mean you can defame others with your speech. Courts have ruled that restrictions on hate speech would conflict with the First Amendment’s protection of the freedom of expression.
With these considerations in mind, courts in the United States have found that expression generally cannot be punished based on its content or viewpoint. However, although hate speech, alone, receives constitutional protection, any expression that constitutes a true threat, incitement to imminent lawless action, discriminatory harassment or defamation is punishable by the law.
34. What are the limits of freedom of speech?
Any expression that constitutes a true threat, incitement to imminent lawless action, discriminatory harassment or defamation is not covered by the First Amendment (free speech) protections.
35. Can you sample a few examples of hate speech and free speech?
Probably the best definition of hate speech yet, comes from the Council of Europe. In 1997, they defined hate speech as:
“All forms of expression which spread, incite, promote, or justify racial hatred, xenophobia, anti-Semitism or other forms of hatred based on intolerance.”
Hate speech has been around for ages, even before social media. Here are some real-life hate speech examples:
“The Palestinians are like crocodiles; the more you give them meat, they want more.”
-Ehud Barak, Prime Minister of Israel, August 28, 2000.
“Let’s Kill Jews, and let’s kill them for fun. #killjews”
-Hamas Palestine, Twitter (Twitter deleted this post because of their hate speech policies)
Another example of hate speech directed to Turks could be a statement such as:
• “All Turks should be killed for exterminating Armenians, Greeks” etc. etc.
Freedom of speech and expression includes the right to express your views aloud: For example, through public protest and demonstrations, or through published articles, books or leaflets, television or radio broadcasting or works of art etc.
For instance, repudiating the genocide allegations of the Armenians with well-written articles is a form of free speech we utilize all the time on www.tadaweekly.org
36. Can I file lawsuits against people who attack me on internet platforms?
Yes, you can take the attackers to court if you are become a victim of a written or verbal defamation online.
37. Can you give a few samples of written racial defamation I may become a victim on internet?
Please refer to Answer #35
38. Can we take state governments to court if they pass racial-defamatory laws against my race?
Lawmakers generally cannot be sued as they enjoy protections of sovereign immunity against civil suits. In the United States, sovereign immunity typically applies to the federal government and state government, but not to municipalities. Federal and state governments, however, can waive their sovereign immunity. The federal government did this when it passed the Federal Tort Claims Act, which waived federal immunity for numerous types of torts claims.
39. Can we sue the school for teaching racially defamatory curriculum in their classes?
Yes, you can. In order to create a safe and productive environment at schools, it is important that students feel safe and welcome. And part of feeling safe and welcome includes protecting students from racial discrimination and racial harassment.
In fact, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits race discrimination in education when schools receive federal financial assistance (which pretty much includes all public school districts).
So, if a teacher makes remarks or treats a student in a way that is racially discriminatory, he or she would be in violation of Title VI. It could also be a violation of Title VI if the teacher allows one student to discriminate against another based on race.
40. Can we sue the school districts adding racially defamatory teaching material in their curriculum?
Yes, you can. Parents or parent groups can sue local and state education leaders over a curriculum that violates state and federal laws.
41. Can we sue the town for allowing racial-defamatory activities on their websites and media communications?
Yes, you can. As explained in #38, sovereign immunity typically applies to the federal government and state governments, but not to municipalities.
42. Can I sue my neighbor for their racially defamatory activities against me in the neighborhood?
Yes, you can.
43. What do I need to know about the lawsuit processes?
In United States, every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt with trappings of due process.
44. What do I need to have in my hands to file a lawsuit against a racial defamer?
You need evidence to prove that the other (accused) party’s speech goes beyond First Amendment protections.
45. What type of an attorney do I need to file a lawsuit against a racial defamer?
You would need an attorney specialized in Constitutional Law.
46. In which type of court should the lawsuit be filed on racial defamation topic?
The proper venue could be civil courts, state courts or federal courts depending on the arguments.
47. What does my child need to tell the teachers if he/she faces with racial defamation?
“It is unlawful discriminate against me, or my viewpoint based on my race, heritage or national origin.”
48. What should I tell my friends, managers if I face with racial defamation at work?
“It is unlawful to discriminate against me because of my race, heritage and national origin.”
49. Does a criminal case have to be concluded to be able to file a civil case?
No, both cases are tried in different courts and may be filed in parallel. So, as soon as a criminal case is filed, it would be better to file a civil case as well. You need to remember the statute of limitations, you have limited time to initiate the civil suite after the actual incident date. Civil court focuses on your civil rights and criminal court only focuses on the defendants and indictment process.
50. What should I do if my child reports that they are thought Anti-Turkish racial content in school?
Gather all your evidence and get in touch with TADA as soon as you can or with your attorney.
