Does Cologne cave in to deniers of the Armenian genocide?

Dhe memorial for the genocide of the Armenians is now to be removed again. In April 2018 it was inaugurated by the “Remember Genocide” initiative at the Hohenzollern Bridge in Cologne. A rust-red stele with a slit pomegranate on top, bearing the title “This Pain Affects Us All”, is within sight of the equestrian statue of Kaiser Wilhelm II. After all, the German Empire was an ally of the Ottoman Empire during World War I and sent German military attachés who not only watched the genocide, but also took part in it. So the empire shares responsibility for the crimes.

But the city of Cologne doesn’t seem to want to know much about that. First of all, the memorial was to be removed “due to a lack of official approval”, that has now been clarified, there is even a unanimous decision by the district council. Now suddenly there is talk of a cycle path that has not yet been approved, but must lead right there in the distant future. With the best will in the world, it is not clear why both cannot find a place there. Yes, Jessas, it can’t all be that difficult.

Afraid of Turkish nationalists?

However, if you read a little, you begin to guess where the rub is. A letter from the city speaks of a “very sensitive issue given the large number of Turkish citizens in Cologne”. Even with the memorial cross on the Armenian cemetery on the outskirts of the city, “a deliberate decision was made not to set it up in public streets due to the high potential for conflict”. Aha.

The topic of genocide, which incidentally was recognized in the Bundestag (quite late) in 2016, has always driven the pulse of Turkish nationalists to unhealthy heights. But what are you afraid of? That Turkish nationalists are camping in front of the memorial, singing right-wing extremist folk songs 24/7 and driving tourists away from the cathedral square? Where would you get if you capitulated in anticipatory obedience just because some people with exaggerated nationalism and an aversion to historical facts could make a fuss?

It wouldn’t be the first time this has happened. In 2005, Brandenburg removed the genocide from the curriculum because of the intervention of Turkish diplomats – it was later reversed. In 2011, the University of Stuttgart did not allow a lecture on the genocide to take place due to Turkish “protest from Berlin” – the university announced that it wanted to “remain neutral”. In 2014, due to protests against a production of Edgar Hilsenrath’s “The Fairy Tale of the Last Thought”, which is about genocide, the poster for the event was taken down at the Konstanz Theater and a statement by the Turkish Consul was read out before each performance. The premiere had to take place under police protection.

After all, the pressure from the Turkish side was publicly visible here. But what happens if applications are not approved, events are not even planned or are rejected with flimsy reasons because you fear a possible conflict? In Cologne, 58 Turkish associations have joined forces under the name “InitativTürk” and committed themselves to fighting the memorial. Among them are notorious Islamist and right-wing extremist mosque associations such as DITIB and ATIB, as well as sports and cultural associations. The IG Keupstraße is also there. The association whose chairman has already been honored as an ambassador for democracy and tolerance and which is tirelessly committed to a memorial to the NSU attack, but also against any commemoration of the genocide of the Armenians. As early as 2017, the association signed a letter of protest against the Kreuzstein. He threatened to use all legal means to prevent him.

InitiativTürk leaves nothing out. The memorial is anti-Turkish, stigmatizing. There was no genocide anyway. And if they did, then it was only self-defence against “Armenian nationalists”. The stele is an “affront to the peaceful coexistence of the city”. The InitiativTürk warns of unrest, of “100,000 fellow citizens of Turkish origin” who could feel provoked. That almost sounds like a threat and is strange in that it is primarily the InitiativTurk that is mobilizing against the memorial.

It is one thing that genocide deniers are banding together in clubs, that wolves are howling on the cathedral square. The other is: why is Cologne giving in? But a city where Erdogan was allowed to open his mega-mosque is probably beyond help. Or is it? A little tip for local politicians: You can also drink tea elsewhere. It tastes better anyway when it’s not being served by genocide deniers.