Apr 24, 2012, 8:40 PM

Iranian Armenians mark April 24

TEHRAN, April 24 (MNA) – Iranian Armenians gathered in front of a church in central Tehran on Tuesday to mark the April 24 which coincided with the 97th anniversary of what they call the "Armenian genocide" by Ottoman Empire during World War I.

Historians say about 1.5 million Armenians, including women and children, were either killed or died of starvation or disease between 1915 and 1923.

The Armenians who congregated inside and outside the church in Ostad Nejatollahi Street issued a statement in which they said, “We want the Turkish government to accept the Armenian genocide as a historical and undeniable fact by the then Turkish government.”

Turkey strongly denies the genocide allegations. Turkey argues 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops.

PA/PA
END
MNA

News ID 50918

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