A standing room only crowd of legislators, staff and community activists applauded the Capitol Hill screening of “Aghet: A Genocide” documentary by German filmmaker Eric Friedler, documenting Armenian Genocide from 1915 to 1923, reported the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA).
Congressman Adam Schiff who hosted screening thanked film producer Katharina Trebitsch and Friedler for his “tenacity and his wonderful work.” He also noted that the Turkish Embassy sent him a letter objecting to the screening. “Unfortunately for the Turkish Ambassador and his government, the infamous Section 301 of the Turkish penal code, which makes it a crime to insult Turkishness, does not apply here, and we are free to speak the truth and admire the work of others like Mr. Friedler, who have stood up to the threats, the bullying, and the intimidation” said Rep. Schiff.
Commenting on the film, Congressman Brad Sherman pointed out different approaches of the Turkish and German governments to the Genocide.
“One is the approach taken by the German government, acknowledging the Holocaust and then trying to build on that and trying to make sure that you do not see genocides in the future. The other extreme we see is the actions of the Turkish government, illustrating that genocide denial is the last step of the genocide, when after trying to extinguish a people you try to extinguish the memory of that terrible act,” he emphasized.
Congressional Armenian Caucus Co-Chairman Frank Pallone noted the critical role of documentaries like “Aghet” in educating Congress about the Armenian Genocide. “I think this is really important because obviously we will continue to fight to get the Genocide resolution passed and this is an important part of that effort,” explained Pallone.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion, sponsored by ANCA, featuring Aghet Director Eric Friedler, former U.S. Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans, SCREAMERS Director Carla Garapedian, and Vartkes Yeghiayan, Director of the Center for Armenian Remembrance. The discussion was moderated by ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian.
