The Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA) has called upon U.S. Ambassador to Turkey John Bass to publicly voice official U.S. concern regarding the safety of Garo Paylan, an Armenian elected to the Turkish Parliament, who has faced growing threats and acts of violence in response to his expression of views on democracy, human rights, and genocide.

In Tuesday’s letter to Ambassador Bass, ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian recalled that, despite ANCA appeals, the U.S. government failed to voice any public concern for the safety of Istanbul Armenian journalist Hrant Dink, who was assassinated in early 2007 following a campaign of political prosecution and official state persecution. “Sadly, none was forthcoming,” Hamparian explained. “The only public words raised in his defense were those eulogizing him after his death.

“In light of this tragic experience, now is clearly the time for our government to urgently and publicly voice concern for the safety of Garo Paylan, and to also condemn those – both inside and outside of the Turkish government – who are inciting hatred against this courageous civic leader for simply speaking honestly and openly about issues of human rights, tolerance, diversity, and genocide.”

During the recent Turkish parliament debates on the bill with respect to lifting the Kurdish MPs’ parliamentary immunity, lawmakers of the ruling party attacked the Kurdish deputies for three days. And on Tuesday, Paylan himself was the main target of the ruling party members.