From September 24 to 26, Garo Paylan, founding member of the People’s Democratic Party (HDP) and member of the Turkish Parliament, will visit the Southern California Armenian community in the US, and participate in several events, which include an academic conference, a community dinner, and a town hall meeting hosted by Asbarez Armenian daily newspaper of the US.

Paylan represents the 3rd district of Istanbul and is active within the Armenian community there, reported Asbarez. 

He has been a strong advocate for minority rights, human rights and social justice in Turkey, and will engage in discussions involving current events in Turkey and the region.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Paylan served in the central committee of the HDP, and also served on management boards of Armenian schools in Istanbul.

He has long promoted bilingual education and minority rights in Turkey, and has been actively engaged in raising awareness on issues of discrimination toward minorities, the rights of the Armenian community in Turkey, Turkish-Armenian reconciliation, Istanbul Armenian journalist Hrant Dink’s murder case, and justice for the Armenian Genocide.

His family originates from Malatya, Turkey.