Grant Jirayr Sefilyan Armenian Citizenship

10 comments

1. The video was not randomly selected

   This particular video was not randomly selected and posted along the call of the committee in support of Sefilyan’s right to citizenship.

   Sefilyan states, "Ով որ համարձակուի հող զիջելու, նրա գլուխը ջարդելու ենք, տրաքացնելու ենք:"

   English translation: "Whoever dares to cede land, we’ll smash, crack open his/her head."

   These are hardly the words of a sober-minded, circumspect person addressing the public, irrespective of what the volatile sentiments are regarding yet unconfirmed reports of abandoning liberated lands.

   Any person in a civilized society uttering such threats either is certified and sent to an institution for an examination and treatment, or taken under custody once sanity is established.  If the person holds a responsible public office, then trying for treason is not unreasonable.

   Having said so, the matter of citizenship should be uncoupled from a person’s conduct. Otherwise, people suffering from mental illnesses that are characterized with grandiose ideas, paranoid delusions, threatening behavior, etc would be stripped from citizenship, or not granted at all. This is counter to basic rights of people anywhere.

   Sefilyan’s case, granted, is complex. The long and the short of it is that he was "metamorphosed" from being a hero into a villain, and eventually "earned" the status of persona non grata.

   His saga and the attitude of consecutive administrations in Armenia raise multiple issues only one of which is related to citizenship.

   1. Why the authorities in Armenia and Artsakh, past and present, did not grant a minimum of honorary citizenship not only to Sefilyan but to all those fighters from the Diaspora who put their lives at risk regardless of whether those heroes asked for Armenian/Artsakhian citizenship or not?

   2. Subsequent to the war of liberation, it is rumored that Sefilyan was engaged in shady dealings and wheeling. Were those alleged acts qualitatively at par with his heroism in the not so distant past? Why consideration is not provided to this aspect of his life?

   3. Sefilyan has children born in Armenia. In most civilized countries, that alone would have constituted a compelling reason to grant citizenship. Are the Armenian authorities so inhumane to separate children from their father? Letting Sefilyan "reside" in Armenia with no clearly defined legal status is simply a band-aid solution. For whatever reason, there remains the potential of being expelled in future.

   4. In the extreme case that Sefilyan, in the view of the authorities, has committed treasonous acts, then why he was not tried as such, and frivolous arguments were thrown around, such as possessing a firearm or a combat knife? Who amongst veterans in any country does not cherish to keep memorabilia?

   The primary concern here is the principle of granting citizenship and not necessarily Sefilyan as such. In another place, I referred to the well known fact that countries do grant citizenship to mercenaries, let alone to heroes and to one of their kins.

   Sefilyan’s case is full of stories of betrayals, vendettas, political and PR concerns. It should have not been dragged on this long, and should have been handled very diplomatically.

   1. Right on the head
      You hit the nail right on the head.

      1. Sefilyan and Armenian freedom-fighters

         Sefilyan should have been granted Armenian citizenship as an ordinary, normal, procedural matter. Later, if found guilty in any issue, be tried as a citizen. Jirayr and many others were willing to sacrifice their lives. Some did. At the very least they deserved to get citizenship.
          

         In addition, consideration should be given to the fact that they came from the Diasporan countries. They fought for a newly re-independent Patria and its satellite Artsakh, which was in danger of being absorbed by Azerbaijan — like Nakhijevan — by greedy neighbours.

         How can we expect future young men and young women of the Diaspora to help Armenia and Artsakh in their hour of need? These young people will think twice before committing themselves when they see a compatriot of theirs being treated in an undignified manner.

          
         This matter reminds me the Armenian freedom fighters of the 70’s and 80’s, and the unfavorable treatment that they received. Some, including Armenians, labeled them "terrorists".

          

         Let us remember that governments and the U.N. were not acknowledging our CAUSE/CASE.  Our pleas remained unanswered and totally ignored. Our political parties did not make any headways either. There was no progress. Some Armenian young men were fed up with the world, its so called diplomacy, and the inefficiency of the Armenian organizations.  

         To get the attention of the world, and encouraged by the success of the methods used by other ethnic groups, such as the Palestinians, these young men took to arms. These were "correctional acts using violence". Indeed, they were not pleasant. Not surprisingly, some did not approve them.

         It must be cleared up once and for all that the targets of the young fighters were principally Turkish diplomats. They wanted to bring to the attention of the world community the forgotten or quasi-forgotten Armenian Question: the Genocide of the Armenians and the usurped lands.

          

         I do not condone violent acts in any of its forms. However, like in France, where the media has admitted long ago, I think there is a difference between sheer terrorism  and Freedom fighting  efforts.

          

   2. Sefilyan

      What would the present leaders of Armenia and Artsakh rule without people like Sefilyan? Would there be any Artsakh at all? or an Artsakh inhabited by Armenians? He was risked his life, endured hardship to defend Artsakh but now is not worthy of Armenian citizenship. How much hypocrisy do we have to endure? Many politicians of today were sitting comfortably in their armchairs while Sefilyan and others were fighting for their country and their people. Perhaps those same politicians are now afraid of his popularity. Where would all the thousands of Armenians of Artsakh be had Sefilyan not defended the land. I bet they would be in refugee camps in Armenia or slain. 

      I would feel the same rage toward "whoever dares to cede land … smash, crack open his/her head." Would you not after having witnessed the death of your companions and the corruption of our politicians? Be honest. Whoever has even a little sense of patriotism would.

      We should be outraged at our politicians who refuse to grant him Armenian citizenship. What a lovely example for our soldiers: Go and fight, risk your young lives for us so that we can sit back and enjoy …. and don’t dare ask for recognition.

2. Sefilyan & Culture
   Dear  Compatriot,

   If you are talking about Western Culture (and human rights) I agree with you.   But  as you know,  in different cultures  honesty, friendship, religion, insanity, lying, ego, promise, and  even  patriotism and  threatening  your enemies  have different  interpretations and meanings.  

   You can not find  anybody in Armenia or in the Middle East to  think that Mr.  Jirayr  Sefilyan  should be institutionalized  or taken under custody, because of  his remarks  like "whoever dares to cease land, we will smash..their heads, etc."    

   In Armenia they call Monte (Avo) a great Hero, but in the West the authorities still call him a crazy terrorist.

   I think somebody should be familiar with all cultures to know how they express their emotions, frustrations or anger in exaggeration.  For example,  it’s very hard in  the West to understand  the Persian culture, and when  Mr. Ahmedinejad  threatens to  "wipe out Israel from the map".  Except in the West, nobody takes these words  seriously since, surprisingly,  it’s  a cultural way to intimidate enemies.

   Yesterday, in Arizona, some people used  their "rights"  and  brought  machine-guns  close to the location  where President Obama was talking. In  Eastern cultures  these people would have been sent to prison or an institution. In US it’s a right.
    

   Thank you for your time.

   Dr. I. Babajanian USA

3. It’s simple, isn’t it?

   You cannot ask people to support this man,  when all you say is that he has been a war hero.  You know perfectly well that there is more to say.  

   Yes, Dr. Babajanian, Monte was an excepional war hero and I respect that,  but that doesen’t mean we should forget the crazy terrorist acts that happened in different places and innocent people died for nothing.

   Please tell more about Sefilyan and let people decide.  It’s simple,  isn’t it?

4. Sevag, can you tell me
   Sevag, can you tell me whether you live in Armenia or abroad?

   1. Source of Comments & Responses
      Dear Levon,

      It is clear that Sevag has written from outside Armenia. Each comment or a reply will show a flag at the right lower corner, indicating the source. Example, your question is followed by the flag of Armenia, Sevag’s bears the Iranian and this will show the Canadian flag.

5. Sefilyan’s case: a complicated matter

   I know that people like Sefilyan and for example Melkonyan wanted the world to aknowledge our causes, and that they have fought during Gharabagh conflict. At the same time I also know that if your target is a Turkish diplomat you can hit your target without harming anyone else, or at least try. You don’t have to blow up an airport. I also know that during the Gharabagh conflict (and I think before) their companions started eliminating each other (I really don’t exactly know why).

   This is a complicated matter for the government. Yes, they are known as terrorists, and sadly because of some of their actions, no one can deny that.  [The Red Brigade] of Germany… they were freedom fighters too,  but they blew up a post office with lots of innocent people in it.

   I really like their efforts for granting freedom to their nation, but no one can deny that they were terrorists…

   I think these two are so much alike.

6.  I Am in Agreement Sevak

    Sevak, I am in agreement with you. You hit the nail right on the head.

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