In Memoriam

Following the theatrical release of “Screamers”, we regretfully announce the deaths of the following contributors who appeared in our film:

MARITZA OHANESIAN
Maritza -- the 100-year old survivor who received the letter from V.P. Richard Cheney which congratulated her for being the “oldest living survivor of the Armenian genocide” -- died November 12, 2006, ten days after Screamers premiered in Los Angeles. Maritza was born March 15, 1905 near Kharpert in Ottoman Turkey. Throughout her lifetime, Maritza remained a proud member of the Armenian community, continuing to raise awareness about the genocide and genocide recognition. We were fortunate to be able to film her story and to enjoy a wonderful lunch which she prepared for us in her home in New Britain, Connecticut. We thank Maritza for her resilience and her fighting spirit, and send condolences to her family and friends.

HRANT DINK
Hrant Dink, the editor of "Agos” Turkish and Armenian weekly newspaper based in Istanbul, was murdered outside his office on January 19, 2007. Hrant, born September 15, 1954 in Malatya, Turkey appeared in “Screamers” talking about the Article 301 case against Orhan Pamuk and himself.

Hrant was charged and convicted under Article 301 of the Turkish penal code for “insulting Turkishness.” Dink actively denied these charges and continued to fight for freedom of speech and tolerance in Turkey throughout his journalistic career.

Dink’s prosecution by the Turkish state made him a target of Turkish nationalists who regularly threatened him. At the time that he was interviewed by director Carla Garapedian in August 2005 for “Screamers,” he was regularly receiving death threats. He was not deterred, however. He held up, as an example, Ayshe Zaracolou, who went to prison for publishing a history book on the Armenian genocide. “I found the biggest piece of earth I could find,” Hrant told Carla, “to throw on her coffin when she died.” Ragip Zaracolou, Ayshe’s husband, is currently being prosecuted under Article 301.

Dink’s beliefs -- and hopes for democracy in Turkey -- are in an extended interview, available on the Screamers DVD.

Dink’s son, Arat, now runs Agos. Arat himself has been prosecuted under Article 301 for reprinting his father’s newspaper articles. This action has been condemned by human rights organizations, such as Amnesty International.

The European Commission for Enlargement now requires Turkey to change Article 301 as a requirement for joining the European Union. “It is not acceptable that writers, journalists, academics and other intellectuals … are prosecuted for simply expressing a critical but completely non-violent opinion,” EU Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn said November 6, 2007. “The infamous Article 301 must be repealed or amended without delay,” he added.

Turkey’s Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin said a new bill would be put before the Turkish Parliament. We are still awaiting this action. If you’d like to find out more about what you can do to voice your opinion, go to our GET ACTIVE section on this web-site.

Hrant was a special guest at the “Screamers” premiere in Los Angeles, two months before he was murdered. For those of us who had the pleasure of meeting him, we will always remember his courage, ready smile and big heart. We honor his memory and support all those fighting for the basic freedom to know their own history.

STEPAN HAYTAYAN
Stepan Haytayan, born in 1909 in Efkere, Turkey, a survivor of the Armenian genocide, died at the age of 98 in June 2007 in Los Angeles. Stepan’s story of how he survived the genocide was featured in “Screamers.” All of the production team at “Screamers” extend their gratitude and condolences to Stepan’s children and grandchildren. We are especially thankful to Serj Tankian for allowing us access to his grandfather’s extended interview, made a few years earlier for The Genocide Project. We are also grateful to Alice Tankian for providing background information to Stepan’s story. The complete 6-hour interview is a moving chronology of survival in the midst of the most horrendous events imaginable. It is also a story of hope and resilience – Stepan made a new life for himself in Lebanon and the United States, for his children and grandchildren, while continuing to be an active member of the Armenian community. All of us are confident that by featuring Stepan’s story in our “Screamers”, we will continue to raise awareness about genocide and genocide prevention.