The Army of the Republic of 1923 was not behind the Armenian genocide. The genocide was under the Ottoman Empire.
If I misspoke, I stand corrected, however, the Army has a history of persecuting Kurds and other non-Turkish minorities.
Yes, one of the minorities is the Islamists. It's the duty of the Army to protect the secular Republic. The last time was 1997, I believe. If the AKP fails to live up to its promise, so far so good I suppose, the next time could be?
As for another minority I'd have to cite the Marxist PKK. Definitely they were "persecuted" for their killings and for trying to foment revolution. I have numerous references to them above.
As for the Kurds in general no doubt many suffered as the Turks built modern Turkey given Her borders were established by the Europeans following W.W.I.
Mustafa Kemal Ataturk said at the founding of modern Turkey in 1923 that if you live within the borders, you are a Turk and you will speak Turkish. As a U.S. citizen and English-only advocate I find absolutely nothing wrong with that. The difference is, we selected our borders; Turkey was handed Her borders.
As for other minorities who may have suffered at the hands of modern Turkey for no apparent reason other than "the Turks are just plain mean" I'll leave to others to provide reliable documentation. I am sure there is plenty out there -- I'd be remiss if I didn't confess that I remember the entire Cold War and our valuable ally, modern Turkey.
I am convinced that much of the bitterness against our valuable Cold War ally stems from Soviet disinformation. Just a guess.
For anyone to answer, why don't we keep pounding on modern Germany for the sins of the National Socialists?
It reminded me of the old NY Times articles, I could not find them there however. I found one elsewhere.
[One article follows] SEPTEMBER 24, 1915. 500,000 ARMENIANS SAID TO HAVE PERISHED. Washington Asked to Stop Slaughter of Christians by Turks and Kurds.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 23 Charles R. Crane of Chicago, a Director of Roberts College, Constantinople, and James L. Burton of Boston, Foreign Secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, visited the State Department today and conferred with Acting Secretary of State Polk and other officials regarding the slaughter of Armenians by Turks and Kurds in Asia Minor. They will attend a meeting of a general committee, to be held in New York within a few days, to devise a plan for appealing to the American people for funds and aid for as many of the unfortunate Armenians as can be helped. It was learned, in connection with the conferences held here today, that general representations have from time to time been made to the Ottoman Government by Ambassador Morgenthau for humane treatment of Armenians. Despite these representations, the slaughter of Armenians has continued. The records of the State Department are replete with detailed reports from American Consular officers in Asia Minor, which give harrowing tales of the treatment of the Armenian Christians by the Turks and the Kurds. These reports have not been made public. They indicate that the Turk has undertaken a war of extermination on Armenians, especially those of the Gregorian Church, to which about 90 percent of the Armenians belong. The Turkish Government originally ordered the deportation of all Armenians, but some time ago, after representations had been made by Morgenthau, the Ottoman Government gave assurances that the order would be modified so as not to embrace Catholic and Protestant Armenians. Reports reaching Washington indicate that about 500,000 Armenians have been slaughtered or lost their lives as a result of the Turkish deportation order and the resulting war of extinction. Turkish authorities drove the Gregorian Armenians out of their homes, ordered them to proceed to distant towns in the direction of Bagdad, which could only be reached by crossing long stretches of desert. During the exodus of Armenians across the deserts they have been fallen upon by Kurds and slaughtered, but some of the Armenian women and girls, in considerable numbers, have been carried off into captivity by the Kurds. The reports that have been sent to the State Department by its agents in Asia Minor fully confirm these statements made in the appeal sent to this country by Viscount Bryce, formerly the British Ambassador to the United States, to try to stop the slaughter of the Armenians. Viscount Bryce stated that the horror through which the Armenians have passed have been unparalleled in modern times. . . . [End of quotes. My emphasis]
It's heartwarming that our new friend and ally, Kurdistan of Iraq, is doing so well. I am proud that they consider the U.S. their friend. But, fair is fair vis-a-vis our long-time friend and ally. The Ottoman Turks weren't the only bastards in those days.