Belgian MP Özdemir dismissed because of genocide denial

Belgian politician of Turkish origin Mahinur Özdemir is officially dismissed from her party CDH, because she refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide.

Member of The Humanist Democratic Centre (CDH), Mahinur Özdemir is officially dismissed from her party, because she refused to recognize the Armenian Genocide. Decision of dismissal is made by the ethical committee of the party.

Speaking after this decision, CDH’s Chair Benoit Lutgen said, “Political responsibility is possible with clarity and loyalty to our values.”

What happened?

On April 24, a commemoration ceremony for the centennial of the Armenian Genocide was held in Belgium Parliament. Boycotting the 1 minute of stand in silence in the memory of the victims of the genocide, Özdemir said, “The decision of European Parliament concerning the Armenian Genocide is not an imperative.”

Özdemir hasn’t signed the notification of CDH which recognizes the genocide and because of this, it was suggested that she should be dismissed from the party.

Appealing the party’s decision, Özdemir claimed that the dismissal is not legitimate and it is a discriminatory decision.