Outrage: Disney+ Glorifies Turkish Dictator

Disney’s forthcoming series about Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Turkey’s founding father, has been recommended to be canceled by the Armenian National Committee of America (ANCA). The series honors ANCA’s “dictator and genocide killer.” Disney has no intentions to cancel the show, which premieres on October 29 to coincide with Turkey’s 100th anniversary.

According to Turkish media, the ANCA’s call was “reactionary.” Since the Armenian, Pontian Greek, and Assyrian genocides, long-standing issues have not been resolved. The Ottoman Empire massacred and deported Armenians from 1915 until 1923, during and after World War I.

Atatürk’s activities killed millions of Christians, including Armenians, Greeks, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs, and Maronites, according to the ANCA. Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan dispute the massacre. The Armenian genocide has been recognized by 34 nations, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Russia, and the US.

Armenian Americans are accused of demonizing Turkey, Turkish Americans, and ethnic Turks by Turkey’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They claim that Armenians use questionable sources and forged papers to pursue their case and withhold exonerating facts.

The Armenian genocide continues to sour ties between Armenia and Turkey, as well as between Armenian and Turkish diasporas abroad. The disagreement has historical and geopolitical consequences and remains delicate and complicated.