We Demand Balanced and Inclusive Education on Ottoman–Armenian History in Michigan

We, concerned residents and members of the Turkish-American community, respectfully call on the Michigan State Board of Education, the Michigan Department of Education, and all officials responsible for curriculum development to adopt a more balanced, inclusive, and academically rigorous approach to teaching the events of 1915 in Michigan public schools.

Currently, Michigan students are being taught a version of history that frames the Ottoman-era tragedies solely as the “Armenian Genocide,” without adequate historical context or the inclusion of diverse scholarly perspectives. This one-sided narrative promotes political interpretation over academic inquiry and deprives students of a full and accurate understanding of a deeply complex historical era.

Why This Matters

While we fully support the teaching of difficult and painful historical events, we are seriously concerned that the current curriculum:

• Presents only one interpretation of a multifaceted and historically sensitive subject

• Ignores the broader context of World War I, internal conflict, foreign intervention, and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire

• Excludes the suffering and displacement of other ethnic groups, including Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and Jews

• Marginalizes Turkish-American students, many of whom report feeling silenced, misrepresented, or unfairly blamed in classroom discussions

• Was developed and implemented without the input of Turkish-American educators, scholars, or community representatives—a failure of inclusion and transparency

Legal and Historical Context

• The classification of the 1915 events as "genocide" has not been confirmed by any international court of law. No formal legal ruling exists to label it as such.

• Renowned historians—including Professor Justin McCarthy—have used scientific and demographic analysis to show that these events do not meet the legal definition of genocide under international law.

• The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) issued rulings in 2013 and 2015 affirming that:

  • The claim of an “Armenian Genocide” is a matter of opinion

  • The right to reject or question this claim falls under freedom of expression

  • The Armenian case cannot be equated with the Holocaust, which was legally adjudicated by the Nuremberg Tribunal. The Armenian case has no such legal precedent.

Additional Historical Facts Often Excluded

• The Ottoman government's 1915 relocation orders targeted armed Armenian revolutionary groups, not peaceful civilians, and were enacted in the context of wartime security—not ethnic extermination.

• During the same period, tens of thousands of Turkish civilians were brutally killed by Armenian militias—a reality almost never addressed in school materials.

• Despite Turkey’s repeated calls to form a joint historical commission and open all archives for objective research, the Armenian government continues to block access to its own national archives.

What We Ask

We urge the Michigan Department of Education and local school boards to:

* Incorporate diverse scholarly perspectives when teaching about the events of 1915–1923
* Review and revise the curriculum to ensure historical accuracy, balance, and context reflecting the complex realities of the era, including the suffering of all communities
* Include Turkish-American historians and educators in curriculum development and oversight processes
* Foster inclusive classroom environments where students of all backgrounds—especially Turkish-American students—feel safe, respected, and free from political or cultural bias
* Promote critical thinking and academic inquiry, not simplified or politicized narratives

We are not asking for denial. We are asking for context, fairness, and balance—so that students receive a responsible, well-rounded education grounded in historical truth and intellectual integrity.

Michigan’s public schools have a duty to promote learning—not ideology. Students deserve the opportunity to engage with the full scope of history—not just the version shaped by political pressure.

Please sign and share this petition. Together, we can restore balance, inclusion, and academic responsibility to Michigan classrooms.