Tag in honor of Erdogan found on the Armenian genocide memorial in Décines (Rhône).

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AFP

  • In recent days, threats, insults or attempts at intimidation have multiplied against Armenian nationals in the Lyon area.

  • Containment, implemented since Friday, could slow the situation as well as the decision to dissolve the Gray Wolves, a Turkish ultranationalist movement.

The confinement, established in France since Friday, can it calm the ardor of pro-Turkey activists in the Lyon area?

Attempts at intimidation, confrontations, anti-Armenia tags… Several incidents have occurred in recent days in the city.

Particularly in Décines, a city where many citizens of Armenian origin live, in Lyon but also in Vienne, in the North of Isère.

For Jeanine Paloulian, co-president of the coordinating council of Armenian organizations in France, confinement "can help calm things down to the extent that all people know that they are liable to be fined".

Last Wednesday evening, 65 tickets for non-observance of the curfew were drawn up against Turkish activists who marched in Vienna and then Décines to intimidate the Armenians, she recalls.

Is the dissolution of the Gray Wolves enough?

The government's announcement of the dissolution of the Gray Wolves, an ultra-nationalist movement, is seen as "very good news".

“This is something that we have been asking for for weeks,” says Jeanine Paloulian, hoping that this decision will help restore calm.

“This means that all those who take a picture of themselves on social networks or in a football stadium making the sign of the Gray Wolves, will be liable to be condemned,” she explains.

Laurence Fautra, LR mayor of Décines is also delighted with this announcement.

But remain cautious: “We are dealing with a small group, not an association that has a storefront.

By definition, they have no head office, no premises.

These people often act in the shadows and claim to be part of the movement.

It will not be easy to dissolve ”.

"No complacency" towards Erdogan and Turkey

The commune of Décines, which she heads, is currently the subject of special attention by State services.

The patrols there have been reinforced in consultation with the Rhône prefecture.

"We would like a lasting solution, namely more Sentinel soldiers, but we are aware that the situation is generally tense at the moment", she continues, determined to "enforce the republican rules".

"You cannot be French and pronounce hate speech towards France or its compatriots", she insists, waiting for the State to go "further".

“This means investigating, for example, to find those who distill hate messages,” says the mayor.

“Today, French citizens of Armenian origin are afraid.

There is a real psychosis, analyzes Jeanine Paloulian.

Social networks have a catastrophic effect and significantly worsen the situation.

Erdogan himself instrumentalizes French Turkish nationals and focuses their hatred on their Armenian fellow citizens.

While insulting France ”.

She is now pleading for a firm reaction from the government "which is lying in front of Turkey".

"We can not be complacent," she concludes.

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Décines: "We will kill the Armenians", a punitive expedition led by Turkish partisans Wednesday evening

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Décines: Insults tagged on the Armenian Genocide Memorial and the Armenian Culture Museum

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