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Home > Histories & Narratives : Armenian-Turkish Relations

Armenian-Turkish Relations

Suit Over "Unreliable" Website Dismissed

This is an important victory for scholars and educators all over the United States. I want first to express my gratitude to General Counsel at the University of Minnesota, and in particular to Brent Benrud, for his outstanding work on this case. I applaud Judge Frank’s decision, as it bears witness to the high esteem in which the judicial system in this country holds academic freedom. This outcome honors the principles of freedom of speech, and is a remarkable example of the law’s protection of free inquiry into matters of public interest.

Bruno Chaouat, CHGS director

Court dismisses Turkish Coalition lawsuit filed against the University of Minnesota

On March 30, 2011 U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Turkish Coalition of America against the University of Minnesota. The lawsuit arose from materials posted on the university’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies (CHGS) website, including a list of websites CHGS considered “unreliable” for purposes of conducting scholarly research. The Turkish Coalition claimed the university violated its constitutional rights, and committed defamation, by including the Turkish Coalition website on the “unreliable” websites list.

Read full press release

Court Dismissal Articles
Judge throws out genocide ‘blacklist’ case: MN Daily 3-31-2011
Unusual Ruling for Academic Freedom: InsideHigher Ed 3-31-2011

Case Articles
Statement from Bruno Chaouat, Director CHGS
Lawsuit brewing over U website warnings: MN Daily 11-22-2010Turkish group sues U for ‘unreliable’ website list: MN Daily 11-30-2010Suit Over 'Unreliable Websites': Inside Higher Ed 12-1-10Documents: The Turkish Coalition lawsuit against the U of Minnesota: MPR News 12-01-2010An unreliable source: MN Daily 12-06-2010Turkish lobby: We were blacklisted: MN Daily 12-07-2010

An American Scandal by Meïr Waintrater 12-08-2010Unlikely Foes: Inside Higher Ed 12-20-2010

Critical Thinking’ or Genocide Denial? TCA vs. U. of Minn: Armenian Weekly 1-10-2011

Letter of support: Middle East Studies Association (MESA) 1-18-2011(PDF)Middle East Studies Group Urges End to Suit Against U. of Minnesota: Inside Higher ED 1-19-2011