Turkish Group Claims U Of Minn. 'Blacklisted' Site
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- A Turkish advocacy group has sued the University of Minnesota, claiming one department "blacklisted" its Internet site because of the group's pro-Turkish viewpoint on the killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire 95 years ago.
The Minnesota Daily reports the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies had listed the Turkish Coalition of America's website as "unreliable" because the group disputes that what happened to the Armenians was genocide.
The coalition filed the lawsuit in federal court in Minnesota Tuesday, claiming students and professors generally avoid using the coalition's website because they fear "adverse consequence, including the loss of academic standing." It alleges violations of constitutional rights and defamation. It seeks unspecified monetary damages and any other remedies the court deems appropriate.
The university's general counsel, Mark Rotenberg, told the Daily the lawsuit has no merit.
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Information from: The Minnesota Daily
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