California drafts legislation on recognition of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide

CALIFORNIA, U.S. – California State Assembly member Adrin Nazarian has been presented a draft resolution to the assembly on the recognition of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide. Nazarian is a direct descendant of an Armenian family who lived through the genocide and deportation of Syriac Christians in southeastern Anatolia.

In the five-page draft resolution, Nazarian made a request t0 U.S. President Joe Biden and the U.S. Congress to officially recognize the Sayfo Genocide committed against the Armenian, Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), and Pontic–Greek peoples. Acts committed during the events are considered an ethnic genocide, however not all countries have chosen to recognize Sayfo, most notably Turkey.

Nazarian also spoke about the history of these peoples and what they presented to human civilization. The State Assembly member went on to describe the policy pursued against them, how the genocide began, and the cultural assimilation policies that forced them to embrace Islam with the aim of cultural annihilation.

Nazarian spoke about the marginalization and systematic genocide of these peoples, where  the Ottoman Empire fought them culturally and ideologically, in addition to the widespread sabotaging of churches and monasteries.

“These crimes must be recognized by the U.S. because they are crimes against humanity,” he stated.

Nazarian’s letter was sent to the U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Speaker of the House, and several senators representing the State of California in the U.S. Congress.