Bethnahrain Patriotic Union in Iraq organizes commemorative evening to mark anniversary of Sayfo Genocide

ANKAWA, Iraq — On the 107th anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide, the Bethnahrain Patriotic Union in Iraq (Huyodo d-Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA) held a memorial evening attended by HBA members and office officials.

The evening began with a welcome speech delivered by journalist Salah Sarkis, followed by a minute of silence for the souls of martyrs. A statement released by HBA on the Sayfo was then read aloud by Member of the Political Bureau and Relations Office Qusay Sliwa.

The evening also included the recitation of a poem by poet Karim Ina and a speech by Head of the Beth Nahrain Organization for Women (BNOW) Hanan Matti.

A documentary about the Sayfo Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 screened. It included the most horrific events that took place against the Christians in the Ottoman Empire.

The Sayfo Genocide was committed by the Ottoman Empire and allied Kurdish, Arab, and Circassian forces in the early 20th century against the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people and occurred parallel to the genocides of Armenians, Greeks, and Yezidis. Upwards of 300,000 of the region’s estimated 700,000 Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) were massacred. More than 200,000 were forcefully displaced or deported south.