01/03/2023

Dr. Sophie Scamps joins other Australian MPs call for recognition of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide 

SYDNEY — On Tuesday, Public Radio of Armenia reported that independent member of the Australian House of Representatives Dr. Sophie Scamps has been working with the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU) since her election to better understand the issues faced by the local Armenian community.

She recently signed an affirmation of support for the Joint Justice Initiative, joining more than 30 of her parliamentary colleagues in calling for federal recognition of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against Armenians, Syriacs–Assyrians, and Greeks.

Dr. Scamps represents Mackellar, a federal electoral division that covers Sydney’s Northern Beaches and was previously held by Jason Falinski, a staunch supporter of his local Armenian community. Dr. Scamps was elected to the seat during the 2022 Federal Election.

Michael Kolokossian, the Executive Director of the ANC-AU, welcomed Dr. Scamps’ signature, saying, “We thank Dr. Scamps for affirming her support for the local Armenian-Australian community and for working constructively with the ANC-AU to advance national recognition of the genocides.”

“The failure to acknowledge the Armenian, Syriac–Assyrian, and Greek genocides is why our compatriots in Nagorno Karabakh are facing another round of ethnic cleansing by the Ottoman Empire’s successor states, Turkey and Azerbaijan, “Kolokossian added. “Australia must recognize the 1915 Sayfo Genocides and hold the perpetrators accountable to ensure crimes against humanity are never repeated.”

On 25 February 2020, over 100 Federal Australian MPs, diplomats, departmental officials, political staffers, academics, members of the media, and community leaders were treated to cultural performances, food, wine, and brandy at the historic signing of the Joint Justice Initiative.

The signatories were jointly committed to seeing Australia recognize the Ottoman genocides against the Armenian, Syriac–Assyrian, and Greek peoples in the early 20th century.