Universal Syriac Union Party in Lebanon recalls the 1915 Sayfo Genocide

BEIRUT —  Under the slogan  “From the Mountains of Ararat and Beth Nahrin to Mount Lebanon,” the Universal Syriac Union Party (USUP) in Lebanon held in Beirut a commemoration event for the Sayfo Genocide which was committed against the Syriacs (Arameans-Chaldeans-Assyrians), Armenians and Christians of the East in general by the Ottoman Empire in 1915.

The event was attended by former president of Lebanon Amin Gemayel represented by MP Elias Hankash, former president of Lebanon Michel Suleiman represented by his Media Adviser Beshara Khairallah, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Mor Bechara Butros al-Rai represented by Monsignor Charbel Ghassoub, Armenian Catholic patriarch of Cilicia Raphaël Minassian represented by Father Aram Abrahamian, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Youssef III Younan represented by Father David Melki and Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Adviser Mor Theophilus Georges Saliba “, in addition to representatives of the Sovereign Front for Lebanon, Christian Front and political parties, as well as religious, social, cultural and academic figures.

The commemoration began with the Lebanese national anthem, the USUP anthem, opening speech and musical performance inspired by the occasion.

After that, head of the Armenian Hunchak Party Vanik Daksian, president of Syriac Maronite Union of Tur Levnon Dr. Amine Iskandar and USUP Vice President Leila Latte delivered speeches about the history and aftermath of the Sayfo Genocide,   including killing, destruction, displacement, marginalization and obliteration of Christians, and how similar the Sayfo events are to the present situation.

At the end, Syriac and Armenian hymns inspired by the occasion were presented, in addition to a musical performance by the Hannibal Musical Regiment and a reception by the Melkart Regiment.