Bethnahrin National Council issues a statement on 109th anniversary of 1915 Sayfo Genocide

BETH NAHRIN —  Under the title, “We Call on World Powers to Recognize the 1915 Genocide, the Presidential Committee of the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against the Christian peoples in Turkey, including the Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) people.

“The Ottoman State committed one of the most terrible crimes in the history of mankind, through its genocidal plans against Christian peoples in 1915, which were prepared in line with the strategy of the Turkish-Islamic approach. 109 years have passed since the 1915 Genocide, which was carried out with the cooperation of regional and local powers, in the midst of the first World War. Turkish governments have long denied this crime against humanity. The survivors of the genocide were expelled and displaced from their homeland. With these racist policies, an attempt was made to annihilate the Christian peoples’ existence,” read the MUB statement.

The MUB declared that since 1915 so far, looting, ethnic, religious, cultural and economic violations, demographic change processes, repression and genocide have continued, amid international silence.

The MUB Committee pointed out although the Syriac, Armenian and Pontic-Greek peoples representatives included this genocide on the agenda of many countries, their demands were not fulfilled because the countries prioritized their interests for the interests of states.

Rulers of the Republic of Turkey continued to distort historical facts and destroy identities of peoples. Intellectuals who conducted research and collected documents on Turkish destruction, sabotage and genocide were tried and silenced.

“With the intensified efforts of Christian peoples, the parliaments of many countries have included the 1915 Genocide on their agenda, which gave hope for Syriac people and communities that were subjected to genocide. Syriac people have been suffering from Sayfo Genocide wounds, trauma and destruction,” the MUB Committee stated.

The Committee noted that the MUB strategy aims at achieving national freedom, based on international acceptance and recognition of the Safo Genocide.

“The MUB has been fighting and mobilizing to accept and recognize the Sayfo Genocide, as well as condemn those who committed it. Despite Turkish denial policy, many countries have officially recognized the Sayfo Genocide in their parliaments, creating a new ground for the future and political situation of Syriac people,” read the statement.

“The MUB responsibilities have intensified to urge all world countries, including Republic of Turkey, to recognize the 1915 Genocide. Syriac people the homeland of Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) and diaspora must increase their national activities to commemorate the Sayfo martyrs, and preserve their identity, values and homeland, as well as end the annihilation policies to strengthen the Syriac people will for autonomy,” the Committee added.

The MUB called on Syriac people to participate in the Sayfo commemoration events to make their voice heard to world public opinion.

“We honor and respectfully recall the 1915 Sayfo Genocide martyrs on the 109^th anniversary,” the MUB Committee concluded.