Kurdish-Swedish MEP Evin Incir commemorates 110th Anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide in European Parliament, calls for global recognition

BRUSSELS — On the 110th anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide, member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Evin Incir, living in Sweden but of Kurdisch origin, reflected on the atrocities committed by the Ottoman Empire and allied Kurdish tribes against the Armenian, Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) and (Pontian) Greek people, honoring the victims of this dark chapter in history. 

In a poignant Instagram post, Incir described the Genocide as one of the bleakest moments in human history, emphasizing the scale of suffering endured by over one million victims. She highlighted the displacement of countless innocent civilians, widespread violence, and the destruction of families. Drawing a personal connection, Incir revealed that her great-grandfather’s family was among those who suffered deeply under Ottoman rule during this period.  

“A genocide that killed and deported millions. People were massacred, families were destroyed. One of those families was my own great-grandfather’s. Many survivors were scattered across the Middle East, Europe and the world. Carrying a grief that has permeated generations. This is not a distant memory. It is a wound that is felt today.” 

The commemoration, falling on Thursday, April 24, marks 110 years since the Sayfo Genocide began, coinciding with World War I. Estimates indicate that, in 1915, more than 1,5 million Armenians and Syriacs (Arameans-Assyrians-Chaldeans) lost their lives.

Many national parliaments have officially recognized the massacres as genocide, including Sweden, Belgium, Germany, and Netherlands. France has even designated April 24 as a day of national commemmoration of the Armenian Genocide. Turkey, however, continues to deny its role in the genocide and diminishes the reported number of victims. 

Incir’s post sheds light on the lasting impact of the genocide, advocating for global recognition and justice for the peoples affected.