European Syriac Union urges global recognition of 1915 Sayfo Genocide on 110th anniversary

BRUSSELS — On the 110th anniversary of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, the European Syriac Union (ESU) released a heartfelt statement commemorating the victims of the countless massacres committed by the Ottoman Empire. The ESU called for official recognition of the genocide by Turkey and the international community, asserting that acknowledging the past is crucial for achieving peace and justice.

The ESU’s statement honored the memory of 1.5 million Armenians and 500,000 Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) who were systematically killed during and after World War I. These indigenous communities, who had lived peacefully for centuries, were targeted for their ethnic and religious identities, forcibly displaced from their ancestral lands, and subjected to mass extermination.

“This tragedy,” the statement declared, “is an enduring wound not only for the affected peoples but for the conscience of humanity.” The ESU emphasized that reconciliation requires Turkey to confront its historical actions and officially recognize the genocide of 1915. It also urged the international community to take decisive steps toward justice, warning that ignoring past atrocities perpetuates conditions for future genocides.

The ESU highlighted parallels between the Sayfo Genocide and the recent crimes committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) against Yezidis and other minority communities in Shigur (Shengal / Sinjar), Nineveh Plains, and the Khabur River Valley. It argued that denial of historical atrocities fosters a dangerous precedent, emboldening perpetrators to repeat such horrors.

Concluding its statement, the ESU underscored that 24 April is not only a day of mourning but also one of resistance and commitment. “We reaffirm our dedication to ensuring that the Sayfo Genocide is officially recognized,” the statement declared, “and that justice and accountability are achieved to honor the victims and prevent future atrocities.”

The ESU continues its advocacy for a world where confronting the past is the foundation for building a future rooted in equality, dignity, and justice.