Truth Denied for 110 Years

By Suphi Aksoy

A great disaster befell Mesopotamia and Anatolia 110 years ago. This widespread calamity, known in the history of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), Armenian, and Pontic Greek peoples as the Genocide of 1915, stands as one of the darkest chapters in the history of the Middle East.

Throughout human history, ethnic, religious, and social atrocities have scarred nations across the globe. Each of these tragedies has profoundly impacted the affected communities, leaving behind national traumas, painful stories, and open wounds that persist through generations. Every people, in their own history, bear the weight of dark chapters — moments of indescribable suffering, injustice, and loss.

The victims of such atrocities often feel compelled to remind the world of the horrors they endured. They appeal to international institutions of justice and global public opinion, seeking recognition, accountability, and reparations. They long for justice, hoping to break free from cycles of subjugation and persecution by fostering international solidarity. Yet, their cries for justice are not always heard. Sometimes, they reach sympathetic ears and the right platforms, but too often they encounter indifference or political obstacles.

Many crimes against humanity remain obscured by the interests of dominant global powers, leaving oppressed peoples trapped in despair and pessimism. The lack of accountability allows dark clouds to hang over their lives, as perpetrators evade responsibility for their actions.

The Christian peoples of the region — Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldean), Armenians, and Pontic Greeks — endured centuries of oppression and exploitation under Ottoman rule. Their suffering reached its horrific culmination during the genocide of 1915. During World War I, millions were massacred, exiled, or forcibly converted to Islam. Their properties were confiscated, and their historical and cultural heritage was systematically destroyed. These communities, deeply scarred by the atrocities committed against them, continue to mourn the loss of their people and the erasure of their cultural identity, while struggling to find justice in an often-indifferent world.

Christian communities were subjected to unimaginable atrocities during the genocide of 1915, including murder, rape, and the plundering of their homes, villages, and cities. Shockingly, these crimes were often committed by their own neighbors. Over the past 110 years, there has been no effort to apologize for this crime against humanity, nor any political initiative to heal the open wounds or prevent further bloodshed. Instead, the genocide has been denied through a campaign of persistent lies, and the world has largely turned its back on the truth, choosing to ignore these fabrications. Conscientious individuals who dared to speak out about the genocide were silenced, often through punishment.

In an environment where discussing the truth and questioning the disappearance of Christian peoples from Mesopotamia and Anatolia is criminalized, the descendants of those who were massacred, forcibly exiled, and condemned to death through starvation and disease are now being invited to return to their ancestral homeland — as if nothing happened. Over the past 25 years, representatives of the Turkish Republic have issued calls for Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) to come back, and some Kurdish politicians have publicly apologized for the events of the past, expressing a desire to see Syriacs Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) return.

However, many Middle Eastern political leaders — particularly the governments of Turkey and the former Baath regime in Syria — have, in recent years, sought to position themselves as protectors of the Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans). These overtures, however, are often driven by self-interest rather than genuine reconciliation. Regimes rooted in ideologies like Turkish Islam, Arab Islam, Persian Islam, or Kurdish Islam cannot offer a promising future for Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) or other Christian communities as long as their underlying mentalities remain unchanged.

It is no mystery why Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) have fled their homeland since the 1915 Sayfo Genocide, seeking refuge in Western countries. Until there is a sincere reckoning with the past, coupled with structural changes to ensure justice and equality, the wounds inflicted on these communities will remain unhealed, and their distrust of returning to their homeland will persist.

It is universally understood that the most valuable asset a people can create for themselves is their homeland — the land on which they live and upon which they build their civilization. Thus, people do not leave their homeland voluntarily or without compelling reasons. It is equally evident and understandable why the Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) resist being near their oppressors or the inheritors of the mindset that inflicted profound harm upon them. A victim cannot be expected to live alongside their abuser, confronting them daily. The psychological scars push individuals to seek distance, as their inner world struggles to reconcile with the evil they endured.

In light of this, calls for Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) to “return to their homeland” ring hollow and insincere. The Sayfo Genocide has yet to be officially recognized, and those responsible have never been prosecuted, convicted, or punished. Furthermore, the properties seized during that time have not been returned, nor have any constitutional guarantees been provided to the peoples victimized by the genocide.

Only those who have experienced genocide can truly comprehend the suffering and psychological toll it inflicts. For this reason, it is crucial that all oppressed communities and peoples in Turkey and the Middle East unite their pain and join hands in solidarity. This includes individuals from all ethnic and religious identities and social groups: Christians, Jews, Yezidis, Alevis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Druze, Kaka’i, and Muslims who have faced persecution for following their conscience.

A meaningful and valuable return of exiled Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) to their homeland can only occur when a new, shared life is built — one that collectively fights against oppression and injustice while celebrating the joy of freedom together. Until then, those who fail to condemn or recognize the genocide of 1915 will remain defenders of future genocides and complicit in the crimes of the past.

The views expressed in this op-ed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of SyriacPress.