European Parliament hosts Sayfo Genocide conference ahead of remembrance day

BRUSSELS — On the eve of Sayfo Genocide Remembrance Day, 15 June, the Patriots for Europe Group in European Parliament hosted a two-day conference focused on the 1915 Sayfo Genocide. The event brought together historians, genocide scholars, parliamentarians, Sayfo descendants, and members of the European Syriac Union (ESU). 

The conference began with the screening of Souls in Transit, a 2022 documentary by filmmaker Aida Schläpfer. The film recounts the atrocities of the Sayfo Genocide, carried out by the Ottoman Empire and allied Kurdish tribes against Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), Armenian, and Greek communities. Schläpfer created the documentary to raise global awareness of the genocide. According to an ESU Facebook post, the screening deeply moved attendees, eliciting emotional responses. 

Related: Dutch MEP Sander Smit about Sayfo Genocide: “Without recognition there is no justice. Without justice there will be no peace and reconciliation. Never again! is now!” 

The second day featured high-level panel discussions involving Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), historians, human rights advocates, and representatives of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community. Discussions centered on the enduring impact of the Sayfo Genocide on Christian Syriacs (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), addressing challenges such as the preservation of identity, cultural heritage protection, and religious freedom. 

Panelists also emphasized the European Union’s role in promoting historical recognition and fostering reconciliation. The conference highlighted the ongoing need to address the social, cultural, and political consequences of the genocide, 110 years after its occurrence. 

Also Read: The Voice of the Diaspora: European Syriac Union Marks 21 Years of Syriac Solidarity