Södertälje Municipality to Erect Sayfo Genocide memorial in 2026

SÖDERTÄLJE, Sweden — A Sayfo memorial will be erected in the public space of the Swedish town of Södertälje. The decision for the monument comes after years of discussions within the city’s municipal council, with heated disputes over design and the national names to be inscribed on the memorial.

This Friday, local political parties reached an agreement to dedicate the memorial to all Christian peoples that were victims of the 1915 genocide, i.e. the Syriac, Armenian, and (Pontic-)Greek peoples. The municipality approved the Syriac organizations’ proposal to place a cross atop the memorial. The memorial will not be owned by the municipality but by the Swedish state. The latter will also oversee its construction.

Journalists from the municipality building reported on Friday that all political parties are in agreement, suggesting no further obstacles are anticipated for Monday, when the council is expected to formally finalize the decision, marking the last step before construction begins.

Officials indicated that the memorial will be officially unveiled on 24 April 2026.

The announcement of the Sayfo memorial comes shortly before Sayfo Remembrance Day, which is held annually on June 15.