SÜDEF hosts memorial evening for Sayfo Genocide in Medyad

MEDYAD (MIDYAT), Tur Abdin — On Sunday, the Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF), organized a memorial evening at its Medyad (Midyat) headquarters, in Tur Abdin to commemorate the Sayfo Genocide of 1915, during which the Syriac people were subjected to mass atrocities by the Ottoman army and allied Kurdish tribal forces.

The evening began with opening remarks delivered by SÜDEF President Evgil Türker. This was followed by a bilingual speech in Syriac and Turkish by Subhi Aksoy, a member of the MUB Presidential Committee. In his address, Aksoy emphasized the enduring significance of Sayfo in the collective identity of the Syriac people, asserting that the genocide remains a defining element of their historical memory. He further stressed the urgent need for the Turkish state to confront its past openly and honestly to prevent any recurrence of such atrocities.

A speech was also delivered by Theodora Hobil on behalf of the Bethnahrin Women’s Union (Huyodo d’Neshe d’Bethnahrin, HNB), reflecting on the emotional and historical weight of the Sayfo Genocide.

The event was attended by 70 participants, including representatives from political parties and institutions affiliated with the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB). Audience members were given the opportunity to share their thoughts, many expressing deep sorrow and personal reflections tied to the collective memory of the tragedy.

The memorial concluded with a screening of a documentary film on the Sayfo Genocide.