Large protest on August 24 in Jönköping, Sweden, to commemorate the 1915 Sayfo Genocide

JÖNKÖPING, Sweden — Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) political, cultural, and religious institutions, together with local football clubs and cultural associations in Jönköping, will take part in a protest commemorating the martyrs of the 1915 Sayfo Genocide.

The protest organizers, a group of young men and women who spontaneously came together on social media under the name “Sons of Bethnahrin,” proposed the idea for the protest under the slogan of remembrance and honoring the memory of the Syriac (Chaldean-Assyrian-Aramean) martyrs of the massacres.  

The demonstration will be held in Hovrättstorget in Jönköping and then move to Rådhusparken. Slogans and banners are scheduled to be raised on Saturday, August 24, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Approximately twenty grassroots, religious, and cultural institutions are expected to participate, reflecting the broad representation of all segments of the local community. 

Among the participating bodies in the demonstration are: representatives of the Syriac Orthodox churches Mor Dimet, Mar Simon of the Olives, and Mor Abrohom; the Church of the Virgin Mary and the Mar Gewargis Church of the Assyrian Church of the East in Jönköping; the local Chaldean Church; Syriac Tur Abdin Football Club; Assyrian Youth in Sweden; Syriac Youth of Jönköping and Huskvarna; Syriac Aramean Youth in Sweden; Sons of Mesopotamia Party; the Assyrian Democratic Organization in Jönköping; Assyrian Democratic Party in Jönköping; Assyrian Knights on Motorcycles; Assyrian Babylon Club; Assyrian Football Team in Jönköping; Assyriska FF; the Scouts Committee of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Jönköping; Assyrian Women’s Union (AWU)