LOST PAGE IN HISTORY, FINALLY DISCOVERED
By Rebecca John
Assyria Times, CA
May 15 2006
Tragedy, loss and prejudice are only a few words we can use to describe
what the Assyrian and Armenian Christians suffered at the hands of the
Turkish Government. Only now, ninety-one years after these murders,
violations and acts of inhumanity took place, has this dark period
in history come to light.
The Genocide of the Assyrian people has been given the cutting name
‘SEYFO’, which translates to mean ‘sword’. This name was given to
represent the brutalities the Assyrians suffered as a result of
refusing to accept the policies of the ruling government which
was seeking to ‘Turkify’ the Christian people of the land. The
self-proclaimed aim of the Empire was to create a Pan-Turkish state,
or perhaps more importantly, a state where the only religion was
Islam. To achieve this ideal, the Turkish Government created laws
with the sole intention to make life for the Christians as difficult
as possible. By law, Christians could not take part in any political
issues, Assyrians could not speak their inherited language and taxes
for the non-Muslims were more than ten times higher than those who
were Turks and Muslims. Those too scared to stay in the villages they
were born in, fled to safety by foot to neighboring countries (most
of which died on their journey from exhaustion and hunger). Assyrians
refusing to leave their homes and deny their faith became targets
for the Turkish Government, which led to the most horrific event
in Assyrian history: The Slaughter of thousands upon thousands of
Assyrians and the forced deportations of many more.
Assyrians and Armenians have taken it upon themselves to educate
people of this Genocide which is often referred to as the ‘the lost
page in history’. Firodil Institute has been spreading the word of
SEYFO with the help of Government MP’s and by organizing ‘Genocide’
events. The most recent and successful event took place on 10th May
2006 at SOAS University (School of Oriental and African Studies)
and proved to be a powerful learning experience for those who attended.
Mr. Lamassu of Firodil Institute, who is an Assyrian himself, spoke
of the disturbing effect that the Genocide aftermath had on him:
“I grew up listening to stories of an uncle who had to watch his
six-month-old child be thrown into a burning clay oven. Juxtapose
the tragic tales I grew up with, with what normal children of normal
environments grow up to; and you will realize why the crimes of 1915
must be recognized as genocide … I am an Assyrian, I am the genocide
and the genocide is me: to deny it you are killing me twice!”
Guest speakers at this event included academic researcher, Sabri
Atman and winner of the ‘Golden Palm’ award, Swedish-Assyrian
Journalist Nuri Kino. Not only did both speakers shed some light
on the Assyrian and Armenian Genocide historically, but they also
spoke of these prejudices still living on in Turkey today. Mr. Kino
explained how Assyrian Christians are still referred to as ‘pigs’,
and how the slaughtering of Assyrians are discussed with a sense
of achievement. Turkey’s attitude towards the Christian People has
raised a question mark over whether Turkey should be allowed to join
the European Union (EU). This proposal has sparked a fear of history
repeating itself for the Assyrian and Armenian people, as many fled
their homeland to escape the Genocide Turkey subjected them to. Nuri
Kino gave his opinions on this matter:
“Turkey claims, yes, Armenians, Assyrians have been killed in ‘war’.
I have evidence it was a plot, a plan to rid Turkey of Christians,
non-Muslims…Turkey must face up to the Genocide towards the Assyrians
and apologize.”
Mr. Kino himself lost various members of his family during the
Genocide with his grandmother being the sole survivor from a tribe
consisting of over three hundred people. His documentary ‘Assyriska
a National Team without a Nation’ was the winner of the prestigious
‘Golden palm’ award (awarded for the first time for a non-American
and a non-fictional film). It was however, Kino’s first documentary
‘A Cry Unheard’ that set him on the road to success, as he followed
the Genocide road, interviewing survivors and performing extensive
research. This experience he claims was both stressful and upsetting
which even took a toll on his health.
Ninety-one years later, news of this haunting Genocide is finally
being spoken of, not with fear, but with sheer will and determination
to force the Turkish Government to admit and apologize for what
happened to the Christians in their country. After almost a century
of lost lives, tragedy and grief, the Assyrians feel they deserve
recognition and an apology, not for the sake of a “lost” nation,
but for the justice of a nation that was stolen.
For more information on upcoming events or on any issues raised
contact Rebecca at [email protected] or Firodil Institute
at [email protected].
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