PROPERTIES FROM SEYFO GENOCIDE 1915 ARE RETURNED
By Dikran Ego
Assyria Times
Jan 8 2009
CA
The inheritance from the father was shown to be properties taken from
the Assyrians that got killed during the Seyfo genocide in 1915. Berzan
Boti is now apologizing for what his forefathers did and is returning
house and landmarks to its righteous owners.
At the end of 2008 a ninety year old taboo about the Seyfo genocide
was broken. Approximately 200 intellectual Turks started an appeal,
apologizing to the Armenians for what had happened in 1915. The Seyfo
was called "the huge disaster" in the appeal.
Berzan Boti, from Siirt in the southeast Turkey, takes it even
further and leaves all properties to Seyfo Center. The properties
that consist of landmarks and houses were owned by Assyrians before
the Seyfo genocide in 1915.
A year ago, Berzan Boti, contacted the Seyfo Center. In the letter
he apologized for what had happened in 1915 and was willing to return
the properties. In his letter he writes following:
"When I found out that the properties that I and my brothers
inherited from our father wasn’t our own, but properties taken from
the murdered Assyrians in 1915 I felt an indescribable feeling of guilt
and shame. I’ve been thinking long and hard before I have come to this
decision. I tried to put myself in their position. I have personally
apologized to every Assyrian and Armenian I’ve meet. But this does not
get rid of the crime our ancestors committed. Even if I am personally
not responsible for what happened in 1915, I felt as I had to do more
than just to apologize. Finally, I came to the decision to give back
all properties that I inherited from my forefathers to Seyfo Center,
who struggles for a confession of the Seyfo genocide in 1915".
Berzan Boti has now signed a document saying that Sabri Atman,
founder of Seyfo Center, is responsible for the properties. Atman
received the letter and says that Boti’s action is honorable.
"This is the beginning; I hope that other people that got properties
during the Seyfo genocide caused will take their responsibility as
Berzan Boti did", says Sabri Atman.
In a matter of security Berzan Boti do not want to give away his real
identity. The transfer of property to Seyfo Center will take place
during a press conference in Sweden in the spring.