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Pontos World
An open letter to the public
May 20, 2009 at 09:04 PM
On October 6, 2008, in the 8th Notary Public’s Office in the Mersin
province of Turkey, I have officially transferred my house/land title
located in the village of Cimencik (read as Chimenjick) to the Seyfo
Center in Holland, nominating it to its director Mr Sabri Atman. The
Cimencik village is part of the sub-division of Eruh district of the
Siirt province in the South-East of Turkey. In my letter below, I
would like to share with you, the international public, the reasons
why I have transferred my land to Seyfo Center.
Published: 2009-05-19
Courtesy of the Seyfo Center Website
by Behzat Bilek
World War I is a well known event by the international public. This
event took place in the late Ottoman Empire in 1915 – genocide was
carried against all Christian minorities living there. My village
Cimencik, of Eruh district, was another place where these unfortunate
events occurred. I have personally researched this event from many
different aspects. Today in Turkey this subject is still, not only
denied and distorted for over 93 years, but to speak about it or
mention it is considered taboo. I did not just rely on what historians
wrote or documented – I have also witnessed the confessions of the
live witnesses who not only witnessed this tragic genocide, but who
took part in the killing role in these mass massacres – where these
individuals can be described as the `guilty party’. I have met these
people face to face and listened to them just before their
deaths. During the genocide years, the murdered Assyrians in my
village had their lands confiscated and the little number of them who
survived was Islamized. The grand children of those who were Islamized
are still living in our village.
I found out that the land which was inherited by me and my brothers
and sisters from my father actually was the land of the people
(Assyrians) who were massacred in 1915. It does not belong to us. I
now cannot find the right words that describe the shame, guilt, qualm
and the pangs of conscience state I live in. Before taking my decision
of transfer, for many years I have thought about it and have placed
myself in the shoes of those people who became victims of the
genocide. Despite me personally apologising to many Assyrian and
Armenian individuals that I came across with and said `sorry’ to, I
could not leave the moral pressure of conscience I inherited
behind. Even though today I do not have a direct connection with the
then genocide – I came to the conclusion that I have to do something
beyond apology. That is why the estate I have inherited from my
forefathers, I am returning it to its actual owners, the Assyrians, to
one of their organizations, the Seyfo Center which sacrifices altruism
in recognition of the genocide.
This deed of mine is actioned into reality with my own free will and
feelings. It has not been influenced upon me by any group or
organization, nor is there any financial gain, family and personal
intent or reason which lies behind it.
The 1915 genocide was directed towards non-Muslims living in the
former Ottoman Empire territories during World War I. It is denied
firmly in an insensitive manner by the Turkish Republic State for over
85 years. The victims of this genocide the Armenians, Assyrians and
other Christian minorities are forced to live in anguish for many
years to come. The lands they lived on for many millennia as well as
their living and non-living possessions were confiscated. Many of them
were forced into exile. All of their estates were seized – houses and
churches were occupied and many of them were forcibly Islamized
(against their own will). The shivering/horrifying sides of the
genocide are detailed in many books and documented in historic
documents. As a Kurdish person, I do not wish to enter the discussion
of the genocide as someone has to make a decision to form one’s
judgement. Purely the responsibility for the genocide, due to its
nature, being an organized political activity, undoubtedly lies upon
the Ottoman state, being the then most authoritative political
organization at the time. However, having said that primary
responsibility lies upon the authoritative state, this does not leave
out those who carried it out as irresponsible nor removes their
guilt. Just like some Kurdish tribes who acted with the state in
carrying it out won’t remove their guilt and responsibility in the
action. In this genocide the ones who carried it out are guilty of
their actions as much as those who took the decision to implement
it. Even though many decades have passed since, to remain silent about
this genocide consciously, I feel as guilty as if I were openly
denying it.
Against this historical guilt, as a human being or in the humanitarian
sense I could not let the feelings of shame continue. I came to the
conclusion that it is our conscience duty to not be delayed in
apologising to the victims of the genocide and to return anything we
have confiscated from them. Because, to live with historical guilt,
even though you have no direct connection with it, while not taking a
stand and remaining silent about it is like to continue in identifying
with that guilt. The Turkish Republic State keeps denying the 1915
Genocide and states that: "we have no pebble to give in nor we owe any
apology". However I, not only am apologizing for them, I’m returning
to the Assyrians the estates that were confiscated from them.
With this deed of mine, I wanted to place a stop to a historical guilt
that occurred many years ago and was kept denied. On behalf of my
grandfathers, I apologize and ask forgiveness! My decision to
apologise is to make a real peace with the people that were victims of
the genocide. I am a human being! I do not want to loose my
humanitarian values!
Within my letter I wanted to explain the reasons for my deed to Turkey
(Turkish Government) and to whole world. You won’t find a similar deed
actioned by any individual in Turkey that is directed as an apology
for the genocide. It is time to apologise to Assyrians, Armenians and
the Greeks who have been condemned to anguish, sorrow and grief for
many years. Anyone individually can make an apology without awaiting
the State’s attitude in this case. It is the only condition to bring
an end to this historical guilt and finally live in peace.
With my genuine respect,
Behzat Bilek