Assyrian Genocide: A Fate Worse Than Death

It seems impossible that we would forget genocides of entire people, but events like the Assyrian genocide show us how fickle human memory can be. Also called the Sayfo, meaning ‘the sword’, the Assyrian genocide was one of three mass campaigns of extermination waged by the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Alongside the more famous Armenian genocide and that of the Greeks, hundreds of thousands of Assyrians lost their lives in racially and religiously motivated atrocities at the command of the Ottoman government between 1914 and 1918.

The struggle of the Assyrians is easily overlooked, but it contains tales of incredible brutality and of admirable resistance. Today on A Day In History, we look at how the atrocities of the Sayfo unfolded, the deplorable ways that the Ottomans deceived their victims, and the stories of the men who took up arms to defend themselves from those who would exterminate them.

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Prelude

The Assyrians are an ethnic group united by their shared languages which derive from ancient Aramaeic. Christianity They are also thorouglhy Christian although split between several denominations, of which the largest are the Orthodox Assyrian Church of the East and Syrian Orthodox Church, and the Chaldean Catholic Church.

Unlike the Armenians, the Assyrians have never been politically unified - there is no real link between the ancient Assyrian empire and the modern Assyrian people - and they were treated as a loose ethnic group with no fixed territory. Like other Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire, they faced sporadic violence and persecution for decades before the genocide. In 1895, Assyrians were among the victims of the waves of violence that killed thousands of Christians across the Empire and they faced regular discrimination in law and public life. Violence from Turkish authorities and Kurdish raiders continued throughout the early 20th century with land seizures, forced conversion, and mob violence becoming regular features of life.

Things changed with the rise of Turkish ethnonationalism and the First World War. The Empire’s new ruler Talaat Pasha envisioned an ethnically Turkish empire where minorities were excluded, or eliminated. The Ottomans also saw the Assyrians as a security risk, fearing that they would side with Russia once the fighting began.

#assyrian #history #armeniangenocide #sayfo

Music: Epidemic Music

Sources:

David Gaunt, Massacres, Resistance, Protectors: Muslim-Christian Relations in Eastern Anatolia during World War I, (2006)

David Gaunt, ‘The Ottoman Treatment of the Assyrians’, in Ronald Grigor Suny et al (ed.), A Question of Genocide: Armenians and Turks at the End of the Ottoman Empire, (2011), p244-59

David Gaunt and Naures Atto (ed.), Let Them Not Return: Sayfo - The Genocide Against the Assyrian, Syriac, and Chaldean Christians in the Ottoman Empire, (2019)

Florence Hellot-Bellier, ‘The Increasing Violence and the Resistance of Assyrians in Urmia and Hakkari (1900–1915)’, in Talay Shabo and Soner O Barthoma (eds.), Sayfo 1915: An Anthology of Essays on the Genocide of Assyrians/Arameans during the First World War, (2018)

Copyright © 2023 A Day In History. All rights reserved.

[neuro.weaver]

Turkey is one of these countries that, instead of a history, they have a criminal record.

[Curiamacabre]

As a descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors, I’m alarmed as to how any of these people (including my grandparents) survived.

[aharon]

I have met many Assyrians here in Israel but none of them ever mentioned any of this. I often wondered why they seemed to hate Muslims so much, this explains a lot but I wonder why they never mentioned this? I had no idea.

[horseshoe]

from australia. i worked with an assyrian for tens years in an international company. we were blue collar workers. this guy was the nicest fella, and helpful. not arognant. he was respected in the company. at villawood, sydney.

[David]

Lesson one : NEVER GIVE UP YOUR ARMS.
Lesson Two : ALWAYS HAVE A PREPARED STANDING DEFENSE

[Synchrodipity]

I believe that, in the same way Jews reclaimed their ancient homeland, Assyrians should also be entitled to their own homeland - self-determination without being 'dhimmi' to Islamic overlords.

[dodgerblue]

Mans inhumanity to man on display again. Thank You for the knowledge.

[nenenindonu]

Kurdish warlords like Bedir Khan Beg and Simko Shikak also campaigned effectively against Christians including Assyrians

[curiosityman]

Till today i didn't even onow there was an Assyrian ethnic group. And now i am sad for what they endured. Hope the population bounces back

[Imran-ixrp]

These should be thought in the schools so that our next generation knows the past. Thanks to this content creator.

[ti_Maj_.]

Turks had genocides against absolutly every nation surrounding them. At least attempted it.

[Ashur-Uballit-lll]

This is just one genocide, we Assyrians survived genocides for 2600 years and we are still here by the grace of God Jesus Christ, and will be here in end days! God bless Assyrians and thank you for this video

[SheptonDavies]

My mother's family managed to escape to Cyprus. We lost everything, house land, possessions but at least we survived. My mother handed me the deeds to the land before she passed away, for what it's worth.

[STony.T]

As an Assyrian, I thank you for making a video on this as not many people know about the genocide we had against our people.

[thomasaustirol]

When I confront a turkish coworker in my company with either the armenian or assyrian genocide, he becomes very emotional. They deny any genocide of the ottoman empire until today.
It is like deniing the Holocaust ... man does not learn from history

[dr.Kurynovskiy]

My father was a Russian truck driver in 1949 - 1953 and often drove through these regions and in the small towns the folk would take him in. They were incredibly kind and managed to fix a nice feast and gave him quarter and some trinkets which I have kept. They would discuss these genocidal periods and massacres. They were devout eastern Christians and would gladly pray with my dad. After years of disasters, they were still kind and grateful for the Lord.

[justthinks]

As a Pakistani christian.
I always stand with my Christian Brothers and sisters
God bless you all my brother's and sisters please remember each other in your prayers f❤😅❤😅😢❤❤❤❤

[Yoyërcompany]

As Armenian, I'm glad this video exists. It's a tradegy for all of us Christians and no one should forget that

[a.y.]

The Assyrian Genecide Memorial is present in Yerevan, Armenia. We Armenians hold up Assyrian Genecide as our own. it must not be forgotten

[karamp]

Assyrian here. Thank you for spreading awareness! God bless ✝️🙏