The Assyrian genocide, also called Disypho (meaning "the sword"), was one of three extermination campaigns by the Ottoman Empire during WWI.
Occurred alongside the Armenian genocide and the Greek genocide, leading to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Assyrians.
The lecture focuses on the events of the Saifo and the struggles of the Assyrians.
Key Historical Context
Assyrian Identity:
Ethnic group united by languages derived from ancient Aramaic.
Predominantly Christian, divided among several denominations: Orthodox Assyrian Church of the East, Syrian Orthodox Church, and Chaldean Catholic Church.
Lacked political unity and fixed territory compared to Armenians.
Pre-Genocide Violence:
Sporadic violence and persecution against Christians in the Ottoman Empire dating back to 1895.
Discrimination and violence continued into the early 20th century, including land seizures and forced conversions.
Rise of Ethno-Nationalism
Talat Pasha's Regime:
Rise of Turkish ethno-nationalism during WWI under Talat Pasha.
Decree issued in October 1914 for deportation and expulsion of Assyrians near border territories with Russia and Iran.
Intent was not resettlement but cultural destruction by isolating communities.
Atrocities and Death Marches
Death Marches:
Many Assyrians joined Armenians on death marches through inhospitable terrain, leading to mass deaths from exhaustion, starvation, and massacres.
Ottoman forces also pursued fleeing Assyrians into Iranian territory.
Massacres and Retaliation:
Return of Ottoman forces led to massacres in recaptured towns; villages faced brutal reprisals regardless of collaboration with Russians.
Notable accounts of massacre survivors, such as Judad Abradova, highlighting extreme brutality.
Notable Figures and Resistance
Catholicos More Shimon:
Became a figurehead for Assyrian resistance; negotiated with Russians for aid.
Led armed resistance against Ottoman forces, with notable events of successful defiance in the Hakkiade Mountains.
Governor Jevdet Bey:
Orchestrated widespread arrests and executions of Christian men under false pretenses.
Responsible for brutal methods of execution and mass killings.
Statistics and Impact
Estimates of genocide victims:
Up to 200,000 Christians killed in Diyarbakir province, including at least 60,000 Assyrian Orthodox Christians.
Historical estimates range from 250,000 to near 300,000 total Assyrian deaths.
Aftermath and Recognition
Post-War Reflection:
Assyrian survivors began to reflect on the genocide after the fall of the Ottoman government.
Lack of accountability for those responsible, with few facing trials.
Modern Recognition:
Continued struggle for recognition of the genocide; only a few countries officially recognize it.
Recent statements from Turkish authorities deny culpability, asserting that the Saifo lacks legal and historical basis.
Conclusion
The Assyrian genocide remains a significant yet often overlooked chapter in history, with ongoing efforts by Assyrians worldwide for acknowledgment and recognition of their suffering.