Press Release
June 14, 2025 — Athens, Greece
During World War I, the Ottoman Empire orchestrated the systematic extermination of more than half of the Assyrian population. Most of the survivors were either executed, exiled, or forced to abandon their ancestral homeland. Between 1914 and 1924, the Ottoman regime—alongside its Kurdish allies—carried out a genocide that claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Assyrians. The pain and trauma of this atrocity remain etched in the collective memory of the Assyrian people, exacerbated by Turkey’s continued denial and refusal to acknowledge this largely overlooked chapter of World War I history.
As the legal and political successor to the Ottoman Empire, the Republic of Turkey maintains a policy of denial, refusing to recognize the genocide perpetrated against its Christian populations—despite overwhelming historical documentation and scholarly consensus. This persistent refusal dishonors the victims and their descendants and stands in stark contrast to the democratic values Turkey professes to uphold.
Democratic nations and the international community must remain steadfast in their principles, urging Turkey to confront this painful past. Recognition should not be considered a threat but as a courageous and constructive step toward justice, reconciliation, and the full inclusion and equal treatment of all minorities within Turkish society.
Ultimately, Turkey has the sovereign agency to choose the path of truth and moral responsibility. By acknowledging the genocides of the Assyrian, Armenian, and Greek peoples, Turkey can take a significant step toward historical accountability and meaningful integration into the global community—founded on the principles of human rights, dignity, and shared memory.
Sabro Bengaro, The Assyrian Genocide Research, SEYFO Center
Kyriakos Batsaras, Assyrian Union of Greece
