Liège, 20 July 2013
A new monument dedicated to the Assyrian(Syriac) Genocide
at the heart of Europe
After Australia, America, Armenia and France, this time it is in Liège in Belgium that a new memorial dedicated to the Assyrian(Syriac)[1] Genocide Seyfo is erected. This monument is at the initiative of the Syriac Institute of Belgium and Seyfo Center.
Seyfo literally means "sword" in the Syriac language and refers to the genocide perpetrated by the Ottoman Empire in 1915 against all Christians in the territory corresponding to present-day Turkey. Two thirds to three quarters of the three people involved – Assyrians(Syriacs), Armenians and Pontic Greeks – were decimated.
Moushé Malke, an Assyrian(Syriac) world-renowned artist, carved a killed dove on a stone of 12 tons! It will include a writing in French and Syriac in memory of the victims of Seyfo. The Assyrian(Syriac) genocide monument will be erected on the site of the Sanctuary of Banneux, near Liege, Belgium. Enjoying a special status and international fame, this place is visited by over a million people a year.
The official inauguration of the monument will be held on August 4, 2013 at 13:00 Banneux. The final preparations for the opening ceremony are still going to host hundreds of participants from around the world.
We invite all Democrats and Progressives to this opening ceremony of the Seyfo monument.
On behalf of the Syriac Institute of Belgium and Seyfo Center,
Fatrus GABRIEL
institut.syriaque@gmail.com
[1] Several names are used to designate the Assyrian(Syriac) people. The term “Assyrian(Syriac)” is used as a synonym of the other names like Assyrian, Aramean, Chaldean, Syriac or Assyro-Chaldean-Syriac.
