Significance of the Armenian Genocide

Between 1915 and 1923 the leaders of the ottoman empire they gave the order to execute 1,500,000 Armenians. This episode is considered the first genocide of the 20th century. The Armenian people were then under Ottoman rule, but maintained their own cultural identity.

While the Ottoman Turks practiced the Muslim religion, the Armenians were Christians and had their own history and language.

Historical context of the massacre

In the Ottoman Turkish controlled territory of Armenia, Armenians did not have the same rights as Turks and were somehow treated as second class citizens. In this sense, they had to pay more taxes, could not access public office and were victims of intense xenophobia.

TO beginning In the 20th century, a group called "Young Turks" starred in a coup against the sultan of the Ottoman Empire and a nationalist regime was established that granted citizenship rights to the population of Turkish origin and Muslim religion.

Those who were not part of this category were considered enemies of the homeland.

The Armenians became the main objective of the Turkish authorities and for this reason it was decided to launch a campaign of mass extermination

In April 1915 the arrest and murder of more than 250 Armenian intellectuals and leaders was ordered. Thus began a period of atrocities that lasted eight years. According to most historians, one and a half million Armenians were killed.

In 1915 the new Turkish government had allied itself with Germany in World War I. In this context the Armenians were accused of traitors, since they were considered allies of the Russians.

After 100 of the genocide, the Turkish state does not take any responsibility

The European Parliament has produced different reports on the killing of Armenians. With them it is intended that the rulers of Turkey recognize the tragedy that the Armenian people suffered a hundred years ago. However, no Turkish government has acknowledged the existence of the genocide.

Pope Francis, United Nations and some national parliaments have also ruled on this tragedy.

The Turkish authorities accept that there were atrocities in the past, but do not consider that it was a systematically organized extermination. In this sense, they maintain that the events that occurred should be interpreted as a tragic episode in the context of World War I.

Images: Fotolia. Akoppo1, Chur