On the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, commemorations were held in both northeastern Syria (Rojava) and Turkey on Thursday, underlining the continuing impact of the atrocities and the ongoing struggle for recognition and justice.
In Al-Hasakah (Hesekê), Rojava, the Armenian Community Assembly organised a solemn ceremony at Serdem Hall, attended by officials from the armed forces, members of the autonomous administration and dozens of Armenian citizens. The event included a minute’s silence and the lighting of candles in memory of the victims.
Migirdiç Katangyan, representative of the Armenian Community Assembly, emphasised the community’s commitment to preventing future genocides through resistance and struggle. Arif Kassabiyan, co-chair of the Assembly, vowed to step up their efforts to honour their ancestors and called for accountability for the perpetrators of the genocide, urging international human rights organisations to take action.
In Turkey, the Human Rights Association (İHD) held a press conference in Istanbul to mark the anniversary. İHD reiterated its long-standing position that the denial of genocide is a continuing crime that allows similar atrocities to persist. They called for official recognition and accountability to prevent further human rights violations. The İHD stressed, “An unpunished crime continues to be committed. Denial perpetuates genocide.”
The İHD further stressed that denying the genocide not only erases history, but also continues to harm the descendants of the victims. “Denial not only rejects the past but makes today complicit in the crime,” İHD said, adding that denial perpetuates trauma for the descendants of the victims, makes perpetrators into heroes and fosters continued hostility between peoples. The İHD stressed that the lack of legal accountability for genocide denial has led to a cycle of systemic exclusion and discrimination that continues to affect the descendants of the victims.
In addition, the İHD recalled the tragic death of Sevag Şahin Balıkçı, an Armenian citizen who was killed during his compulsory military service in Batman in 2011. İHD reaffirmed its commitment to keeping his memory alive.
