Sayfo - An Account of the Assyrian Genocide

This text is a rare eyewitness account of the 1915 Assyrian genocide during the First World War, written by a seminarian living in greater Tur Abdin. It provides a unique perspective on the events and discusses Armenians, Greeks, and Assyrians in one primary source. Translated and annotated by a Syriac master, it offers a valuable opportunity for new scholarship on this forgotten atrocity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

This text is one of the few surviving eyewitness sources on the Assyrian genocide, written by a seminarian living in greater Tur Abdin (the southeast of today's Turkish state). The perspective is one that is little known and less discussed. Translated and annotated by a master of Syriac with an in-depth knowledge of modern Assyrian history, this text creates a unique opportunity for new and progressive scholarship.

The Assyrian genocide is one of the forgotten atrocities of the 20th century. The physical destruction was but one element; it also caused demographic shifts, loss of territory,generational trauma, linguicide, along with cultural genocide/ethnocide and identity erosion.

The text begins with an introduction that provides context for the events of 1915. It explains that the Ottoman state was failing, and the Young Turk regime was rising. This political instability led to a series of genocides against various ethnic groups, including the Assyrians.

The main body of the text is a rare eyewitness account of the Assyrian genocide. It is written by a seminarian who lived in greater Tur Abdin at the time. The seminarian provides a detailed account of the events, including the persecution of Assyrians by the Turkish military and local militia. He also describes the physical destruction of Assyrian villages and the massacres that took place.

The text includes comments and interviews with perpetrators of the events. These interviews provide insight into the motivations and rationalizations of the perpetrators. They reveal the extent to which the genocide was planned and organized, and the level of brutality that was employed.

The text is annotated with information about sites, people, and events. This information includes maps, photographs, and historical documents that provide additional context for the events. It also includes references to other primary sources and secondary literature that can be used to further explore the topic.

Overall, this text is a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about the Assyrian genocide. It provides a unique perspective on the events, and is translated and annotated with an in-depth knowledge of modern Assyrian history. It is an important contribution to the field of genocide studies, and will be of interest to scholars, researchers, and anyone who is concerned about the prevention of future genocides.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474447515