Hasaka, SANA – On occasion of the 101st anniversary of the “Sayfo” genocide committed by Ottomans against Syriacs, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All East and Holy Synod of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II inaugurated a memorial for the martyrs of the genocide in al-Quwatli Street in Qamishli city.
The Sayfo genocide was committed by forces from the Ottoman Empire in 1915, massacring hundreds of thousands of Syriacs and displacing thousands more.
In a statement during the inauguration, Patriarch Aphrem II said that this memorial sends a message that the martyrs will not be forgotten, asserting that the terrorism which is targeting Syria and which is funded by regional and international sides constitutes an extension of the same terrorism that targeted Syriacs 101 years ago at the hands of Ottomans.
He affirmed that Syria is the home of all Syrians and that everyone must band together to defend it and keep it unified, stable, and safe, lauding the sacrifices made by the Syrian Arab Army in defense of Syria’s unity.
Hazem Sabbagh