Armenian Martyrs' Day
Armenian Martyrs' Day is observed annually on April 24, commemorating the memory of over 1 million Armenians who perished during acts of persecution in the early 20th century. The observance marks the onset of a tragic series of events that began on April 24, 1915, when the Turkish government arrested and executed approximately 250 Armenian leaders in Istanbul, signaling a broader campaign against the Armenian population during World War I. This period was marked by widespread atrocities, including systematic executions and forced deportations, particularly under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
Armenians, historically a Christian minority within this predominantly Muslim empire, faced increasing discrimination and violence, especially during times of political upheaval. The culmination of these actions led to what is now recognized as one of the first modern genocides, with an estimated 1.5 million Armenians losing their lives between 1915 and 1923. Despite protests from foreign nations at the time, the events have often been overlooked in historical narratives.
Armenian Martyrs' Day serves as a solemn reminder of this dark chapter in history and aims to raise awareness of the Armenian genocide, honoring those who suffered and seeking recognition for their struggles. The day holds significant cultural importance for Armenians worldwide, fostering remembrance and reflection on their shared heritage and the need for historical acknowledgment.
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Armenian Martyrs' Day
Armenian Martyrs' Day
Armenians around the world observe April 24 of every year as Armenian Martyrs' Day, honoring the memory of the more than 1 million Armenians who died of persecution in the early 20th century. It was on April 24, 1915, during World War I, that the Turkish government initiated its final and most deadly campaign against the Armenians, beginning with the arrest and execution of approximately 250 Armenian leaders in the Turkish capital of Istanbul.
Armenia is a region in the southern Caucasus mountains. It was a kingdom, and then a province of the ancient Roman Empire, one of the first to be Christianized. In later times it was divided between the Ottoman Empire of the Turks to the south and the Russian Empire to the north. Despite some discrimination, the Armenians under Ottoman rule did not at first fare badly. Many became successful traders or financiers and were consequently envied by their neighbors. As Christians, however, they were a minority within a Muslim empire, and in the last years of the 19th century the despotic Sultan Abdulhamid II decided to eliminate them. He launched a campaign against the Armenians that was continued by the Young Turks who succeeded him, reaching its peak during World War I, when the Ottoman Turks were allied with Germany on the losing side. Russia was one of Turkey's enemies during the war, and so the Christian Armenians who lived near the Russian border (not far from fellow Christians on the other side) came under redoubled suspicion. They, and Armenians throughout Turkey, became the targets of what we would now call genocide.
Starting with the roundup of Armenians in Istanbul, the Turkish authorities began to systematically execute or relocate the Armenian populace. Those Armenian towns and population centers which were not simply destroyed by Turkish troops were depopulated, with the people taken on forced marches to their new homes in the deserts of Syria. Most of those who failed to die of starvation or dehydration on these marches were killed later in mass executions. Other Armenians were forced to serve the Turkish army as slave laborers until they died of exhaustion. Approximately 1.5 million Armenians died between 1915 and 1923. Those who could escape fled to Russia, Europe, and the United States. The massacre was protested by foreign nations, including Turkey's allies, but to little avail; today it seems to have been largely forgotten. Armenian Martyrs' Day is an effort to bring more attention to the Armenian tragedy.