BY MADELEINE MEZAGOPIAN
The world awoke to the news of the “Al Aqsa Flood” operation on October 7, 2023, which was quickly circulating on various social media platforms. Jewish and Muslim communities were both affected by the attack, and several people were kidnapped and held hostage—some still to this date. It was a devastating event, which would be followed by more conflict and human suffering in Gaza.
What was most terrifying, and alarming, was witnessing vicious groups of people celebrating the ongoing genocide. This didn’t only bring back painful memories of our parents and grandparents narrating the appalling events of the Armenian Genocide, it also, somehow, made us witness the sufferings of our ancestors.
It has been nearly 110 years since the first genocide of the 20th century, which was perpetrated with the aim of cleansing the region of its ethnic Armenian population. Today, the genocide of Armenians continues. Azerbaijan’s blockade of the Lachin Corridor, which was an attempt to starve the population, led to the exodus of 120,000 Armenians from Artsakh.
Armenians across the world continue to live with the pain of our ancestors, especially descendants of the genocide living in occupied Western Armenia—Turkey—where numerous cultural sites have been destroyed or changed.
This being said, crucial questions emerge: How can we relieve the pain of our martyrs while practicing forgiveness? How can we condemn and prevent genocides when the concepts of humanity and justice have lost their value?
It’s clear that justice and truth has become meaningless, as we witness “advocates,” like Sweden, abandon their roles by joining NATO to please Turkey—a criminal government that targets its own people. Turkey made Sweden compromise their advocacy for human rights during their accession to NATO. This sad development led to restricting the freedom of peaceful expression by the Armenian community in Sweden on the remembrance day of the Armenian Genocide.
Armenians today are still waiting for several countries, especially those, like Israel, whose people have suffered genocide, to officially recognize the events of 1915 as genocide. It’s time for Israel to follow in the footsteps of countries like France, where they recently honored Armenian hero Missak Manouchian, posthumously. Manouchian was an Armenian Genocide survivor who fought the Nazis in France, with several Holocaust survivors.
The Israeli government must put aside its political interests with Azerbaijan and Turkey and take the steps to recognize the Armenian Genocide. They must condemn the two countries for their past, as well as present actions—as both Turkey and Azerbaijan have historically oppressed not only Armenians, but their people, as well.
Today, the Armenian nation still witnesses unending killing of unarmed Armenian civilians thus representing an ongoing genocide well justifying and supporting the Armenian victims group asking the International Criminal Court to investigate ethnic cleansing and persecution claim against Azerbaijan.
Armenians worldwide witnessed the ethnic cleansing campaign that took place in Artsakh in the last few years. We watched our people endure yet another genocide, while we begged the International Criminal Court to investigate our claims against Azerbaijan.
Today, the Armenian Nation continues to suffer amid global silence and indifference.
Where was UNICEF when Armenian children were suffering during a nearly year-long blockade imposed by Azerbaijan? As some watched their killed by Azeri forces, who used hired mercenaries to execute their plans?
Today, while we pray tribute to our martyrs and to the victims of the Armenian genocide, we honor and remember the mothers in Armenia who are raising soldiers and heroes who will fight for our rights. These heroes serve as a reminder to all Armenians that time does not erase their historical claims to Western Armenia, to Artsakh, and to the villages in Armenia’s Tavush region that were recently surrendered to Azerbaijan.
In our daily prayers, we ask that out soldiers be empowered with the strength, ethics, and determination needed to safeguard the independence and sovereignty of Armenia.
The only way we can truly repay the sacrifices of our martyrs is to work on forming a strong government, led by individuals who will make the right decisions for Armenia. Strengthening our government and choosing the right allies will be the best deterrence against external attacks and aggression.
We, the Jordanian Armenian community, with great pride and humility, underline that the past and present sufferings of our Nation do not deter us from having sympathy for the sufferings of other nations, specifically for Palestinians in Gaza.
Although Jordan continues to be a safe haven for the Armenian community—a community of loyal, productive citizens—we have long preserved out strong connection to our homeland, Armenia.
As a Jordanian Armenian descendant of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, and as a scholar of peace, witnessing all the sufferings and the existential threats surrounding Armenia and Jordan, it is my duty to join forces with others like me to instigate a cultural revolution. We must convince the world to adopt and promote a culture of peace and acceptance, of coexistence. It is our duty to prevent future genocides and safeguard humanity.
Yes, today on April 24, while we remember the pain of our martyrs, let us initiate a journey of peace toward a world devoid of genocides.
Madeleine Mezagopian is a scholar and an academician based in Amman, Jordan.