At the Swiss Federal Parliament, the genocides suffered in 1915 by the Armenian, Assyrian, and Pontic Greek peoples were put on the agenda. The conference emphasized that Seyfo (the Assyrian genocide) is not only a reality of the past but also of the present.
Wermuth: History returns in rhyming forms
In his opening speech, Cédric Wermuth, co-chair of the Swiss Socialist Party (SP), said that vulnerable peoples are always the most crushed in the conflicts of great powers. He added: “History does not repeat itself exactly, but it returns in strangely rhyming forms. The recognition of 1915 is not only about respect for the past, but also a duty to protect the rights of peoples living today.”
Korkmaz: Genocide is not just the past, but the present too
The main speaker of the conference, Dr. Toros Korkmaz, pointed out that during the Ottoman era, non-Muslims were condemned for centuries to the status of dhimmi, second-class citizens, and that the massacres of 1915 were legitimized through propaganda branding them as “traitors.” Korkmaz said: “Seyfo is not only a catastrophe of the past, but a wound that carries into the present. Because Turkey has still not confronted this reality, minorities are not seen as equal citizens.”
Sagur: Switzerland must stand for human dignity
Speaking on behalf of the European Syriac Union (ESU), Lukas Sagur said that Switzerland’s recognition of Seyfo is both a historical responsibility and a necessity for defending human rights today.
Asmar: Genocide shapes our present
Lukas Reimann, a Member of Parliament from the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), stated that no “concrete and final step” had yet been taken, speaking cautiously. This approach sparked debate in the hall. Federal Parliament member Sibel Arslan stressed the need for a clearer stance.
He said: “You cannot escape this responsibility. Recognizing genocide means defending today’s democracy and the equality of peoples.”
In his closing speech, Father Huroyo Kerim Asmar underlined that what happened in 1915 was not merely a tragedy of the past, but something that continues to affect the lives of peoples today. He said: “Genocide is not just a word from history; it is a reality shaping our present. We call on the peoples of the world to confront this truth.”