The massacre of Armenians by Turks is considered as one of most brutal episodes in European and world history and unleashed a long series of suffering and plight for Armenian people, the memories of which loom over their descendents. The Christian Armenia had a long turbulent past of confrontation with Ottoman Turks and it was also a part of Ottoman Turk empire of 15th century where they faced continuous periods of discrimination and suppression.By late nineteenth century this discrimination had kindled spirit of nationalism, resistance and demand for greater rights and autonomy for Armenian living as a part of Turkish Empire (Cohan, 2005). However the Turkish Sultans took an unsympathetic view of Armenian demands and during 1894-96 when Armenians protested new tax structures they were met with a state sponsored massacre, now called as Hamidian massacre, where 100,000 to 300,000 Armenians were killed throughout the Turkish Empire (Cohan, 2005).
The beginning of twentieth century was time for cultural, educational and political changes for Armenian people. Although by far their ancient homeland was all conquered and divided among Russians and Ottomans Turks, yet Armenians were successful in forging a symbolic bond among themselves as well as other constituents of Turkish Empire who were aspiring for a more secular and equal treatment at the hands of Turks (Hovannisian, 2005, 89).But the Turkish policy of brutal suppression continued in spite of these demands and another massacre in 1909 left more than 30,000 Armenians dead in the city of Adana (Cohan, 2005). By 1914 Ottoman Turkish Empire had become severely suspicious of its Armenian population due to appeasing policies of its archrival Russia that was pulling Armenian loyalties towards itself. In 1914 when the World War I broke out and captured the attention of entire world, it was taken as an opportune moment by the young Turks to systematically eradicate the Armenian population and identity (Cohan, 2005).
The genocide started on April 24, 1915 with extensive killings of Armenian intellectuals, medical professionals, political and spiritual leaders and businessmen and it was immediately followed by deportation of Armenian population from across the entire Empire to Syrian desert, a process which saw numerous and horrible atrocities on Armenian men, women and children (Cohan, 2005). The unarmed, and helpless Armenian civilians were plundered, butchered, their women sexually molested and children sold by Turkish soldiers and organized groups of criminals.Although Great Britain, France and United States strongly criticized the state sponsored genocide of Armenian population by Turks, the genocide continued well up to the 1920s (FAQ-2007). The genocide resulted in death of more than 1. 5 million Armenian people, virtually ‘freeing’ Turkish Empire of its Armenian population and irrevocably destroyed a centuries old culture.
Armenians who somehow managed to avert death at the hands of Turks escaped to other countries as refugees or migrated to USSR from they would gain independence some 70 years later to finally realize the dream of their own nation.
