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ARMENIAN ASSEMBLY OF AMERICA
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
*MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REACT TO DESTRUCTION OF **ARMENIAN** CHURCH & GENOCIDE
MEMORIAL AT DER ZOR, SYRIA*
*WASHINGTON**, DC -* On the same day as millions of Armenians in Armenia
and around the world marked the 23rd independence day of the Republic of
Armenia, on Sunday, September 21st terrorists belonging to the Islamic
State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) destroyed the Armenian Church and
Genocide Memorial in Der Zor, Syria, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). Reports began to surface early Monday morning,
prompting swift rebukes from Members of Congress, the U.S. government, and
the Armenian American community.
`Armenian Americans are appalled at the destruction of the Armenian Holy
Martyr's Church and the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Der Zor, Syria,'
stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `For Armenians across the
globe it evokes painful memories of the past wherein the Genocide of 1915
claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians, as well as Turkey's ongoing and
shameful campaign of genocide denial,' Ardouny said.
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), condemned
the attack in the strongest of terms. `I am deeply saddened and outraged by
the destruction of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir ez-Zor,'
he said. `This church stood to commemorate and honor the hundreds of
thousands of Armenians who died on the march to Deir ez-Zor. At the order
of the Ottoman Turks, Armenian refugees were sent to die in Deir ez-Zor as
part of the 20th century's first genocide. The destruction of the
church
memorializing this terrible point in history must be met with a strong
international response.
`The United States government and other international partners in the
region must work to protect religious minorities and to ensure that
Armenian Christians are not targeted for such appalling acts. As the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches, we must remember that it
is our duty to stand against the targeting of Armenians all around the
world and to prevent any further targeted violence.'
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the Armenian Genocide
resolution, said that `The reported destruction by ISIL of the Armenian
Genocide Memorial Church in Der Zor, Syria is yet another example of the
sickening barbarity that has terrorized millions across Iraq and Syria.
The fact that the church was dedicated to those lost in the genocide is
both especially poignant, and a chilling foreshadowing of how ISIL would
treat Syria's Christians if it were to further expand their territorial
gains. We need to support the international coalition that is currently
engaging in strikes to help the people of Syria and Iraq rid themselves of
this cancer.'
Some members condemned the attacks on their social media accounts, where
the terrorist group is said to have a significant presence. `[I] strongly
condemn the reported desecration of an Armenian Genocide memorial in Syria
by #ISIL,' California Rep. Jim Costa tweeted the day after reports
surfaced. Michigan Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI) tweeted the same on September
23rd.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), who is of Armenian ancestry, said
`ISIL's actions can only be viewed as a barbaric act of terrorism. Hundreds
of thousands of Armenians were forced to march to the deserts of Der Zor,
where they lived in concentration camps until their brutal extermination.
The Armenian Genocide Memorial Church commemorates these men, women, and
children, along with the more than 1.5 million Armenians who were
systematically annihilated by the Ottoman Empire. As a proud member of the
Armenian community, my relatives and ancestors are included in this figure.
If my mother had been born in Yerevan instead of Fresno, she too may have
been a target. This consecrated church stood as a reminder of the terrible
consequences of hateful ideology and violence. We must remember these
lessons as ISIL threatens Armenians, Kurds, Jews, Muslims, and Christians
today.'
The United States Embassy in Yerevan also condemned the attacks in a
statement on Wednesday, September 24th, calling the memorial's destruction
a `senseless act.'
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia described the
destruction as `an act of barbarism.' `May those standing behind this plot
know that Deir ez-Zor, which symbolizes our martyrs' memory and our
nation's struggle for justice, will never be destroyed as a sacred
place in
our nation's collective memory,' he said.
Der Zor was designated by the Young Turks authorities as the destination
point and final killing center of the Armenian deportees. Those who
survived the death marches were brought to the desert of Der Zor and
murdered in this area. The desert contains a large number of mass graves.
Many historians refer to Der Zor as the Auschwitz of the Armenians.
In 1990, the Armenian Holy Martyrs Church and Genocide Memorial dedicated
to the victims of the Armenian Genocide was officially consecrated. The
memorial consisted of a large circular glass display of genocide victims'
remains, out of which grows a white-marble tower, flanked by khatchkars, or
stone crosses. Each year pilgrimages are made to the monument from Syria
and Lebanon organized by the Armenian Apostolic Church of Aleppo.
For more information about the Armenian Holy Martyrs Church and Genocide
Memorial please click here.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-046
Available online: http://bit.ly/1mz3EPQ
From: Baghdasarian
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 26, 2014
Contact: Taniel Koushakjian
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (202) 393-3434
Web: www.aaainc.org
*MEMBERS OF CONGRESS REACT TO DESTRUCTION OF **ARMENIAN** CHURCH & GENOCIDE
MEMORIAL AT DER ZOR, SYRIA*
*WASHINGTON**, DC -* On the same day as millions of Armenians in Armenia
and around the world marked the 23rd independence day of the Republic of
Armenia, on Sunday, September 21st terrorists belonging to the Islamic
State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) destroyed the Armenian Church and
Genocide Memorial in Der Zor, Syria, reported the Armenian Assembly of
America (Assembly). Reports began to surface early Monday morning,
prompting swift rebukes from Members of Congress, the U.S. government, and
the Armenian American community.
`Armenian Americans are appalled at the destruction of the Armenian Holy
Martyr's Church and the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Der Zor, Syria,'
stated Assembly Executive Director Bryan Ardouny. `For Armenians across the
globe it evokes painful memories of the past wherein the Genocide of 1915
claimed the lives of 1.5 million Armenians, as well as Turkey's ongoing and
shameful campaign of genocide denial,' Ardouny said.
Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), condemned
the attack in the strongest of terms. `I am deeply saddened and outraged by
the destruction of the Armenian Genocide Memorial Church in Deir ez-Zor,'
he said. `This church stood to commemorate and honor the hundreds of
thousands of Armenians who died on the march to Deir ez-Zor. At the order
of the Ottoman Turks, Armenian refugees were sent to die in Deir ez-Zor as
part of the 20th century's first genocide. The destruction of the
church
memorializing this terrible point in history must be met with a strong
international response.
`The United States government and other international partners in the
region must work to protect religious minorities and to ensure that
Armenian Christians are not targeted for such appalling acts. As the 100th
anniversary of the Armenian Genocide approaches, we must remember that it
is our duty to stand against the targeting of Armenians all around the
world and to prevent any further targeted violence.'
Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the Armenian Genocide
resolution, said that `The reported destruction by ISIL of the Armenian
Genocide Memorial Church in Der Zor, Syria is yet another example of the
sickening barbarity that has terrorized millions across Iraq and Syria.
The fact that the church was dedicated to those lost in the genocide is
both especially poignant, and a chilling foreshadowing of how ISIL would
treat Syria's Christians if it were to further expand their territorial
gains. We need to support the international coalition that is currently
engaging in strikes to help the people of Syria and Iraq rid themselves of
this cancer.'
Some members condemned the attacks on their social media accounts, where
the terrorist group is said to have a significant presence. `[I] strongly
condemn the reported desecration of an Armenian Genocide memorial in Syria
by #ISIL,' California Rep. Jim Costa tweeted the day after reports
surfaced. Michigan Rep. Sandy Levin (D-MI) tweeted the same on September
23rd.
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), who is of Armenian ancestry, said
`ISIL's actions can only be viewed as a barbaric act of terrorism. Hundreds
of thousands of Armenians were forced to march to the deserts of Der Zor,
where they lived in concentration camps until their brutal extermination.
The Armenian Genocide Memorial Church commemorates these men, women, and
children, along with the more than 1.5 million Armenians who were
systematically annihilated by the Ottoman Empire. As a proud member of the
Armenian community, my relatives and ancestors are included in this figure.
If my mother had been born in Yerevan instead of Fresno, she too may have
been a target. This consecrated church stood as a reminder of the terrible
consequences of hateful ideology and violence. We must remember these
lessons as ISIL threatens Armenians, Kurds, Jews, Muslims, and Christians
today.'
The United States Embassy in Yerevan also condemned the attacks in a
statement on Wednesday, September 24th, calling the memorial's destruction
a `senseless act.'
His Holiness Catholicos Aram I of the Great House of Cilicia described the
destruction as `an act of barbarism.' `May those standing behind this plot
know that Deir ez-Zor, which symbolizes our martyrs' memory and our
nation's struggle for justice, will never be destroyed as a sacred
place in
our nation's collective memory,' he said.
Der Zor was designated by the Young Turks authorities as the destination
point and final killing center of the Armenian deportees. Those who
survived the death marches were brought to the desert of Der Zor and
murdered in this area. The desert contains a large number of mass graves.
Many historians refer to Der Zor as the Auschwitz of the Armenians.
In 1990, the Armenian Holy Martyrs Church and Genocide Memorial dedicated
to the victims of the Armenian Genocide was officially consecrated. The
memorial consisted of a large circular glass display of genocide victims'
remains, out of which grows a white-marble tower, flanked by khatchkars, or
stone crosses. Each year pilgrimages are made to the monument from Syria
and Lebanon organized by the Armenian Apostolic Church of Aleppo.
For more information about the Armenian Holy Martyrs Church and Genocide
Memorial please click here.
Established in 1972, the Armenian Assembly of America is the largest
Washington-based nationwide organization promoting public understanding and
awareness of Armenian issues. The Assembly is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt
membership organization.
###
NR: # 2014-046
Available online: http://bit.ly/1mz3EPQ
From: Baghdasarian