WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R.390, the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). H.R. 390, spearheaded by Helsinki Commission Co-Chair Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Religious Minorities in the Middle East Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), provides emergency relief to survivors of genocide in Iraq and Syria and provides accountabilit

Reviewed by USHMM Holocaust and Genocide Studies and Van Leer Jerusalem Institute Journal of Levantine Studies WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian National Institute is pleased to announce that Robert Aram Kaloosdian’s book, Tadem: My Father’s Village Extinguished during the 1915 Armenian Genocide, was reviewed in the April 2017 issue of Holocaust and Genocide Studies, the premier journal of the discipline published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the United States Holoca

On March 1, 2017, Armenian Caucus Co-Chair Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. honored the victims of the Sumgait pogroms and condemned Azerbaijan’s attacks. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Sumgait pogroms, one of the most horrific attacks against the Armenian people, committed at the hands of Azerbaijanis 29 years ago. On February 27, 1988, hundreds of Armenian civilians living in the city of Sumgait in Azerbaijan were indiscriminately killed, raped, maimed, and even burned

(HDP Party) – On January 14, Garo Paylan, an ethnically Armenian Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Istanbul, delivered a speech at the Parliament during the discussion on Constitutional amendments. In his speech Mr. Paylan stressed the importance of pluralism when making constitutions, citing examples from the late Ottoman period. Stating that chaos begins when pluralism at the Parliament disappears, he said: “A period of 10 years of chaos started

Smith-Eshoo Bill Will Provide Emergency Relief to Christians and Other Religious Minorities Who Survived ISIS Genocide Following his December 2016 mission to Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq to meet with Christian survivors of ISIS genocide, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) reintroduced on January 10 their bipartisan legislation to provide emergency relief to survivors of genocide and ensure accountability for perpetrators. The Iraq and Syria Genocide E

UN Marks International Day for Dignity of Victims of the Crime of Genocide WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s remembrance service last week for Holocaust survivor, author, Nobel Peace Prize winner, and human rights activist Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power expressed concern about the denial of the Armenian Genocide. Power, America’s second highest ranked diplomat, is a Pulitzer Prize-winning jou

Smith, Eshoo, Fortenberry, Franks introduce legislation to provide relief to victims, accountability for perpetrators WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 8, Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE),  and Trent Franks (R-AZ) introduced legislation to provide relief for survivors of the ISIS-perpetrated genocide against vulnerable religious and ethnic groups in Syria and Iraq, and to ensure that perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Armenian National Institute (ANI) mourns the passing of human rights activist Elie Wiesel (1928-2016), and recalls one of the most vocal opponents of the crime of genocide. Holocaust survivor, author, and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Wiesel evoked the compelling authority of a victim who triumphed over his oppressors by writing and speaking about the importance of remembrance and prevention. His works became the voice of the millions of Jewish victims of N

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA), the lead sponsor of the Armenian Genocide Truth and Justice Resolution in Congress, released the following statement after President Obama did not use the word “genocide” to describe the Armenian Genocide ahead of Sunday’s commemoration: “I’m gravely disappointed that President Obama will now leave office without fulfilling his commitment to recognize the Armenian Genocide. For a President who knows the history so w

On Friday, April 22nd, United States President Barack Obama issued a statement on behalf of the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (which will take place on April 24th). During his last year in office, President Obama still did not use the term genocide, and instead described Ottoman Turkey’s killings of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 as “the first mass atrocity of the 20th century” and “the Armenian Meds Yeghern.” In his statement, Obama referenced Raphael Lemkin, who coined t

#MA #WalkAgainstGenocide #Genocide #Boston #Massachusetts #ArmenianGenocide

Assembly Urges Obama Administration to Affirm Armenian Genocide WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Secretary of State John Kerry stated that ISIS (Daesh) is “responsible for genocide,” against groups in Syria and Iraq, including Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims. The recognition was prompted by H.Con.Res.75, which includes Armenians as one of the Christian groups persecuted by ISIS. “We know that in areas under its control, Daesh has made a systematic effort to destroy the cultura

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today issued the following statement regarding the State Department’s determination that ISIS has been committing genocide against religious minorities in the Middle East: “I am heartened by the Obama’s Administration’s genocide determination — a determination which has been a long time in the making — regarding the atrocities committed by ISIS against religious minorities, specifically Christians and Yezidis, in Iraq and Syr

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Anna G. Eshoo (D-Calif.) released the following statement after Secretary of State John Kerry determined the persecution of Christians, Yezidis, and Shiite Muslims in Iraq and Syria is genocide. “Today, the United States has taken decisive and historic action by asserting that the persecution of Christians, Yezidis, and Shiite Muslims by ISIS is genocide. “This determination will elevate the incredible suffering of so many in Iraq and Syria a

Today, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that U.S. State Department believes ISIS (also known as Daesh) is committing genocide against Christians, as well as other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria, meeting the congressional deadline. #Genocide #USStateDepartment #ISIS #Christians #JohnKerry

Armenians Specifically Named as a Victim Group Father Yeprem Kelegian, Armenian Assembly of America Executive Director Bryan Ardouny, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI), and Archbishop Vicken Aykazian WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the House unanimously passed a resolution condemning the atrocities committed by ISIS as genocide against Christian, Yezidi, and other religious and ethnic minorities in Iraq and Syria. Spearheaded by the House Caucus for Religious Minorities in

#Iraq #Genocide #Syria #HouseForeignAffairs #ArmenianGenocide #CongressmanEdRoyce

(Scottsdale Community College News) – The Holocaust, atrocities in Africa, persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and genocide of Native peoples in the Americas are among several important topics to be covered at this year’s Genocide Awareness Week at Scottsdale Community College. The fourth annual “Genocide Awareness Week: Not On Our Watch” will be April 11-16, with most events taking place in the school’s Turquoise Room. All events and exhibits are free and open to the public.

(prweb) – On December 16, 2015, IDC held a press conference on Capitol Hill because ISIS continues to commit genocide against Christians. “We are here today because ISIS continues to commit genocide against Christians, and because the White House is considering a public genocide declaration that would exclude Christians,” were the opening words of Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) early yesterday at a gathering of members of Congress and renowned scholars on genocide and the pli

On September 11, 2015, the General Assembly adopted unanimously resolution 69/323 in which it proclaimed December 9 as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime. The resolution encouraged all Member and observer States, all organizations of the United Nations system and other international and regional organizations and individuals to observe the International Day in order to raise awareness