Europe’s Hidden Ethnic Conflict: The Armenian Genocide
In 1890, Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid II, leader of the disintegrating Ottoman empire expressed his distaste towards the Armenian population living under his regime. A man who valued loyalty above every other factor, considered the Armenian individuals, a Christian majority, nothing but traitors. He accused Armenians of treason solely based on the fact that they had a different faith than him and ran a basic civil rights movement. The sultan made the following statement, “I will soon settle those Armenians. I will give them a box on the ear which will make them…relinquish their revolutionary ambitions,” giving the population and future generations a clear indication of the resentment of the Ottoman Empire towards the Christian minority.
The Turkish government restricted the religious and political freedoms of the Armenian minority on the basis of their non-Muslim status in an Islamic state. However, this unjust treatment of non-Muslims went against the teachings of the Quran and Islam - a religion of peace. However, despite this treatment by the Turks, the Armenian population thrived, which ignited even more resentment. This indignation led to extreme measures against the Armenian population. In the late 19th century, wide-reaching protests by the Armenian individuals were stifled by massacre and sacking, leading to several thousand innocent individuals losing their lives.
Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire, a new group of reformers, known as the Young Turks, came into power and seemed to have a modern approach. However, this approach was not in the favour of the Armenian population, as the new government wished to “Turkify” the region; they regarded non-Muslim Turks as a threat to the sovereignty of the state. The unjust treatment worsened, and in March 1914, the Young Turks allied themselves with Germany in World War I. They attacked Russian forces in Caucuses, an Armenian majority region, at the battle of Sarikemish.
After suffering severe defeat, the Turks channeled their bitterness towards the Armenian guerillas and nationalists who sided with the Russian army and fought against the Turks in Caucuses. In response to this, in 1915, the Turks seized the city of Van. On April 24th of the same year, hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were captured and ruthlessly executed. These murders initiated the Armenian genocide, giving way to massacres and the demise of Armenian individuals. According to the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), the death toll was "more than a million.” The University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies states that there were 2,133,190 Armenians in Turkey in 1914, and by the end of the genocide in 1922, the number decreased to 387,800.
American author and historian, David Fromkin stated in his work “A Peace to End All Peace,” “Rape and beating were commonplace. Those who were not killed at once were driven through mountains and deserts without food, drink or shelter. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians eventually succumbed or were killed.” This statement only begins to explain the atrocities suffered by the Armenian people, which included crucification, arson, and countless other forms of brutal murder. A special organization comprised of ex-murderers and other such as criminals handled all these operations, and were often referred to as “killing squads.”
In 1919-1920, the Three Pashas, the main three leaders of the Young Turks, fled the country when the government was tried for the happenings of the Armenian genocide. Senior officers received death by hanging, while the Three Pashas received sentences to death in absentia. However, till this day, Turkey refuses to agree to the claims of the genocide being a systematic killing of the Armenian population.
Relations between the Turkish and Armenian governments remained tense until the signing of a deal to rectify relations and opening borders by both countries was made official. This deal lessened the tension slightly, but there are still many unresolved conflicts which need to be addressed and discussed.
The Turkish government restricted the religious and political freedoms of the Armenian minority on the basis of their non-Muslim status in an Islamic state. However, this unjust treatment of non-Muslims went against the teachings of the Quran and Islam - a religion of peace. However, despite this treatment by the Turks, the Armenian population thrived, which ignited even more resentment. This indignation led to extreme measures against the Armenian population. In the late 19th century, wide-reaching protests by the Armenian individuals were stifled by massacre and sacking, leading to several thousand innocent individuals losing their lives.
Following the demise of the Ottoman Empire, a new group of reformers, known as the Young Turks, came into power and seemed to have a modern approach. However, this approach was not in the favour of the Armenian population, as the new government wished to “Turkify” the region; they regarded non-Muslim Turks as a threat to the sovereignty of the state. The unjust treatment worsened, and in March 1914, the Young Turks allied themselves with Germany in World War I. They attacked Russian forces in Caucuses, an Armenian majority region, at the battle of Sarikemish.
After suffering severe defeat, the Turks channeled their bitterness towards the Armenian guerillas and nationalists who sided with the Russian army and fought against the Turks in Caucuses. In response to this, in 1915, the Turks seized the city of Van. On April 24th of the same year, hundreds of Armenian intellectuals were captured and ruthlessly executed. These murders initiated the Armenian genocide, giving way to massacres and the demise of Armenian individuals. According to the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS), the death toll was "more than a million.” The University of Minnesota’s Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies states that there were 2,133,190 Armenians in Turkey in 1914, and by the end of the genocide in 1922, the number decreased to 387,800.
American author and historian, David Fromkin stated in his work “A Peace to End All Peace,” “Rape and beating were commonplace. Those who were not killed at once were driven through mountains and deserts without food, drink or shelter. Hundreds of thousands of Armenians eventually succumbed or were killed.” This statement only begins to explain the atrocities suffered by the Armenian people, which included crucification, arson, and countless other forms of brutal murder. A special organization comprised of ex-murderers and other such as criminals handled all these operations, and were often referred to as “killing squads.”
In 1919-1920, the Three Pashas, the main three leaders of the Young Turks, fled the country when the government was tried for the happenings of the Armenian genocide. Senior officers received death by hanging, while the Three Pashas received sentences to death in absentia. However, till this day, Turkey refuses to agree to the claims of the genocide being a systematic killing of the Armenian population.
Relations between the Turkish and Armenian governments remained tense until the signing of a deal to rectify relations and opening borders by both countries was made official. This deal lessened the tension slightly, but there are still many unresolved conflicts which need to be addressed and discussed.
A Battle for the Land: Armenia, Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh Region
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been at odds about the possession of the Nagorno-Karabakh region ever since its establishment as an Azerbaijani autonomous region by the Soviet Union in 1920. The population of Nagorno-Karabakh is 95% ethnically Armenian, a major cause of the conflict. Tensions between the two nations have been high ever since, leading to a full scale war when the region declared independence in 1991. This war left tens of thousands dead, and made many more refugees. Although Russia brokered a ceasefire in 1994, the deal did not last long. Tensions have remained high ever since, and a 6-week war broke out in September of 2020. This war was especially devastating because of a military build-up on Azerbaijan’s side, with significant aid and involvement from Turkey. Religious tensions have also increased, as Armenia is traditionally Christian, while Azerbaijan is a Muslim-majority nation. Allegations have been made against both sides of attacks against civilians, which violate the Geneva conventions, as well as uses of banned weaponry. In addition, both sides are conducting some semblance of ethnic cleansing, making this not only a territorial conflict, but an ethnic one as well. However, the people suffering the most are the residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, who are facing the brunt of this conflict.
Like diplomatic tensions, ethnic hatred between Armenians and Azerbaijanis is nothing new. In Azerbaijan, hatred for Armenians has been systematically instituted through school curriculums, textbooks, the media. Their government conducted anti-Armenian pogroms in the period during and before the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, such as the Baku pogrom in 1990, and others in the cities of Ganja and Sumgait. While hatred is not quite as systematic in Armenia, it is just as widespread, if not more historically instilled. After the genocide of ethnic Armenians by the Turkish government during World War I, Armenians have long mistrusted anyone termed a “Turk”. Given Azerbaijan and Turkey’s close international ties, as well as the similarities between Azerbaijanis and Turkish people, some Armenians often mistrust Azerbaijanis by association. Leading up to the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, over 200,000 Azerbaijanis and Kurds left Armenia, due to the rising ethnic tensions. These tensions have stayed extremely high in the decade since, making Nagorno-Karabakh one of the most ethnically-charged regions in the world. The residents of this region frequently protest injustices and systematic discrimination against them by the Azerbaijani-government. Some Armenians in the Kelbajar region of Nagorno-Karabakh, who have been forced out, have burned down their homes rather than allow Azerbaijanis to live there.
Sitting directly in the middle of this war, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been the object of numerous human rights violations. One example is the use of banned munitions by Azerbaijan against civilian residential areas, specifically in the region’s largest city of Stepanakert. Multiple LAR-160 cluster munition rockets have been fired into the city. These munitions are similar to land mines in their volatile nature, and are banned in all warfare, let alone in their use against civilians. Attacks using these weapons, by Azerbaijan, have been noted by the Human Rights Watch(HRW) near playgrounds and the Red Cross center in Stepanakert. Although Azerbaijan has alleged that Armenia has attempted to attack its infrastructure and its civilians, evidence of this has yet to internationally be found. Regardless of who attacked, Nagorno-Karabakh has been devastated by this war. The chair of the cluster munitions committee in the HRW, Stephen Goose, stated “The continued use of cluster munitions – particularly in populated areas – shows flagrant disregard for the safety of civilians.” While a ceasefire has officially been called for this war, tensions have not decreased. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue to perpetrate human rights atrocities against each other unless something can be done to definitively settle the issue of possession of Nagorno-Karabakh, while simultaneously reducing ethnic tensions.
Like diplomatic tensions, ethnic hatred between Armenians and Azerbaijanis is nothing new. In Azerbaijan, hatred for Armenians has been systematically instituted through school curriculums, textbooks, the media. Their government conducted anti-Armenian pogroms in the period during and before the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, such as the Baku pogrom in 1990, and others in the cities of Ganja and Sumgait. While hatred is not quite as systematic in Armenia, it is just as widespread, if not more historically instilled. After the genocide of ethnic Armenians by the Turkish government during World War I, Armenians have long mistrusted anyone termed a “Turk”. Given Azerbaijan and Turkey’s close international ties, as well as the similarities between Azerbaijanis and Turkish people, some Armenians often mistrust Azerbaijanis by association. Leading up to the first Nagorno-Karabakh War, over 200,000 Azerbaijanis and Kurds left Armenia, due to the rising ethnic tensions. These tensions have stayed extremely high in the decade since, making Nagorno-Karabakh one of the most ethnically-charged regions in the world. The residents of this region frequently protest injustices and systematic discrimination against them by the Azerbaijani-government. Some Armenians in the Kelbajar region of Nagorno-Karabakh, who have been forced out, have burned down their homes rather than allow Azerbaijanis to live there.
Sitting directly in the middle of this war, the people of Nagorno-Karabakh have been the object of numerous human rights violations. One example is the use of banned munitions by Azerbaijan against civilian residential areas, specifically in the region’s largest city of Stepanakert. Multiple LAR-160 cluster munition rockets have been fired into the city. These munitions are similar to land mines in their volatile nature, and are banned in all warfare, let alone in their use against civilians. Attacks using these weapons, by Azerbaijan, have been noted by the Human Rights Watch(HRW) near playgrounds and the Red Cross center in Stepanakert. Although Azerbaijan has alleged that Armenia has attempted to attack its infrastructure and its civilians, evidence of this has yet to internationally be found. Regardless of who attacked, Nagorno-Karabakh has been devastated by this war. The chair of the cluster munitions committee in the HRW, Stephen Goose, stated “The continued use of cluster munitions – particularly in populated areas – shows flagrant disregard for the safety of civilians.” While a ceasefire has officially been called for this war, tensions have not decreased. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan will continue to perpetrate human rights atrocities against each other unless something can be done to definitively settle the issue of possession of Nagorno-Karabakh, while simultaneously reducing ethnic tensions.
