Sayfo (Assyrian Genocide)

The Sayfo, also known as the Assyrian Genocide, took place during World War I (1914-1923) when the Ottoman Empire systematically targeted Assyrian people, along with Armenians and Greeks, amid the empire’s collapsing state. Ottoman authorities accused Assyrians of supporting their enemies and implemented mass killings, deportations, and displacements, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 250,000 to 300,000 Assyrians. This tragic event aimed to suppress Assyrian culture and population, and it remains a significant historical trauma for Assyrians today. The genocide is recognized by many as a deliberate act of ethnic cleansing.