House Engrossed

Assyrian Genocide; recognition

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

First Regular Session

2023

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 2044

A Concurrent Resolution

recognizing the assyrian genocide.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Whereas, the denial of genocide is widely recognized as the final stage of genocide, enshrining impunity for the perpetrators of genocide and demonstrably paving the way for future genocides; and

Whereas, the Ottoman Empire committed the crime of genocide against the Assyrian people, killing at least 300,000 innocent Assyrians and more than one million Armenians, Greeks and other Christians by way of mass executions, death marches, torture and starvation during the First World War; and

Whereas, the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act of 2018 establishes that atrocities prevention represents a United States national interest and affirms that it is the policy of the United States to pursue a government-wide strategy to identify, prevent and respond to the risk of atrocities by strengthening diplomatic response and by effectively using foreign assistance to support appropriate transitional justice measures, including criminal accountability for past atrocities; and

Whereas, the majority of the Assyrian population was displaced from their homes and forced to escape to neighboring and faraway communities and countries, with many refugees fleeing to the United States. Today, Arizona is honored to be home to a vibrant population of more than 25,000 Assyrian-Americans. This thriving community is a proud reminder of survival and perseverance in the face of extreme injustice; and

Whereas, the most notable victim of this tragic period was the ethno-martyr and Catholicos Patriarch Mar Benyamin Shimun XXI, the leader of the Assyrian Nation and Church; and

Whereas, the Assyrian Genocide remains unrecognized by many countries and organizations across the globe, including the United States.

Therefore

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1. That the members of the Legislature affirm that it is the duty of the United States to:

(a) Commemorate the Assyrian Genocide through official recognition and remembrance.

(b) Reject efforts to enlist, engage or otherwise associate the United States government with denial of the Assyrian Genocide or any other genocide.

(c) Call on the government of Turkey to acknowledge the genocides against these mentioned populations, to issue a formal apology and to take prompt and meaningful steps toward restitution.

(d) Encourage education and public understanding of the facts and relevance of the Assyrian Genocide in comparison to modern-day crimes against humanity.

2. That the Members of the Legislature acknowledge that the Ottoman Empire's campaign against its Christian minorities that occurred between 1914 and 1923 constituted genocide against Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks.