“The Armenian Genocide: Breaking the Silence”. All Genocides are first of all born in somebody's mind

Ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide Aysor.am presents a special project within which we shall consider cultural, scientific and social projects implementing these days.

Today we talked to Saad Saloum who is in Armenia to write a book about the Armenian Genocide. He is an Iraqi academic, writer, political activist, the head of the "Masarat" foundation and a member of Iraqi dialogue between religions Committee.

-Mr Saloum, how did you deal with the Genocide Studies?

-The current situation in Iraq and global issues led me to these studies. Several different genocides have occurred and occur one after another in our modern history in Iraq. In 1933, the Assyrian Genocide organised by Iraqi army. In 50-ies of the last century, the Jews were forced to leave Iraq. The same thing happened in the 70s with the Kurds, who also left Iraq. Iraqi Shiite and Kurdish Genocide took place in the late '80s. And, of course, we all witnessed what happened with the Yezidis this summer. It is obvious that the world has failed with the fight against genocides. First of all, I do my duty and I try to protect human justice defending the Armenians and the Armenian Genocide theme. We need to go back to the roots of this phenomenon for preventing future genocides and that is the Armenian Genocide.

-You talked about the prevention of genocides. In your opinion, by what mechanisms can the world predict and prevent possible genocide?

-Let me tell you once more: the international institutions have failed in this issue. Today, firstly we need to create special structures which will follow the process. The list of countries that have adopted the Armenian Genocide must be expanded. This is for to be sure that these international institutions and society are willing to prevent next similar crimes accepting the fait. In addition to, a common law should be set upon this issue. Certain legal proceedings should occur, such as the case of Yugoslavia. We need to stay away from double standards. Otherwise, it turns out that in some countries the perpetrators are liable and in other countries they are not. A great role must be given to the UN. Particularly the UN Security Council must follow the world events and prevent any danger just in time. I should mention that Kofi Annan had appointed a special advisor for the prevention of genocide during his work. This consultant gathered some information about the signs of genocide from all over the world, but in reality it also did not give any result.

-Mr. Saloum, it is clear that the whole world silently followed the Armenian Genocide. Yezidis case showed that nothing has been changed almost hundred years later. Finally, it seems that genocides are somewhere beneficial to the great powers and they are part of international politics.

-This is a very important issue. Indeed, the so-called great powers were silent during the genocide and their conduct continues even now. Generally, I think the role of observer is the same as to be involved in crime. There are two types of criminal: criminal-observer and criminal-implementer. Of course, many of these countries are well aware of the reality and manipulating it if necessary, use for political purposes. Therefore, as well as in Armenian Genocide we can’t rely on politics of big powers. We should consider the human conscience, because the entire nations are killed in the genocides but not the authorities.

-You also spoke about the necessity of legal conviction of the genocides. In our case the 100-year threshold is often considered to be the watershed. In your opinion, do such crimes have a statute of limitations and what basis do we have from the point of legal perspective view?

-I think that the 100-year anniversary is very important and symbolic. It turns out that the justice towards the Armenians has not been confirmed yet after 100 years. While for other nations this anniversary means that it is already 100 years that the unrecognized Armenian Genocide has become a basis of other crimes. I think if the Armenian Genocide was recognized and condemned in time there would be no Holocaust, the Rwandan Genocide, Kosovo, Darfur, Yezidis Genocides. I think that with the 100-year anniversary, we must not say “no” to all of them. We should think so: these tragic events should be prevented by this number 100, that’s it. As for the legal side, I think that Armenia should inform Islamic world about the genocide. Considering, that this has occurred against the Christians by the Muslims, we should avoid making an issue religious. It must necessarily indicate that this is a destruction of a national unit by another national unit.

There is no justification for such crime: not in Islam, Christianity, and other religions. Armenians need to transmute their tragedy memory into strength. Armenia's authorities should actively work towards the prevention of genocides. I think it would be better if "We remember and demand” of the 100th anniversary is changed into “We will prohibit such crimes in respect of other nations”.

- So you mean the following: as the Armenians haven’t got a fair trial for the genocide, we must assume the role of judge and help other people if possible. 

- Yes. As I said, nowadays the recognition of the Armenian genocide has become a universal requirement for righteousness. Generally this is the beginning of a struggle against genocides. Armenian Genocide recognition is not only Armenian’s problem and this is probably the most accurate answer to the question, “why am I doing all this”. My books are mainly related to Iraq's religious, fate of ethnic minorities. One of them is called "100 setups about the minorities." In this book, I focus on one idea: all Genocides are first of all born in somebody's mind. The villain always needs some excuse which is then called ideology. For instance, nowadays I refer to the "Islamic state" actions. My main emphasis is that even if we win "Islamic state", there will be the idea by which they justify and cover their actions. First of all, we really need to put an end to these things winning this idea. And now I'm in Armenia to write a book about the Armenian Genocide. It will be called "Silence and oblivion." The story will start from the Armenian Genocide and end with Yezidis Genocide. I will prove that all these things are interconnected and the denial leads to other implementation.

- Mr Saloum, eventually what reaction we are to wait from the world in 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide?

- To tell the truth, looking back over the past 100 years of history I do not expect much. Therefore, in this case I am a pessimist, but this does not mean that I will stop, not struggle and not work on the establishment of righteousness.

The project was prepared with the assistance of the Information and Analytical Center of the Armenian Government Staff.