The opening ceremony of the exhibition “Sayfo 1915: The Syriac People – History of a Forgotten Genocide”, organized by the European Syriac Union, took place on Monday, April 20, 2026, at the Municipal Hall of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert.
The event was held in the presence of the Mayor of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Mr. Olivier Maingain, members of the municipal council, the college of aldermen, Belgian parliamentarians, representatives from various municipalities of Brussels, journalists, and numerous organizations and institutions.
The opening speech was delivered by Myriam Vergili, representative of the European Syriac Union. The evening began with a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the 1915 genocide and in tribute to all victims of genocides throughout history. This solemn moment was followed by a presentation of the exhibition and its historical significance.
The word “Sayfo” means “sword” in Syriac. It symbolizes the massacres carried out against the Christian Syriac people by the Ottoman Empire during the genocide of 1915. But for the Syriac people, Sayfo is not simply a word—it is the memory of a people, the name of a deep pain, and the testimony of a tragedy that history has too often left in silence.
The year 1915 marked one of the darkest periods in the history of the Christian peoples of the Middle East. During this time, not only the Syriacs (Suryoye), but also Armenians and Pontic Greeks were systematically targeted.
Entire villages were destroyed, churches were burned, families were torn apart, and populations were forcibly displaced. Thousands perished from hunger, thirst, and violence on the roads of exile.
According to historians, between 1914 and 1923:
- 1.5 million Armenians
- 500,000 Syriacs, Chaldeans, and Assyrians
- 353,000 Pontic Greeks
were brutally massacred. These are not simply numbers. Each one represents a life, a family, and a story.
The Syriac people are one of the oldest indigenous peoples of Mesopotamia, carrying a civilization that spans thousands of years and preserving the Aramaic language heritage. Yet in 1915, this ancient people faced near annihilation.
This is why we speak of a forgotten genocide—because it has not been sufficiently told, sufficiently recognized, and has too often been ignored.
This exhibition is not only a commemoration; it is part of a long and ongoing struggle for truth, justice, and recognition.
For more than twenty years, the European Syriac Union has worked across Europe through conferences, reports, demonstrations, exhibitions, and diplomatic efforts to ensure that the Sayfo is recognized internationally. Today, 12 countries have officially recognized the Sayfo of 1915. Most recently, on April 29, 2024, the French Parliament officially recognized the Syriac Genocide.
During the ceremony, Mayor Olivier Maingain delivered an important speech, emphasizing that the Sayfo must be recognized and affirming that the doors of the municipality will always remain open to the European Syriac Union and to the Syriac people.
Following this, Tony Vergili, President of the European Syriac Union, presented a plaque of appreciation to the Mayor in gratitude for his valuable support from the very beginning of the project.
In closing, Myriam Vergili delivered the final remarks and invited all participants to visit the exhibition.
The exhibition generated significant interest, welcoming more than one hundred visitors who carefully examined the historical photographs and informational panels. The evening took place in a warm and positive atmosphere with strong participation and meaningful exchanges.
The exhibition remains open to visitors at the Municipal Hall of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert until May 4, 2026.
From Brussels, we renew our respectful and clear call to the Belgian government: Belgium must also officially recognize the genocide committed against the Christian Syriacs, Armenians, and Pontic Greeks.
This is not merely a political request.
It is a call for justice.
It is a duty of memory.
Because recognition does not change the past—but it shapes the future.
As the European Syriac Union, we remain committed to preserving historical truth, defending the rights of our people, and ensuring that the voices of those left in the shadows of history are finally heard.
We sincerely thank everyone who attended and supported this important event.
Because we remember.
Because we understand.
Because we must never forget.