International Recognition
The Armenian Genocide was condemned by the international community; Great Britain, Russia, and France all held the Young Turk leaders responsible for this tragic crime. In the US, there was a strong public outcry, while various relief efforts commenced for those affected. The Allied victors of World War 1 demanded the prosecution of the Young Turk government, yet no real efforts were taken to punish the Ottoman government or even to somewhat reimburse the Armenian people.
The vast majority of historians and academic institutions on Genocide Studies recognize the Armenian Genocide. As of 2001, the governments of 21 countries, including those of France and Russia, as well as 43 of the 50 states of the United States of America, have recognized these tragic events as the term 'genocide'. Still to date, Turkey denies that these events ever occurred. To name a few, international organizations such as the European Parliament, Council of Europe, World Council of Churches, and the Human Rights Association of Turkey have recognized these massacres.
The vast majority of historians and academic institutions on Genocide Studies recognize the Armenian Genocide. As of 2001, the governments of 21 countries, including those of France and Russia, as well as 43 of the 50 states of the United States of America, have recognized these tragic events as the term 'genocide'. Still to date, Turkey denies that these events ever occurred. To name a few, international organizations such as the European Parliament, Council of Europe, World Council of Churches, and the Human Rights Association of Turkey have recognized these massacres.
"I am confident that the whole history of the human race contains no such horrible episode as this. The great massacres
and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared with the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.”
Henry Morgenthau, Sr. (1919)
American ambassador - Ottoman Empire
"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"
Adolf Hitler (1939)
German chancellor and Nazi German dictator
[while speaking to his associates on how the Jewish Holocaust would be tolerated by the West]
"...the Armenian massacre was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it...the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense."
Theodore Roosevelt (1918)
26th President of the United States
and persecutions of the past seem almost insignificant when compared with the sufferings of the Armenian race in 1915.”
Henry Morgenthau, Sr. (1919)
American ambassador - Ottoman Empire
"Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?"
Adolf Hitler (1939)
German chancellor and Nazi German dictator
[while speaking to his associates on how the Jewish Holocaust would be tolerated by the West]
"...the Armenian massacre was the greatest crime of the war, and the failure to act against Turkey is to condone it...the failure to deal radically with the Turkish horror means that all talk of guaranteeing the future peace of the world is mischievous nonsense."
Theodore Roosevelt (1918)
26th President of the United States
Turkish Denial
As the extermination of the Armenian people continued, news of the genocide started to spread across Western press. As soon as this began, Turkish diplomats rapidly attempted to cover the incidents; the New York Turkish consul, Djelal Munif Bey, told the New York Times that "All those who have been killed were of that rebellious element...who were caught red-handed or while otherwise committing traitorous acts against the Turkish Government, and not women and children, as some of these fabricated reports would have the Americans believe."
Even today, despite worldwide recognition of the genocide, the Republic of Turkey continues to deny these accusations. As a scapegoat, the Turkish government counters with the fact that many Armenian died as a result of World War 1, as well did Turk Muslims. They continue, stating that the number of Armenian deaths has been exaggerated, and that massacres were held by both opposing sides as a result of ethnic conflicts.
According to a paragraph in the Turkish Penal Code, a citizen who offends the Nation of Turkey, whether that be by claiming the existence of the 1915 Armenian genocide or by accusing its cover-up by the Turkish government, can be sentenced to 2 years in prison.
Even today, despite worldwide recognition of the genocide, the Republic of Turkey continues to deny these accusations. As a scapegoat, the Turkish government counters with the fact that many Armenian died as a result of World War 1, as well did Turk Muslims. They continue, stating that the number of Armenian deaths has been exaggerated, and that massacres were held by both opposing sides as a result of ethnic conflicts.
According to a paragraph in the Turkish Penal Code, a citizen who offends the Nation of Turkey, whether that be by claiming the existence of the 1915 Armenian genocide or by accusing its cover-up by the Turkish government, can be sentenced to 2 years in prison.
In this CBS 60 Minutes Report, the US ambassador for Turkey exemplifies the ongoing denial of any Armenian Genocide by the Turkish government (3:50 to 5:23)