An Open Wound – 110 Years of Silence
It has been 110 years since Seyfo – “the year of the sword” – when hundreds of thousands of Armenians, Syriacs, and other Christians were brutally murdered in the Ottoman Empire. A genocide whose memory still causes pain – and whose effects are still deeply felt today.
The persecution of Christian minorities in the Middle East has not ended. The same perpetrators, the same ideology – more than a century later. And the world remains silent.
“It’s important that we always honor and never forget. We want to see as many young people present as possible – this is about their roots, and ours,” says Samuel Oktay, chairman of the Syriac Association in Örebro.
Thursday, April 24 – Memorial for Children, Youth, and the Future
The week begins on Thursday, April 24 at 6:00 PM with a solemn memorial at the commemorative stone in Varberga, including a wreath-laying and reflection. Special attention is given to children and youth, as they carry the stories of generations forward.
To highlight their importance and engagement, specially designed “I AM 1915” t-shirts will be given to all children who arrive on time for the memorial.
Saturday, April 26 – Manifestation & Panel Discussion
The main event will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 12:00 PM at the Syriac Cultural Center, Varbergagatan 258, Örebro. Following a collective manifestation, a panel discussion will be held, where the silence surrounding both past and present events will be addressed.
“Without roots, there is no future. But it is just as important that we dare to talk about what is happening today. In just 20 years, 80% of Christians have disappeared from the Middle East. It is a shame for the world that this happens in plain sight – and that the world applies double standards. There is silence about Christians, but loud voices about others,” says Habib Dilmac, chairman of the Syriac Federation in Sweden.
Regarding the campaign’s name, “I AM 1915”, Habib Dilmac explains:
“We say ‘I AM 1915’ because we are 1915. Then and now, we are experiencing the same persecution. A 1915 is still ongoing for Christians. We are not just lost in history – we are living that reality today.”
The panel discussion will feature:
Yusuf Aydin, Member of Parliament (Christian Democrats)
Arin Karapet, Member of Parliament (Moderates)
Peter Paulsson, Chairman of Open Doors Sweden
Habib Dilmac, Chairman of the Syriac Federation in Sweden
Together, they will discuss why the world still chooses to look away – and what it takes to break the silence.
“I AM 1915” – A Campaign for Visibility and Solidarity
Everyone is encouraged to participate in the campaign by changing their profile pictures on social media to a specially designed image bearing the message:
“I AM 1915 – I am 1915.”
It’s a symbolic but powerful way to honor the memory, show solidarity, and bring attention to a reality that is far too often ignored.
To remember. To honor. To act.
I AM 1915 – Forever.