Mardikian 1 Victor Mardikian Mr.

Reese 4A Honors World History 13 May 2013 Armenian Genocide 1915-1923 After their defeat in the Balkan War, the Ottomans lost not only their European territories, but also their pride and self-importance. To regain their pride in nationalism, they felt it necessary to impose their culture, language and especially, their religion on the minority, the Armenians. The Armenians were designated to a second-class citizenship, had to abide inequalities, and endure special hardships. As nationalism increased in Europe and the Ottoman Empire, the Armenians became more isolated as a Christian minority. A Pan-Turkic nationalistic movement emerged that wanted to assimilate or annihilate the Armenians. As the Armenians sought independence and better treatment, the Turkish government instead treated the Armenians more and more severely, progressively leading to their genocide. In addition, the Turks wanted to acquire the wealth and prosperity of the Armenians for the Muslims and the Turkish government. The Central Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), the controlling party of the government, implemented the eradication of the Armenians from the Ottoman Empire, resulting in two and half million deaths. Dehumanization in the Armenian genocide is the result of ethnocentrism, objectification of Armenians, and moral disengagement by the Central Committee of Union and Progress. The importance of nationalism to the Ottomans brought about the dissolution of the multi religion/ethnic Empire and transformed it into a Turkish nation-state based on a

Mardikian 2 mono-religion/ethnic empire. Enver Pasha, a member of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), predicted the possibility of the collapse of the nation and claimed that the non Turkish elements within the country had shown themselves to be opposed to the empires continued existence (Akam xiv). In order to preserve the state, measures had to be taken against them. Non Turkish elements were an internal tumor, the purging of which was a matter of national importance (Akam xv). In order to achieve this objective, the population of Anatolia had to be purged. The Christian population was to be reduced and removed, to be replaced by a Muslim one. The CUP regarded Christians and non-Turkish Muslims as a major obstacle to the fulfillment of its ideological, political, economic, and social goals. Thus, Christians were to be eliminated and massacred, and non-Turkish Muslims were to be assimilated into the dominant culture. The enactment of a demographic policy called the 5 to 10 percent principle was fundamental in the destruction of the Armenians in 1915. Christians were deported and settled in other regions so as to constitute no more than 5 to 10 percent of the local population (Akam xvi). Armenians, assuming that they could save themselves through religious conversion, adopted Islam; however, this served no purpose because converts were also annihilated. Certainly the possibility of conversion was, since the beginning of the genocidal policy, a sort of myth maintained by the deportees to allow them to believe that they still had a gate of exit (Akam 289). The religious conversion and assimilation of Armenian children into Muslim households were two important components of the Armenian genocide. The Turks transformed a socially diverse society into a homogenous society by religious conversion, the reassignment of children from Christianity to Islam, and the forced marriage of young Christian woman and adolescent girls with Muslim

Mardikian 3 men. If assimilation was possible in the 5-10 percent principle, then they were assimilated; otherwise, they were annihilated. Wherever Armenians could be integrated within the Muslim populations, religious conversion was allowed. However, when assimilation was considered a danger, Ittihadists (CUP) abandoned the policy and turned instead to physical annihilation. In some places and at certain times, Armenians were allowed to assimilate through conversion as long as they were deemed governable (Akam 291). Objectification of Armenians is evident in the treatment of Armenian females. A policy of assimilation of children and young girls was a structural element in the Armenian genocide. The goal of the Committee of Union and Progress was to dissolve Armenian youth within the Muslim majority. Girls and young boys were forcibly Islamized, then placed in Muslim orphanages or distributed to Muslim families. Throughout the deportation, young girls and boys were killed outright or abandoned to die of hunger and disease (Akam 312). In addition, women and children were loaded onto boats, taken to the sea and thrown off to drown. Armenian women and children were raped, sexually abused, and prostitution of women was extremely widespread. Military commanders said, Do to them whatever you wish (Akam 312). The military commanders gave the soldiers the right to do whatever they wished with the women. The full right of usage of [Armenian] women (Akam 312). Sexualized violence occurred everywhere. The rape of women and girls was ordinary and occurred on a daily basis. Girls eight and ten years of age were violated and then murdered (Akam 313). Nearly every senior official who was part of the deportations and annihilations created a harem, trafficking young girls as presents. Children and other girls were dispersed

Mardikian 4 among Turkish homes and were voluntarily surrendered to Muslim families or purchased on the road, kidnapped or seized and sold into slavery. Trafficking of Armenian girls was one of the main sources of income for the gendarmes who accompanied the convoys(Akam 314). Muslims who were with the gendarmes and asked, Infidels, do you have any children to sell? ...We want to buy them (Akam 314). Armenians girls were sold for sixty piasters each and deportees were sold at auctions as sex slaves marketed in Damascus naked so that bidders might better judge their worthnaked Armenians girls and womenwere put up for auctiononly Mohammedans were allowed to buy (Akam 315). By objectifying women and girls, the Turks were able to continue their amoral treatment of Armenians. Moral disengagement on the part of the Committee of Union and Progress was used to justify the responsibility of the Armenian genocide in several of its ideological beliefs. The organization saw its task as the elimination of anyone, regardless of whom they were, who seemed an obstacle to its sacred calling (Akam 58). The committee established its secret organization fediin, a group of brave, self-sacrificing, obedient young men, who would undertake special operationsusually the murder of political opponents on orders (Akam 58). Membership of the committee was voluntary, but once entered, there was no going back. Members had to carry out every duty assigned and those who failed to do so were punished. In addition, independent actions were forbidden. Only orders from the Central Committee were to be carried out. The organization regarded everyone outside of the committee as a traitor or potential danger to be eliminated (Akam 59). The CUP was influenced by Balkan revolutionary organizations. The CUP admired and imitated their nationalist and terrorist tendencies.

Mardikian 5 Upon seeing up close that they were brutal and ruthless even toward their coreligionists, and that they engaged in the most low and inhuman behaviors (Akam 59). Unionists thought that this was a very effective form of nationalism, and is evident that the chauvinism and prevalent political culture within the CUP influenced the decisions and behavior of the Unionists in events such as the Armenian deportations (Akam 59). Ankara governor Mazhar Bey refused to deport the Armenians and responded to the interior minister I am the governor, Im not a bandit. I cannot do it. I will get up from the governors chair and you come and do it (Akam 195). Those governors who refused to carry out orders to massacre the Armenians were removed or killed. The behavior of the Turks, because of their ethnocentrism, their desire to destroy the Armenian culture, religion and the people through objectification and moral disengagement led to the deaths of millions of Armenians. Records of this genocide have been destroyed by the Turks. They refused, and many still refuse, to recognize the forced assimilation or annihilation of the Armenian people. May this serve as a reminder, as does all genocides, of what man is capable. May we remember and never repeat this immoral and amoral conduct.

Mardikian 6 Works Cited Akam, Taner. A shameful act: the Armenian genocide and the question of Turkish responsibility. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2006. Print. Akam, Taner. The Young Turks' crime against humanity: the Armenian genocide and ethnic cleansing in the Ottoman Empire. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 2012. Print. "Armenian Genocide | World Without Genocide." Armenian Genocide | World Without Genocide. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. "Armenian Genocide." Armenian Genocide. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. <http://www.armenian-genocide.org/genocide.html>. "Armenian Genocide." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 7 May 2013. "Genocide Museum | The Armenian Genocide Museum-institute." Genocide Museum | The Armenian Genocide Museum-institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 May 2013.