AS RESPONSE TO THE CLAIMS OF GENOCIDE: THE ISSUE OF THE PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF THE RELOCATED ARMENIANS (URFA EXAMPLE)
AS RESPONSE TO THE CLAIMS OF GENOCIDE: THE ISSUE OF THE PROTECTION OF RIGHTS OF THE RELOCATED ARMENIANS (URFA EXAMPLE)

Summary/Abstract: In 27 May 1915, the relocation law that was introduced under the extraordinary conditions of the First World War and that forced Armenians to migrate has been an issue of distortion with an attempt to show it as genocide. However, there are no events justifying such a claim of genocide as evidenced in the developments during and after the relocation. The Armenian problem that started in Urfa in 1895 had begun to become more and more intense, and there had been many conflicts between Armenians and Muslims in the city. With the decision taken by the Ottoman State in 1915, a large part of the Armenian population in the city was sent to Syria. However, the rights of Armenians who were sent by relocation plan were protected. Based on the Urfa example, this paper aims to prove that the events of 1915 were not genocide, that the conditions of the period caused the events. We base our discussion on the historical records showing the funding to compensate the needs of Armenians and the repairs of the schools and the churches belonging to Armenia. Additionally, the documents show that the rights Armenian people were considered who wanted their goods back.

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