Cyprus has become one of the latest countries to formally recognize the Assyrian genocide through a parliamentary resolution. Credit: Cyprus parliament Official Facebook Account

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By John Koutroumpis, January 9, 2026

In December 2025, Cyprus formally recognized the Assyrian genocide (also known as Seyfo) through a unanimous decision of its Parliament. The move places Cyprus among a growing number of states that acknowledge the systematic extermination of Assyrians during the final years of the Ottoman Empire and strengthens international recognition of what is often described as a trilogy of genocides against Assyrians, Armenians, and Greeks.

The resolution designates August 7 as an official day of remembrance and was adopted with the participation and support of all parliamentary parties, highlighting rare political consensus on an issue of historical and moral significance.

Who are the Assyrians, and what is the Assyrian genocide recognized by Cyprus?

The Assyrians are an ancient Semitic people whose modern identity coalesced after the First World War. They trace their heritage to ancient Mesopotamia and historically inhabited regions that today lie within southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq, and parts of Syria.

They were among the earliest Christian communities, adopting Christianity in its earliest centuries and speaking Aramaic, the language traditionally associated with Jesus. Over time, the Assyrians developed distinct religious traditions, including Syriac, Assyrian, and Chaldean Churches, while maintaining shared cultural symbols, customs, and a common historical memory.

Today, the global Assyrian population is estimated to be between three and five million people. While communities remain in the Middle East, there are large Assyrian diaspora populations in Europe, North America, and Australia following waves of displacement caused by persecution and conflict.

The Assyrian genocide known as Seyfo

During the First World War, the Assyrians were subjected to mass killings, forced deportations, and the destruction of entire communities by Ottoman authorities and Allied forces. Assyrians refer to these events as Seyfo, meaning “sword,” a term that reflects the brutality of the violence inflicted upon them.

Scholars estimate that between 250,000 and 500,000 Assyrians were killed, with some estimates placing the number even higher. These atrocities occurred alongside the Armenian and Greek genocides, forming a broader campaign against Christian minorities within the empire. For more than a century, survivors and their descendants have sought international recognition not only as a matter of historical accuracy but also as a means of honoring victims and preventing future crimes against humanity.

International and regional recognition

Several countries have officially recognized the Assyrian genocide at the national level, including Armenia, Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Syria, and most recently, Cyprus. While the scope of recognition varies, many of these acknowledgments situate the atrocities within the broader context of Ottoman-era crimes.

At the international level, influential bodies have also taken positions. The Vatican, under Pope Francis, has referred to the massacres as the first genocide of the twentieth century, explicitly including Assyrian Christians. The International Association of Genocide Scholars formally recognized the genocide in 2007, while the European Parliament has passed multiple resolutions acknowledging crimes against Ottoman Christian minorities.

Recognition has also occurred at sub-national levels. Several Australian states and numerous US states, including California and New York, have adopted resolutions recognizing the Assyrian genocide, often in conjunction with the Armenian genocide.

The importance of Cyprus’s recognition of the Assyrian genocide

Cyprus’s recognition carries particular weight, given the country’s own modern history of displacement, division, and unresolved conflict. The parliamentary resolution explicitly condemned the atrocities committed against the Assyrian people and emphasized the importance of historical truth, education, and remembrance.

Cyprus is also home to a small but active Assyrian community, with many members descended from genocide survivors. For them, the decision represents validation of their historical experience and public acknowledgment by a state that recognizes the long-term consequences of injustice and denial.