On 18-20 March, Yerevan hosted the International Media Forum “At the Foot of Ararat”, which brought together media representatives from the region and different parts of the world.

Among the participants from Iraq was Arab writer and academician, director of the Office for the Development of Media and Culture, the Council for Interreligious Dialogue, member of the Armenian Genocide Centennial Committee of Baghdad, member of the control committee for the future assembly and author of several books Saad Sallom.

Hayern Aysor presents the interview with the Arab writer.

How would you describe the presence of Armenians in Iraq?

Saad Sallum: The Armenians have been living in Iraq prior to the Armenian Genocide of 1915, starting from the 17^th century when the Shah Abas of Persia took the Armenians to Baghdad through the city of Basra. They were talented craftsmen, merchants and artists.

The number of Armenians in Baghdad, Mosoul and Basra considerably rose after the Armenian Genocide of 1915. The majority of the Armenians are followers of the Armenian Apostolic Church.

The Iraqis always praise the marvelous architecture of Armenian churches. The most proclaimed and the most beautiful of those churches is the Saint Grigor Armenian Church of Baghdad, which was built in 1957 and is also the Armenian Prelacy led by Archbishop Avag Asadourian. I must also mention that the there is also an Armenian Catholic Community led by Archbishop Emanuel Dabaghian.

How do you view the relations between the Armenians and Iraqis in the modern history of Iraq?

S. S.: The people of Iraq have strong bonds and beautiful memories with the Armenians. I think the Armenians stood out from other Christian communities because they treated the new countries of residence as their familiar homeland. For instance, both the Iraqis and the Armenians suffered casualties during the Iraq-Iran War (1980-88). Whenever I visit the Armenian Prelacy of Baghdad and read the names of the martyrs inscribed on the monument to the martyrs in the churchyard, I feel regret and think that one hundred years ago it wouldn’t cross any Armenian’s mind that Armenians would die in a war that had nothing to do with them.

This is a painful contradiction, but in spite of all that, for us Iraqis Armenians have a special place in our memories and have played important roles in Iraq’s modern history. I would just like to mention two names. Calouste Gulbenkian was a significant figure who built the St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church of Baghdad and the international children’s entertainment center. Sarah Tatosian (“Sarah Khatun”) was a wealthy Armenian benefactor, and “Kambi Sarah”, which is one of the proclaimed districts of Baghdad, is named after her. There are also other individuals who became symbols of the viability of the Armenians in Iraq.

How did the Iraqi-Armenians establish their strong and special relations with the defender of minorities’ rights? Whom do they owe for all that?

S. S.: First of all, I was born and raised in Baghdad where there is a variety of nations, religions and languages, but due to my job, I have had special and sincere relations with members of the Armenian National Central Department of Iraq. We have gotten to know each other better, especially during the preparations for the events dedicated to the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

Again, due to my work, after the painful incident that took place near the Sayidat Al Najat Church when the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Initiative was established, I met leader of the Armenian Diocese of Iraq, Archbishop Avag Asadourian with whom I established and have warm and sincere relations, even though he is very fond of philosopher Al-Ghazal, while I am very fond of philosopher Ibn Al Rushti. Nevertheless, I spend the best time of my day with His Holiness. We drink Armenian coffee, and he always reminds me that the Turks even stole that from the Armenians and now call it “Turkish Coffee”.

During our meetings, His Holiness shows me Armenian icons and provides me with all kinds of information, even information about the Armenian Genocide. After coffee, he looks at the image of Mount Ararat, which is the symbol of the Armenian nation.

Since you mentioned the Armenian Genocide, I would like to ask you to provide information about your activities. How are you involved with the issue?

S. S.: My actions can be summed up with the following title: “Promotion of Pluralism in Iraq”. This is a program that is carried out through the screenings of documentary films, implementation of civic initiatives, the activities of the Interreligious Dialogue Council and the publication of several books.

I’m currently working on an extensive book that reflects on the Armenian Genocide, silence and oblivion, starting from the Armenian Genocide and ending with the genocide of the Yazidis. With this I am making my contribution to the solution to the issue of the Armenian Genocide.

How do you think the world should mark the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide?

S. S. I don’t think the world will suddenly feel remorse…One hundred years have passed, but people still haven’t learned the lessons. We still suffer from mutual exclusivity and still place others at a lower level. Governments still keep silent and perpetrate massacres. People still fall victim to wars, and their rights are used as playing cards for pressure.

Look at how Iraq in particular and the Middle East in general are being emptied of minorities. It used to be Al-Qaeda, now it’s DAHESH, and who knows what new monster will come out and perpetrate new genocides?

However, this doesn’t mean that I’m pessimistic and will refuse to continue my mission. I say the commemoration of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide must be at the international level so that it isn’t used by forces pursuing political interests.

It is everyone’s duty to describe and present the Armenian Genocide as a starting point for all the other genocides.

Could you tell us how you have prepared for the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Iraq?

S. S.: There have been several incidents of annihilation in Iraq. In 1933, it was against the Assyrians. In the 1960s, it was the deportations of the Jews. In the 1970s, it was the assaults against the Bahais. In the 1980s and 1990s, it was the massacres against the Shiites and Kurds, and now it is the painful incidents that are taking place in the region and that we all know about.

This policy on annihilation that began with the Armenian Genocide and continues against other nations must become a reason for nations to realize it, say NO and condemn all the culprits.

We will soon organize a congress that will bring together Iraqi professors and academicians. We will also organize a march for peace towards the Turkish Embassy with the demand for Turkey’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

The goal of these events is to awaken the memory of nations, have them recognize the Armenian Genocide and learn the lessons. There has been silence and oblivion for 100 years…Nations need to take action to obtain their rights. I’m talking about nations, not governments because I have lost my trust in governments.

I am certain that when the world recognizes what happened to the Armenians, this will serve as an impetus for all nations being deprived of their rights to reestablish their rights. With this we remember and demand that this never happens again.

Interview by Varand Petrosyan

P.S.: Books by Sallum:

“Minorities in Iraq: Remembrance, Identity, Challenges”: The book has been published in Arabic and English and is considered the first book in Iraq devoted to religious and national pluralism.

“Different and Equal: The National and International Rights of Minorities of Iraq”: The book is considered the second book published as part of the project for promotion of pluralism.

In the book “Diversity of Creators: Creating Measures to Promote Pluralism in Iraq”, the author attaches importance to the approaches favoring diversity, which must also maintain the unity in Iraq and the diversity of identities.

The author came up with the idea of writing the book “The Christians in Iraq: Comprehensive History and the Current Challenges” with the fear of annihilation of the Christians in Iraq and the Middle East, especially after the deportations of Christians of Mosoul by DAHESH in the summer of 2014.

The book “Political Figures and Tribes in Iraq” is considered the fifth book, moving from the approach to a sectarian culture of Islam of the period of Ottoman dominance to the concept of citizenship in the period of formation of the state of modern-day Iraq.

The book “100 Illusions about Minorities in Iraq” presents the myths about minorities. The author reveals the illusions about the identities of minorities with a broad culture theory.