The US House of Representatives, voting to recognize the Armenian Genocide. October 29, 2019.
More than 100 years after three-quarters of the Ottoman Empire’s two million Armenian residents were systematically slaughtered by the Turkish seat of Ottoman power in 1915, the United States House of Representatives voted by overwhelming majority to formally recognize and condemn the Armenian Genocide, long denied by Turkey. The House also voted for President Trump to apply sanctions against Turkey in light of its ongoing campaign against the Kurdish people in northeastern Syria.
The votes came just days after US Special Forces, working with Kurdish intelligence agencies, assassinated ISIS founder and leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar was the only Democratic Congressperson to not vote in favor of recognizing and condemning the genocide, instead voting “present.” She also voted against sanctioning Turkey, and reportedly met with Halil Mutlu the week prior. Mutlu is the co-chairman of the Turkish American Steering Committee (TASC), a pro-Turkish advocacy organization based in the United States.
Turkish Foreign Minister condemned both votes, while Turkish President Erdogan threatened retribution against opposing nations.
Israel announced Wednesday it will close its embassy in Ankara and consulate in Istanbul.
Turkey’s power moves across the region increasingly alienate the nation from the global community. Erdogan’s actions and definitions of terrorism (a charge brought against American pastor Andrew Brunson for affiliation with Kurdish refugees in Turkey) create a dangerous environment for foreign workers. Over the last several decades, Western laborers have sown the Gospel into Turkish soil. Pray for indigenous leaders to stand on their own and lead the growing Turkish church, and for her to stand during coming intensified persecution.
Partner with FAI’s work in Turkey: faimission.org/turkey
Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/29/us/politics/armenian-genocide-resolution.html
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-50229787
https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/30/ilhan-omar-erdogan-turkey/
https://twitter.com/abdbozkurt/status/1187701319659855872?s=21
https://twitter.com/reuters/status/1189694723734163456?s=21
https://twitter.com/israelinturkey/status/1189448754765664257?s=21
Photo credit: Public Radio of Armenia