THE MASSACRES OF ARMENIAN POPULATION OF PROVINCE DIARBEKIR IN 1915

Abstract

The first signal of concrete actions aimed at the extermination of the Armenian population in Diarbekir province was in August of 1914 when fire broke ut in the market of Diarbekir city and greatly affected mainly Armenian traders and craftsmen.

In 1915 all Armenian-populated areas of Diarbekir province, as well as throughout Western Armenia, the Armenian population was subjected to violence, deportation, and massacres. Moreover, if the policy of Islamization of Armenians was quite widespread in other settlements, in Diarbekir, Islamization could have been an alternative to deportation or massacre, but did not fully ensure the further security and safety of the converted person.

There were lots of evidences of cruel treatment against women and children in this province and the chances of rescue were low. The fact that policy of extermination of the Armenian population was well organized and implemented in Diarbekir was connected to the governor's person of this province. The main task for Reshid was the elimination of Armenians, and the final Turkification of the area.

 Many settlements in Diarbekir province became the slaughterhouses of deportees from other provinces.   At the same time with the extermination of Armenians, tens of thousands of Kurdish migrants began to settle in these areas.

The same policy of fear, massacres and exile continued towards the Armenians who survived in 1915 which led to the final exile of Armenians from this area.