SYRIACS, a Middle Eastern ethnic and religious minority, have launched a campaign demanding the European Parliament officially recognises the 1915 Sayfo genocide, in which at least 500,000 men, women and children were killed under Ottoman rule.

The European Syriac Union (ESU) wants the European Union to “side with historical truth and justice” by commemorating June 15 as Sayfo (“sword” in the Syriac language) Martyrs Day in recognition of the atrocities committed more than a century ago.

The body hopes to show the international community that there is sufficient popular support for them to take the issue seriously; so far the Swedish, German, Dutch, Austrian, Syrian and Armenian parliaments have officially recognised the genocide.