When the Assyrian Tragedy Became Seyfo: A Study of Swedish-Assyrian Politics of Memory

Abstract

Research into and widespread knowledge about the Assyrian Genocide, called Seyfo by Assyrians, is a recent phenomenon. Assyrians themselves have always known of the tragic events that occurred during the First World War, but it took some time before these were conceptualized as genocide and became an important element in the collective memory of the people that demanded recognition. In this article the author analyzes how, when, and why the established narrative of Seyfo developed and took shape in Sweden, a country with a substantial Assyrian community. This is done through analysis of how the tragedy has been described in Hujådå, the official magazine of the Assyrian Federation of Sweden.