Turks Who Saved Armenians: Righteous Muslims during the Armenian Genocide

In: Genocide studies international: official publication of the International Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies, Band 9, Heft 2, S. 208-227

Abstract

During the Armenian Genocide, Turks, Kurds, Arabs, and other Muslims were both perpetrators and beneficiaries of the deportations and killing—but they also saved non-Muslims. This study documents and analyzes the ways in which Armenians were rescued and the various motives of the rescuers. Unlike previous studies, which are based solely on survivor oral histories or anecdotal family material, this paper also utilizes missionary reports, published survivor memoirs, German consular reports, archival sources, and other material. It discusses the concept of Righteous among the Nations and it explores the application of this idea to the context of the Armenian Genocide. Wider recognition of the phenomenon of Turks who saved Armenians can facilitate dialogue between Armenians and Turks today, many of whom tend to view each other as enemies.