The genocide of the Assyrians is now explicitly included in a Dutch history textbook for middle and high school. This is an important milestone in incorporating the genocide of the Assyrians into the curriculum and history education worldwide.
The Seyfo is covered in the textbook *Feniks – Geschiedenis 3*, which mentions Assyrians among the victims of the genocide that affected Christian minorities in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. This information comes from Comité 1915, a Dutch organization that has worked for many years to promote recognition of and education about the genocide.
What makes this news significant is the setting. The story has now been incorporated into the regular curriculum and is no longer something that is only brought up during special occasions, in clubs, or in political debates.
“Education is crucial for passing on the victims’ story to future generations. The fact that the genocide is now explicitly mentioned in a Dutch history textbook is therefore a significant step,” says Johan Kurt, chair of Comité 1915.
This development comes after several decades of efforts by Assyrian organizations in the Netherlands to have the genocide recognized and to raise awareness of Assyrian history.
