Individuals Targeted During Armenian Genocide
During the First World War, the government of Turkey encouraged young individuals to oppose the successes and achievements recorded by Christian Armenians in the Ottoman Empire. Having stayed in the region for hundreds of years, a new form of hatred started to emerge since they were viewed as more successful, educated, and empowered. After the onset of the First World War, it became evident that those supporting Germany were against any sympathy for the Allies (Akçam 462). Incidentally, a majority of Armenians wanted the allies to win and support their needs in the region. However, the Young Turks began to persecute, rape, and force female Armenians to denounce their faiths and become slaves. This analysis reveals that the Armenians were suspected of supporting the Allies, thereby setting the stage for the Armenian genocide.
The Young Turks were the ones who targeted such Armenians. This racial group was envied for its success and overall wealth in the Ottoman state. The primary sources of suspicion included the idea that they could have been supporting the Allies while Turkey was in sympathy with Germany. A majority of the people were also convinced that Armenians were more successful in the region. Most of the victims died at the hands of the Young Turks, suffered different forms of abuse, and others were raped and forced to work as slaves (Akçam 469). The events and outcomes compared to the Salem witch hunts since this led to the death of many people. A majority in the community were ready to collaborate and persecute individuals who were incapable of defending themselves (Murphy 103). These events resulted in severe crimes against innocent human beings.
References
Akçam, Taner. “When Was the Decision to Annihilate the Armenians Taken?” Journal of Genocide Research, vol. 21, no. 4, 2019, pp. 457-480.
Murphy, Daniel P. “Satan and Salem: The Witch‐Hunt Crisis of 1692, Benjamin C. Ray. University of Virginia Press, 2015.” The Journal of American Culture, vol. 40, no. 1, 2017, pp. 103-104.