Biricik Suden: The Woman Who Dared to Speak Out Against the Armenian Genocide

Early Life and Education

Biricik Suden was born in 1915 in the Ottoman Empire. Her father was a Turkish diplomat and her mother was an Armenian Christian. Suden grew up in a wealthy and cosmopolitan family, and she was educated at the American College for Girls in Istanbul.

Witness to the Armenian Genocide

In 1915, the Ottoman government began a systematic campaign of genocide against the Armenian population. Suden's family was forced to flee their home, and they witnessed firsthand the horrors of the genocide.

Suden's father was arrested and killed by the Ottoman authorities. Her mother and siblings were forced to march into the Syrian desert, where they died of starvation and disease.

Escape and Life in Exile

Suden was one of the few Armenians who managed to escape the genocide. She fled to the United States, where she lived in exile for the rest of her life.

Speaking Out

Suden spent the rest of her life speaking out about the Armenian Genocide. She wrote a book about her experiences, and she gave countless lectures and interviews.

In 1985, Suden testified before the United States Congress about the Armenian Genocide. Her testimony helped to raise awareness of the genocide and led to the passage of a resolution recognizing it as a crime against humanity.

Legacy

Biricik Suden died in 2012 at the age of 97. She is remembered as a courageous woman who dared to speak out against the Armenian Genocide.

Suden's work has helped to ensure that the Armenian Genocide is never forgotten. Her legacy will continue to inspire people to fight against genocide and all forms of injustice.

Biricik Suden