Ümit Kurt: Ugly History: The Armenian Genocide

Ugly History: The Armenian Genocide

When an Armenian resistance movement began to form in the 19th century, Sultan Abdul Hamid II took decisive action. He led the Hamidian Massacres— a relentless campaign of violence that killed over 150,000 Armenians. These massacres were the culmination of centuries of oppression, yet they were only the beginning of an even greater tragedy. Ümit Kurt uncovers the history of the Armenian Genocide. [Directed by Héloïse Dorsan-Rachet, narrated by Adrian Dannatt, music by Dan Yessian, Yessian Music].

The Armenian Genocide did not begin as a sudden event, but as the result of centuries of persistent discrimination and violence. Over 150,000 Armenians were killed in the Hamidian Massacres, foreshadowing the deportation, forced conversion, and murder of nearly a million more during World War I. Even today, official denial continues, framing these deaths as necessary war measures rather than acknowledging genocide. Yet, descendants and advocates persist in seeking recognition and justice for these historic atrocities.