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We had already been deported
once, in 1915, sent towards Der-Zor. But, my uncle's
friend had connections in the government and he had us
ordered back to Izmir.
Orders came again that
everyone must gather in front of the Armenian church
to be deported. My father refused to go and told us
not to worry. He didn't think the Turkish government
would do anything to him, since he was a government
employee himself.
Twelve Turkish soldiers
and an official came very early the next morning. We
were still asleep. They dragged us out in our
nightgowns and lined us up against the living room
wall. Then the official ordered my father to lie
down on the ground… they are dirty the Turks… very
dirty… I can't say what they did to him. They raped
him! Raped! Just like that. Right in front of us. And
that official made us watch. He whipped us if we
turned away. My mother lost consciousness and fell to
the floor.
Afterwards, we couldn't
find our father. My mother looked for him frantically.
He was in the attic, trying to hang himself.
Fortunately, my mother found him before it was too
late.
My father did eventually
kill himself—later, after we escaped. |
