You Rejoice My Heart

"Kemal Yalcin has put together a compelling social history of Armenians in Turkey today. You Rejoice My Heart was written after the author reflected on his ignorance about his fellow Armenian citizens in Turkey and embarked on a journey of discovery. He visited historic sites in eastern Turkey and Istanbul and spoke to ordinary Turks and Armenians to understand what it is to be an Armenian in Turkey today. But his discovery was a profoundly sad one. He saw that Turkish-Armenians lived in fear because of a history of prejudice and abuse. Living in the aftermath of the genocide of 1915, thousands of Turkish-Armenians only survived by hiding their identities, living as crypto-Christians or crypto-Armenians.This all played havoc in family life and social relations and many had to emigrate over the decades. During WWII, Armenians, like other non-Muslims in Turkey, were rooted out and persecuted by the authorities. Many were conscripted into labor battalions, while others were sent to labor camps as convicts. A decade or so later, Armenians yet again fell victim to state-sponsored pogroms in Istanbul. Even later, they continued to face the prejudice of state officials in their daily lives. However, as Yalcin discovers the pain and suffering of Armenians, he only expresses his compassion for them. His own humanity, as an honorable Turk, shines through. This book is a timely one, as more and more Turks come to confront their past in a more enlightened manner."--Dust jacket.