The Diocese
Posted: 05/28/2021
Last week, the Diocesan Primate H.E. Archbishop Hovnan Derderian addressed a letter to Congressman Adam Schiff and the Most Reverend Jose H. Gomez, President of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops and Archbishop of Los Angeles, the nation's largest Catholic community, requesting their further support in the release of Armenian prisoners of war.
In his letter to Congressman Schiff, Archbishop Derderian wrote in part:
"I am writing to you today on behalf of the Armenian prisoners of war (POWs) in Azerbaijan. The 2020 Nagomo-Karabakh war resulted in the capture of more than 200 ethnic Armenian soldiers and civilians, the majority of which have been subject to inhumane treatment at the hands of their captors. The release of these POW is paramount for the Armenian community.
Your efforts as one of the primary sponsors for H.R.240 Calling on Azerbaijan to immediately release all prisoners of war and captured civilians, in addition to your enduring commitment to raising awareness with respect to the hostilities in Artsakh, are recognized and treasured amongst the Armenian population here and abroad. As an advocate for their release, you are most aware of the frightening conditions the Armenian POWs and unlawfully held civilians are forced to endure.
In March, Human Rights Watch (HR W) released a detailed article focused on the abuse sustained by Armenians captured by Azerbaijani forces. The disturbing and inhumane treatment prompted the HRW Europe and Central Asia director Hugh Williamson to correctly label the abominable Azerbaijani actions as international war crimes. Since then, unfortunately, the situation has only grown tenser, and release negotiation progress has slowed. Few Armenian POWs were released, others, of which nineteen names were released just this week, were tortured, and killed. Hundreds of others face a similar fate if decisive action to command their release is not taken.
In a recent statement by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the POWs were labeled as detainees. Under the Third Geneva Convention, prisoners of war specifically are to be protected from all forms of torture and cruel treatment. It is critical then that the Armenian POWs are formally identified as such in negotiations regarding their release and in any official U.S. communication with the Azerbaijani government. If identified as 'detainees' or anything other than 'prisoners of war,' the Armenians held illegally by Azerbaijan are vulnerable to further forms of torture and maltreatment."
In his letter to Archbishop Jose H. Gomez, the Diocesan Primate wrote in part:
"Dear Brother in Christ,
We would like to bring to our kind attention an issue of critical importance that demands immediate attention and action.
Many well-known humanitarian organizations report undeniable facts of humiliations, inhuman tortures, and massacres of Armenian prisoners of war in Azerbaijani prisons and concentration camps.
What is even more shocking is the fact that most of the prisoners (military personnel and civilians alike) were kidnapped and taken into captivity after the official truce of November 9, 2020.
Indeed, the mission of our Savior was and still is: "To bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).
And as followers of Christ, we are called to make all necessary efforts to "bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness" (Isaiah 42:7).
Time is crucial and every second counts, as the physical, spiritual, and emotional state of hundreds of prisoners continues to worsen.
Therefore, we would like the Conference of Catholic Bishops of United States to assist us in advocating for the release of hostages and prisoners of war who are eagerly expecting the world to intervene and become saving hands of God, for our Heavenly father "Hears the groans of the prisoners, [who wishes] to set free those who were doomed to die" (Psalms 102:20).
"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6), (Matthew 12:7). This divine truth is an obligation for each and every follower of Christ."
