Bill > HR0261

This resolution recognizes the genocide of Greeks in Asia Minor, Pontos, and Eastern Thrace, which occurred between 1913 and 1923 under the Ottoman and Kemalist governments in what is now Turkey. The document details a systematic campaign of violence against Greek Christian populations, including forced labor battalions that led to mass deaths, targeted massacres, and the destruction of Greek communities. Specifically, the resolution highlights events such as the drafting of Greek men into brutal labor camps, the sacking of Smyrna (a historic Greek city) in September 1922, and the forced population exchange that effectively ended 3,000 years of Greek presence in the region. Drawing on a 2007 resolution by the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the Illinois House of Representatives aims to acknowledge these historical atrocities, provide closure for descendants of victims, and raise awareness to prevent future genocides by ensuring these events are not forgotten.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=261&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HR&SessionID=114&GA=104