The Kurdish and Armenian Genocides: From Censorship and Denial to Recognition English 2025

The Kurdish and Armenian Genocides: From Censorship and Denial to Recognition, written by Desmond Fernandes, is a scholarly and analytical work that examines the processes of censorship and denial, followed by efforts toward acknowledgment and recognition of the Armenian and Kurdish genocides. Drawing on historical documentation, human rights research, and political analysis, the author demonstrates how official narratives and geopolitical interests have, for decades, obstructed the acceptance of these crimes.

With a critical approach, the book explores the links between politics, historiography, and international law, while emphasizing the importance of historical memory, transitional justice, and the responsibility of the international community. This work is an important and reliable resource for scholars of genocide studies, Middle Eastern history, human rights, and international politics.

“Turkey’s repression of the Kurds has been widely documented—and is acknowledged as a major obstacle to Turkey’s accession to the European Union. But what lies behind such repression? Fernandes confronts the issue head on, forcing the reader to probe a question that many in Turkey and elsewhere would rather avoid: does the systematic repression of the Kurds amount to genocide? Open discussion of this issue is critical if a long-term resolution of the Kurdish issue is to be achieved.”

— Nicholas Hildyard, Policy Analyst