ASALA

After World War II, the term “genocide” was introduced into international law to trial the prosecution and ethnic cleansing of Jews by Nazi Germany. In early 1975, ASALA (English abbreviation for Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia) was created. ASALA’s aim was to persuade the Turkish government to label the relocation of Armenians as “genocide” and to take responsibility for the deaths of many Armenians. The Republic of Turkey had to pay repairs and surrender territory to a newly independent Armenian state. This territory corresponded to the territory allotted to the Armenians by the Allies in the Peace of Sèvres (1920), a promise subsequently nullified by the Peace of Lausanna (1923) which was much more favorable to Turkey. Between 1975 and 1985, ASALA (English abbreviation for Armenian Secret Army for the Liberation of Armenia) was responsible for more than 50 attacks, and ASALA splinter groups claimed responsibility for about ten attacks. A total of 46 people were killed and 299 injured. ASALA’s main targets were Turkish diplomats and airlines from a number of different countries.