ter part of the
officers of the army would be Armenians. They were confounded at this,
and dreaded what might ensue, for they knew their own weakness and that
they could not rival the Armenians in the way of learning and progress.
Annihilation seemed to them to be the sole means of deliverance; they
found their opportunity in a time of war, and they proceeded to this
atrocious deed, which they carried out with every circumstance of
brutality--a deed which is contrary to the law of Islam, as is shown by
many precepts and historical instances.[N] ...

In view of this, how can the Turkish Government be justified at the
present time in killing off an entire people, who have always paid their
dues of every kind to the Ottoman State, and have never rebelled against
it? Even if we suppose the Armenian men to have been deserving of death,
what was the offence of the women and children? And what will be the
punishment of those who killed them wrongfully and consumed the innocent
with fire?

I am of opinion that the Mohammedan peoples are now under the necessity
of defending themselves, for unless Europeans are made acquainted with
the true facts they will regard this deed as a black stain on the
history of Islam, which ages will not efface.

From the Verses, Traditions, and historical instances, it is abundantly
clear that the action of the Turkish Government has been in complete
contradiction to the principles of the Faith of Islam; a Government
which professes to be the protector of Islam, and claims to hold the
_Khilafat_, cannot act in opposition to Moslem law; and a Government
which does so act is not an Islamic Government, and has no rightful
pretension to be such.

It is incumbent on the Moslems to declare themselves guiltless of such a
Government, and not to render obedience to those who trample under foot
the Verses of the Koran and the Traditions of the Prophet, and shed the
innocent blood of women, old men and infants, who have done no wrong.
Otherwise they make themselves accomplices in this crime, which stands
unequalled in history.

In conclusion, I would address myself to the Powers of Europe, and say
that it is they themselves who have encouraged the Turkish Government
to this deed, for they were aware of the evil administration of that
Government, and its barbarous proceedings on many occasions in the past,
but did not check it.

_Completed at Bombay on the 3rd September, 1916._

FA'IZ EL-GHUSEIN.

[F