Martyrs Day

A day designed to honour martyrs

Martyrs' Day are days observed in or by some countries, incl. the United States, Japan, India, Brazil, Canada and Australia, to recognise martyrs such as soldiers, revolutionaries or victims of genocide. Below is a list of various Martyrs' Days for different countries of the World.[citation needed]

## Afghanistan

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See also: Martyrs' Day (Afghanistan) and Assassination of Ahmad Shah Massoud

Martyrs' Day is observed on September 8 or 9 (variable), the anniversary of Ahmad Shah Massoud's 2001 assassination.[citation needed] It has also been recognised officially by San Diego County, California, home to the highest concentration of Afghani immigrants and refugees in the United States.[1]

## Armenia

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Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, on April 24 in Armenia, commemorates the Armenian genocide, which occurred from 1915 to 1923 in the Ottoman Empire.[2]

## Australia and New Zealand

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Anzac Day (/ˈænzæk/) is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".[3][4] Observed on 25 April each year, Anzac Day was originally devised to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who served in the Gallipoli Campaign, their first engagement in the First World War (1914–1918).

## Azerbaijan

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Martyrs' Day in Azerbaijan is observed on January 20, in memory of those killed in the Black January events.[5]

## Bangladesh

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* Language Movement Day, also known as Language Martyrs' Day, on 21 February in Bangladesh, commemorates Bengali as a national language. [6]
* Bengali Genocide Remembrance Day is observed on 25 March in Bangladesh to commemorate the victims of the Bengali Genocide of 1971, initially in 2017.[7]
* Martyred Intellectuals Day is observed on 14 December in Bangladesh to commemorate those intellectuals who were killed by Pakistani forces and their collaborators during the 1971 Liberation War, particularly on 14 December 1971.[8][9]

## Burkina Faso

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Martyrs' Day, on October 31, honors victims of the 2015 Burkinabé coup d'état.[10]

## Burma (Myanmar)

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Martyrs' Day, on July 19, commemorates the day when nine Burmese independence leaders were assassinated in 1947.[11]

## China

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Main article: Martyrs' Day (China)

Martyrs' Day (China) is celebrated on September 30, the eve of the National Day of the People's Republic of China, to commemorate those who lost their lives for the national and territorial integrity of the people of China. It was created by the National People's Congress in 2014.[12]

## Eritrea

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Martyrs' Day (Eritrea), is observed on June 20 of every year to honor the fallen heroes of Eritrea's warriors from the Yikealo and Warsay generations.[13]

## India

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Main article: Martyrs' Day (India)

January 30 is recognised nationally as Martyrs' Day in India, to mark the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi in 1948.[14] A number of states and regions recognise other days as Martyrs' Days locally.

## Lebanon

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Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria), commemorates the execution of Muslim and Christian Lebanese and Syrian Arab nationalists in Beirut (on what's now called Martyrs Square) by the Ottoman soldiers on May 6 1916 and martyrs of the Lebanese civil war, which took place from 1975 till 1990.[15]

## Libya

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16 September Martyrs' Day remembers Libyans killed or exiled under Italian rule and those who were killed in the 17 February revolution.[16]

## Madagascar

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Martyrs' Day in the country, observed every 29 March, commemorates the beginning of the 1947 Malagasy Uprising.[17]

## Malawi

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In Malawi, Martyrs' Day is celebrated on March 3 to honor the political heroes who gave their lives in the struggle against British colonialism.[18]

## Malaysia

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Warriors' Day (Malay: Hari Pahlawan; Chinese: 国家纪念日) is a day in Malaysia that commemorates the servicemen killed during the two World Wars and the Malayan Emergency. By extension, it honours all individuals who lost their lives in the line of duty throughout Malaysia's history.[19]

## Mali

[edit]

Main article: Public holidays in Mali

Martyrs' Day or Democracy Day is celebrated on March 26 and honors the victims of the 1991 Malian coup d'état.[20]

## Nepal

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In Nepal, Martyrs' Day (Nepali: शहीद दिवस) is celebrated on January 30, corresponding to Magh 16 (Nepali: माघ १६ गते) in the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar.[21]

Martyr (Nepali: शहिद; Shahid) in Nepal is a term for someone who is executed while making contributions for the welfare of the country or society. The term was originally used for individuals who died while opposing the Rana Regime which was in place in the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1951. There are five martyrs in Nepal.

Lakhan Thapa is regarded as the first martyr of Nepal.[22]

## Netherlands

[edit]

Remembrance of the Dead (Dutch: Dodenherdenking) is held annually on May 4 in the Netherlands.[23] It commemorates all civilians and members of the armed forces of the Kingdom of the Netherlands who have died in wars or peacekeeping missions since the beginning of the Second World War.

## Pakistan

[edit]

Main article: Martyrs' Day (Pakistan)

Martyrs' Day or Youm-e-Shuhada is a Pakistani holiday held on 30 April to pay tribute to Pakistani military who died in service of their country.[24]

## Panama

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Martyrs' Day (Panama), is a Panamanian holiday which commemorates the January 9 1964 riots over sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone.[25]

## São Tomé and Príncipe

[edit]

Dia dos Mártires da Liberdade, 3 February, commemorates the 1953 Batepá massacre.[26]

## South Sudan

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30 July is Martyr's Day in South Sudan commemorating the death of John Garang de Mabior, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Army during the Second Sudanese Civil War. Following a peace agreement, he briefly served as First Vice President of Sudan for three weeks until his death in a helicopter crash on July 30, 2005. Foul play in his death has never been proven, but July 30 is marked as Martyr's Day in South Sudan.[27]

## Syria

[edit]

Martyrs' Day (Lebanon and Syria), commemorates the execution of Muslim and Christian Lebanese and Syrian Arab nationalists in Damascus and Beirut by the Ottoman Empire on 6 May 1916.[28]

## Togo

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21 June honours all who struggled for the freedom of Togo. It is celebrated with a military parade in Lomé[29]

## Tunisia

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April 9, Martyr's Day remembers Tunisians killed in 1938.[30]

## Turkey

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March 18, is recognised in remembrance of Turkish soldiers fallen in action.[31] It is on the same date Ottoman forces defeated a naval attack of the Allied Powers in Gallipoli Campaign during World War I on March 18, 1915.

## Uganda

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In Uganda, Martyrs' Day is celebrated on June 3, mainly in honor of the Uganda Martyrs; Christian converts who were murdered for their religion in Uganda's biggest kingdom, Buganda in the late-1880s.[32]

## United Arab Emirates

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Martyrs' Day (United Arab Emirates) also known as Commemoration Day (United Arab Emirates) will be marked annually on November 30, recognising the sacrifices and dedication of Emirati martyrs who have given their life in the UAE and abroad in the field of civil, military and humanitarian service.[33]

## United States

[edit]

Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day[34]) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the military personnel who have died in the performance of their military duties.[35] Since 1971, the holiday is observed on the last Monday of May. The holiday was observed on May 30 from 1868 to 1970.[36]

## Vietnam

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The Memorial Day for War Martyrs is recognised on 27 July, in Vietnam.[37]

## References

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1. ^ Yahoo. "Ahmad Shah Massoud Day Declared Again in The United States". Yahoo. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
2. ^ Dinah Shelton, ed. (2005). Encyclopedia of Genocide and Crimes Against Humanity. Vol. 1\. Macmillan Reference USA. p. 67\. ISBN 978-0-02-865850-7. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
3. ^ "ANZAC Day". Australian War Memorial. Archived from the original on 1 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2013.
4. ^ "Anzac Day Today". Anzac.govt.nz. New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Archived from the original on 27 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
5. ^ De Waal, Thomas (2013). Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War. NYU Press. p. 138\. ISBN 978-0-8147-1944-9. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
6. ^ Choudhury, Serajul Islam (2004). Bangladesh: National Culture and Heritage. Independent University, Bangladesh. p. 7\. ISBN 978-984-05-1608-5. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
7. ^ Sisson, Richard (1990). War and Secession: Pakistan, India, and the Creation of Bangladesh. University of California Press. p. 316\. ISBN 978-0-520-20371-5. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
8. ^ Rahman, Syedur; Craig Baxter (2002). Historical Dictionary of Bangladesh. Scarecrow Press. p. 196\. ISBN 978-8170945888.
9. ^ Muazzam Hussain Khan (2012), "Killing of Intellectuals", in Sirajul Islam and Ahmed A. Jamal (ed.), Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.), Asiatic Society of Bangladesh
10. ^ Smith, David (17 September 2015). "Burkina Faso coup: key figures in the crisis". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
11. ^ Sai, Ko (2022-07-18). "Why Myanmar Junta Chief Downgrades Martyrs' Day". The Irrawaddy. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
12. ^ Chen, Hong (30 September 2014). "China marks first Martyrs' Day". China Daily. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
13. ^ Connell, Dan (1997). Against All Odds: A Chronicle of the Eritrean Revolution. Red Sea Press. p. 353\. ISBN 978-1-56902-046-5. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
14. ^ "Republic Day Celebration 2023 - Celebrations - Know India: National Portal of India'". knowindia.india.gov.in. Government of India. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
15. ^ Makdisi, Ussama (2000). The Culture of Sectarianism: Community, History, and Violence in Nineteenth-Century Ottoman Lebanon. University of California Press. p. 191\. ISBN 978-0-520-22110-8. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
16. ^ Evans, Martin (2012). Algeria: France's Undeclared War. Oxford University Press. p. 13\. ISBN 978-0-19-983201-1. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
17. ^ "Public Holidays". Embassy of Madagascar. Archived from the original on 28 March 2014. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
18. ^ Malawi Martyrs Day infosite, answers.com; accessed 2 June 2015.
19. ^ Cheah, Boey (2012). Red Star over Malaya: Resistance and Social Conflict During and After the Japanese Occupation, 1941-1946. National University of Singapore Press. p. 29\. ISBN 978-9971-69-553-1. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
20. ^ "Mali Public Holidays 2021 (Africa)". The qppstudio.net website. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
21. ^ "Shaheed Diwas being observed today". The Himalayan Times. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
22. ^ "Bad blood". Nepali Times. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2015-03-02.
23. ^ "A Dictionary of Dutchness - Dodenherdenking". DutchNews.nl. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
24. ^ "Pak Army to observe April 30 as 'Youm-e-Shuhada'". 29 April 2010.
25. ^ Conniff, Michael L. (2012). Panama and the United States: The Forced Alliance. University of Georgia Press. p. 133\. ISBN 978-0-8203-4304-4.
26. ^ "S. Tomé e Príncipe: Importância de massacre de Batepá tem sido ignorada". Observador (in Portuguese). 8 June 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
27. ^ "Martyrs' Day in South Sudan in 2021". Office Holidays. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
28. ^ Ajami, Fouad (1992). The Arab Predicament: Arab Political Thought and Practice since 1967. Cambridge University Press. p. 23\. ISBN 978-0-521-44990-4. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
29. ^ "Martyrs' Day 2021, 2022 and 2023 in Togo". PublicHolidays.africa. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
30. ^ Chakroun, Karima (2016). The Arab Uprisings: Transforming and Challenging State Power. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 73\. ISBN 978-1-4985-3145-2. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
31. ^ "18 Mart Gününün Şehitler Günü ve 19 Eylül Gününün Gaziler Günü İlan Edilmesi Hakkında Kanun" (PDF) (in Turkish). Mevzuat. Retrieved 2013-09-30.
32. ^ Shorter, Aylward (1991). The Church in the African City. Orbis Books. p. 51\. ISBN 978-0-88344-758-9. `{{cite book}}`: Check `|isbn=` value: checksum (help)
33. ^ "Martyrs' Day holiday announced in UAE". GulfNews. 19 August 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
34. ^ "Memorial Day". History.com. 24 May 2023.
35. ^ "Memorial Day". United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Archived from the original on May 27, 2010. Retrieved May 28, 2010.
36. ^ 36 U.S.C. § 116
37. ^ Nguyen, Huong (2019). Tradition and Transformation in a Northern Mountain Village: A Study of Kinship, Ritual and Spirit Mediumship. Routledge. p. 162\. ISBN 978-1-138-30217-4.