Syriac Monastery in Turkey Appeals Proceeding Status (December 2008)
The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the acknowledged voice of the Syriac/Aramean people, informs you that the first appeals proceeding held today on Friday, December 19 2008, in Midyat, Turkey, has once again been postponed.
This trial, originally to be held on 19 November 2008 but now scheduled for 11 February 2009, relates to the boundaries dispute with two neighboring villages regarding lands owned for many centuries by the Syriac Orthodox monastery that was built in 397 A.D.
The court case was attended by various people from all over the world, including delegates of the Syriac Universal Alliance and its member federations, members of the Swedish parliament, human rights organizations and international media outlets.
Unfortunately, this second delay of the trial marks a disturbing pattern in the politics of the Turkish state. We believe that the judge in this case postponed the trial as a result of the huge international campaign against the Syriac human rights and property rights abuses.
This is a recurring strategic attempt by the Turkish state to delay the trial as much as possible in order to diminish the overwhelming interest shown by EU politicians, government officials, international human rights organizations and media outlets.
SUA, therefore, requests all of them to remain diligent and forthright in their opposition to the continuing abuses of the human rights and property rights of the indigenous Aramean people.
SUA will continue to keep you updated in relation to this trial as well as to the other two court cases. We ask for your unrelenting support and continued interest in this matter.
