Syriac Monastery in Turkey Court Proceeding Status (April 2009)
The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the acknowledged voice of and the only NGO among the Syriac (or Aramean) people, reports that the court proceedings held today on Wednesday, April 22 2009, in Midyat, Turkey, have once again been postponed.
New postponement of Syriac monastery case and clear pattern of Turkish delay in court proceedings
The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the recognized United Nations NGO representing the Aramean (Syriac) people worldwide, reports that the court trial held in relation to one of the several Mor Gabriel Monastery trials, on Wednesday, 17 February 2010, in Midyat, Turkey, has once again been postponed.
Request to reverse Turkification of ancient Aramaic (Syriac) place‐names
Honorable Minister Atalay,
We appeal to you on behalf of the Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the worldwide umbrella organization of all the national Federations of the Aramean/Syriac people (Turk.: Süryaniler).
Syriac Monastery in Turkey Court Proceeding Status (March 2009)
The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the acknowledged voice of and the only NGO among the Syriac (or Aramean) people, reports that the three court proceedings held today on Wednesday, March 4 2009, in Midyat, Turkey, have once again been postponed.
New postponement of Aramean (Syriac) monastery case
The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the recognized United Nations NGO representing the Aramean (Syriac) people worldwide, reports that the court trial held in relation to one of the several Mor Gabriel Monastery trials on Wednesday 14 July 2010 in Midyat, Turkey, has once again been postponed to 3 November 2010.
Letter to Erdoğan: The Future of the Mor Gabriel Monastery and Aramean (Syriac) villages
Dear Prime Minister Erdoğan,
We write you on behalf of the Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the worldwide umbrella organization of all the national Federations of the Aramean (Syriac) people.
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.
Monastery boundary cases declared null and void in Ankara court battle: Back to the drawing board for the monastery
The Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA), the recognised United Nations NGO representing the Aramean (Syriac) people worldwide, reports that the Supreme Court in Ankara handed down its long awaited decision regarding the St Gabriel Monastery (“Monastery”) land boundary battle with neighbouring villages of Yayvantepe (Qartmin) and Eğlence (Zinol) in southeast Turkey.
Call for Recognition and Support of the Endangered Aramean (Syriac) People in Turkey
Stockholm, 7 November 2013
Today, 7 November 2013, Mr. Kenan Anter and Mr. Gabriel Bozyel, respectively the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Syriac Federation of Sweden, met in Stockholm with the Turkish Prime Minister Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator, Mr. Egemen Bağış. On behalf of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) and the Syriac Federation of Sweden, Mr. Anter discussed the Aramean question in Turkey and submitted a letter to Mr. Erdogan. The writing encourages the Turkish Government to continue developing its democratization efforts, and also calls upon the Government to recognize and support the endangered Aramean people in Turkey.
Click here to download the letter
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) and the Syriac Federation of Sweden (SRF) appeal to you on behalf of the endangered Aramean (Syriac; Süryani in Turkish) people, who are indigenous to, but not yet officially recognized and supported by, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.
In May 2009, Your Excellency boldly declared that in the past century the non-Muslim minorities have suffered a lot and in many ways in Turkey, stating: “This mindset has seemingly not changed. It has been the same for many years in this country. They have chased members of different ethnicities out of this country. Have we won? This was the result of a fascist mentality.” Today, four years later, one is compelled to review the onground reality with Your Excellency’s comment.
The first major step in burying this attitude of the “old Turkey” with its denialist and assimilation policies was the latest democratization package, which you called a “historic moment for Turkey.” We encourage and support you to continue your reform efforts in shaping the “new Turkey.” We consider the package a first major initiative in preserving the endangered ethno-religious minorities in Turkey. It contains dozens of promising points, although we regret to announce that it also had shortcomings, including (but not limited to) the following important cases:
