Volume I - Issue 16

April 2009

Chairman’s Message

Dear readers, Conference at the French Senate

Some incidents affect a nation as a On Thursday 2nd April, a conference was whole. The ongoing pressure and held in the French Senate about the future of occupation practices directed the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians in . against the Mor Gabriel have affect- ed and moved the Syriac nation throughout the The conference was organized by the world. The Mor Gabriel Monastery is considered Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Institute in Paris to be a holy shrine for the Syriacs. Even though with the active collaboration of European tens of thousands of Syriacs had to flee from Syriac Union and thanks to the help of the region (South East of ) in the Senator Mrs. Christianne Kammerman. Union, Suleyman Gultekin talked further 80`s, they resisted and did not evacuate the Guests from dfferent fields attended to the about the request for autonomy for the Mor Gabriel Monastery. And the Monastery that conference: The Iraqi Ambassador in France, Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Christians in Iraq. was kept inhabited by the Syriacs encouraged French Senators and journalists. He explained that this request is not to divide hundreds of Syriac families. Accordingly, the Iraq, not against Iraqi people, nor to contain region of Tur Abdin was not evacuated by its The conference was split in 2 sessions where themselves into a ghetto but on the contrary indigenous Syriac people. in the first session academics and authors to build a multicultural and more equitable made a speech about the Chaldean-Syriac- society in Iraq for all Iraqi people and minori- In spite of the severe pressure it suffered in Assyrians people’s history and presence in ties living in Iraq. Suleyman Gultekin also Turkey in the 1980`s and 1990`s, the monastery the Middle-East. insisted that the request for autonomy doesn’t of Mor Gabriel has managed to stand on its foot. The Professor Herman Teule President of go against Iraqi Constitution and made a ref- Despite all this, the Mor Gabriel Monastery con- Institute for Eastern Christendom at the erence to the United Nations Declaration on tinued to represent the Syriac culture in Tur Nijmegen University (NL) and others were the the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Some of Abdin. 20 years after the first migration wave to mains speakers during that session. the articles read during the conference show , when the relations between Turkey and that our request is in line with International the EU started to improve, the Syriacs in Institutions: Europe begun to consider a possible return to Article 3 their homeland. Accordingly, some families Indigenous peoples have the right to self- returned and re-established themselves and determination. By virtue of that right they thousands of other Syriacs started to visit Tur freely determine their political status and Abdin region every year. However, just when freely pursue their economic, social and cul- this was happening, the Turkish state started to tural development. show its long accustomed threatening face. Article 4 This time, unlike before, it did not attack the Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to Syriac individuals of the region one by one, but self-determination, have the right to autono- directed its aggression to the Mor Gabriel After a short break a video was shown related my or self-government in matters relating to Monastery, thus to all of the Syriacs. to the situation of the Iraqi refugees in Jordan their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and stating the alarming situation of the Iraqi and means for financing their autonomous The Ministry of Forests and the Treasury of the refugees and mentioning that more than 60% functions. Turkish republic attempted to occupy the lands of them are Christians. Article 5 that belong to the Mor Gabriel Monastery. By You can see the video here: Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain doing so, actually the Turkish state is sending a http://www.lejourduseigneur.com/index.php/jd and strengthen their distinct political, legal, symbolic message to the Syriacs saying that s/Emissions/Abouna-Khalil-le-dernier-samari- economic, social and cultural institutions, this is not their place. Tur Abdin region was tain while retaining their right to participate fully, if named by the Syriacs as the “Mount of the they so choose, in the political, economic, Servants of God” and became a centre of the And a second session was related to political social and cultural life of the State. Christianity by the Syriac Christians. At times arena and the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians Article 6 the number of the Christian monks residing in political organizations in the Middle-East and Every indigenous individual has the right to a this region had reached tens of thousands. Europe. nationality. However, in spite of its 17 centuries old history, Aziz Al-Zebari from the Chaldean-Syriac- You can read the complete U.N. declara- the newly founded Turkish State authorities Assyrian Council of Iraq explained the current tion here: claim that the lands of the monastery belong to situation of the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians in http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/drip.h the state. Accordingly they try to occupy them Iraq, their tragedy and therefore the need for tml on a false claim. autonomy. In his speech, on behalf of European Syriac Furthermore Suleyman Gultekin explained The Syriacs traditionally believe that this the different events and meetings monastery was founded by the God’s messen- organized/hold by European Syriac Union ger angel Gabriel. According to this Syriac leg- about the request for autonomy in Iraq during end, the angel Gabriel promised that this the last 2 years. monastery will remain standing on its foot until Please see the link below for a detailed the doomsday. conference program.. http://www.esu.cc/Events/Programme%20Co Iskender Alptekin nference-Debat.pdf The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 16 page 2

Attacks continue against Mor Gabriel Monastery

Last year the cadastral survey was started at the Mor Gabriel Monastery method of Turkish gov- and villages of the vicinity. During these works three of the muslims vil- ernment to seizure and lages menaced Mor Gabriel Monastery inhabitants to seizure the prop- oppress 1600 years old erties of the Monastery. With the objective to seizure all the properties, Mor Gabriel Monastery, the representatives of these villages with the religious and national dec- mainly is a policy of larations and statements intimidation to prevent that they do they tried to returning back of Syriac show the Monastery as to their ancestral home- the occupant and as the land. Also there is a missionary habitation. As second reason which a final of these accusa- afraid Turkey from the tions from the first degree registration of the Turkish Republic Ministry Monastery lands. South east of Anatolia is full with the destroyed and of Forest and already occupied Syriac churches and . Such a trial that will Environment and Ministry be gain with the Monastery part, this will be first example to the rest of of Education started an the Syriacs to protecting their cultural richness. investigation against cen- tenary Monastery of Mor Mor Gabriel Monastery is one the most important and milestone for the Gabriel. Syriac and also for the Christianity. During the decades the Monastery was the vital place for the preserving religious heritage and continuation At the result of these investigation Ministry of the Forest and of the Syriac liturgy. Apart this the Monastery has important role for the Environment had sued Mor Gabriel Monastery with the hypothesis that education of the Syriac children of the region. Only Monastery has capa- Monastery occupied the woodland. Answer to this act Monastery also bility to offer this service to the Syriac children which in their own vil- sued Ministry of Forest and Cadastral Directorate to protect their land lages there is no choice of schools and education facilities. that they are using before arrival of the Turks to the Anatolia. From one side which tries to adhere to European Union from other side The first trial started at the November 2008. The trial was postponed. which makes efforts to be a model country at the , Turkey’s The next one was at the December also this one was postponed. The policies against Syriac religious institutions are contrasting strategies. trials continue at the January, February and Mars and like precedents these also was postponed. New trials will continue at the 22 April and If really Turkey 06 Mai 2009. wants to be a democratic coun- To monitor these trials and giving support to the Mor Gabriel Monastery try in the future, hundreds of Syriac and European representatives were present at the then must shows precedent trials. At the Europe Syriac people for many times with the more respect to head of the Bishops they organized huge street demonstrations in the historical, Sweden, Deutschland, , Austria and Belgium. 25 January religious and 2009 at the demonstration of Berlin more than 20 thousands of Syriac social rights of people were present. This number was quarter of the Syriacs of the Syriac and . This activity was supported firstly with the Syriac Orthodox other non muslim Church, European Syriac Union and different Syriac party and institu- minorities which tions. lives for the thou- sand of years in At the time when Syriacs planning to return back from Diaspora, the Turkey.

ESU Diplomacy Meetings

European Syriac Union, Iraq Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Popular Committee. These meetings were realized with the European Parliament Iraqi Committee Chairman Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne Congress, Iraq Bethnahrin Patriotic Union (HBA) and French Assyrian- and Nicholay Mladenov and from the same committee Tunne Kelam. Chaldean-Syriac Institute representatives made a serial of meetings bet- ween 26-27 January 2009 at the European Union institutions. The main At the 28 January 2009 ESU and Iraq Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Popular objective of these meetings was to seek support for autonomy safe regi- Congress representatives made a meeting with Nederland representati- on at the north Iraq for the Iraqi Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Christians. ves. Nederland government Middle East and Africa representatives and Turkey representatives were present at this meeting. With this meeting From ESU Fikri Aygur (ESU Vice Chairman), Suleyman Gultekin (ESU also the aim was to seek support for the autonomy project and finding Belgium Representative), Ilyas Demir (Nederland Representative), solution for the Mor Gabriel Monastery problem which situated at the Simon Oguz (Sweden Representative), on behalf of Iraq Chaldean- southeastern of Turkey otherly in the Turabdin. Syriac-Assyrian Popular Congress Aziz El Zebari ( External Relations) and for the same institution Gabriel Malko ( European Responsible) for On February also ESU and Iraq the HBA Cak Sen and French Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Institute Agnes Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Ide were present during these meetings. Popular Congress representati- ves met Sweden Parliament The first meeting was realized with the Sophie Kisling secretary of the External Relation Commission. European Council President Javier Solana and Karin Gatt-Rutter chief of the European Commission Iraq Desk. At this meeting the discussion was One of the main objectives of about situations that faced Iraqi Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Christians. ESU is to seek support for the Also the help was requested for the security and aide for the realization autonomy safe region in Iraq for of the autonomy project. the Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Other meetings were done partly with the European Parliament Iraqi people. The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 16 page 3

New Patriarch for the

Mar Ignace Youssef III Younan had been consecrated new patriarch for his colleague missionary priests in the United States and Canada. And the Syriac Catholic Church and religious ceremony took place in Our in 1991, he was officially appointed "Apostolic Delegate" by the same Lady of the Annunciation Cathedral in Beirut. Congregation to represent the Congregation and the Syriac Rite to the Catholic hierarchy of North America. The new Patriarch Mar Ignace Youssef III Younan was elected at the beginning of the year as new patriarch because of the resignation the In June of 1991, Father Younan was elevated to the rank of "Corbishop" precedent patriarch. The ceremony unfolded in the presence by the Patriarch, Mar Ignatius Antoun II Hayek. The ceremony took place at Our Lady of Deliverance Mission in Newark, New Jersey. H.E. Youssef III Younan born to Farjo & Khatoun (Khabot) Younan on November 15, 1944 at Hassakeh, and baptized on December 8th Since this time, Corbishop Younan traveled from the East Coast to the at Assumption Parish. He is the middle child of nine children, having four West Coast (California) on a monthly basis to help establish another brothers and four sisters. mission. Soon after his initial visits, the mission of The Sacred Heart was established in North Hollywood Bishop Youssef Younan attended Assumption Parochial School and in 1991. Three years after, he after graduation went on to study at Our Lady of Deliverance Seminary reached out again to establish a in Charfet, . He continued to pursue his priestly formation and further mission Church in San career at "Propaganda Fide" and earned a double Licentiate (Masters) Diego called Our Mother of in philosophy and theology from Urbaniana University in Rome. Perpetual Help.

Bishop Youssef was ordained to the priesthood on September 12, 1971. On November 6, 1995, Pope After ordination he was appointed as teacher in the Seminary in Charfet John Paul II appointed him first where he was director of the major Seminary for two years. He returned Bishop (Eparch) of the newly to his home Diocese of Hassakeh where he functioned as Diocesan established Diocese (Eparchy) Director of Cathechesis. He remained in this position as director for Our Lady of Deliverance Syriac seven years. He was then appointed pastor of the Church of the Catholic Diocese for Syriac Annunciation in Beirut in 1980, where he remained until 1986. Catholics in the United States and Canada. He was consecrated Bishop on January 7, 1996 at Saint In March of 1986 he was assigned to the United States where he was Peter and Paul's Church in Kamishly, Syria by His Beatitude, the to establish a mission in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan area to Patriarch Hayek.. gather Syriac Rite Catholics. Soon after his arrival, with the guidance and assistance of The Most Reverend Archbishop Theodore E. He fluently speaks Arabic, French, , Italian, German and McCarrick (Archbishop of Newark) he established the first mission of English. Our Lady of Deliverance. In 1988, he was further appointed by the Sacred Congregation for Eastern Rite Churches as coordinator among News: various sources. Cadastral Survey in Turabdin

Since cadastral survey had started in Turabdin region Syriacs face great Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and with the deputies. The Arkah problems and for many times there is no answer for the questions. association made a meting with an european parliamentary from CDU to Syriacs are at the phase to demand their own and fundamental rights. make hearing Arkah problem. At the same time the association sent a letter to the Interior Ministry of Turkey to find a solution. At the time when all the lights are at the ongoing unfair Mor Gabriel Monastery case, othe villages of the Syriacs also have the same inci- On the other hand, Bethkustan also faces the same problems with the dents. The villages of Arkah (Uçkoy) and Bethkustan (Alagoz) have the cadastral survey. The trial of Bethkustan postponed to another date same cadastral disaccord with because of the incomplete documents from the experts. the local officials in the region. From a period there is important movement between Syriac in the dia- For this reason, the people of spora concerning to return back to the Turabdin. From this time until Arkah made different activities today, Syriacs in Turabdin face different problems with various tactics. and lobby to create public opini- Turkey has to accept Syriacs as native people of the region, giving all on around this issue. historical, social and cultural rights to Syriacs will strengthen Turkish Accordingly, the Arkah villagers democracy and this will be great step toward acceptance of multicultu- who reside in Europe made seri- ralism. al of meetings including ESU Sweden Book Fair

On 8th March 2009, the European Syriac Union ESU and the Mor Fetrus fair. This year’s authors award was given to Mr. Besim Aydin. Around 500 church of Hallonberg in Stockholm jointly organized the 3rd Bethnahrin people attended the book-fair. book fair. Many authors from among our people and foreign authors participated in One of the objectives of ESU this fair. Professor Swante Ljungred the author of a new book about the Sweden is to find specialists of the Genocide held a speech about the Syriac literature and history and history and the Sayfo Genocide of the make meetings with the communi- Assyrian Syriac people. ty.

Evin Cetin, who is a candidate to the EU Beside this ESU Sweden is one of parliament also held a speech about the the respected organization within Sayfo Genocide and the 8th March the syriac community and at the Women’s day. Swedish political arena. Up to 27 authors participated in the book- The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 16 page 4 The Voice of the Women Conference Syriacs

On the occasion of the 8th of March, the interna- March now also is World Prayer Day. Mrs Severin- IMPRINT tional day of the women, the Bethnahrin Frauen Kaiser explained, based on many examples from Union Germany has organised an international the Bible, that the woman is an integral part of Information bulletin about the Women's conference. Christianity and that man and woman are both the social position of the Syriacs in image of God. and outside the Middle East. The goal of the international women's conference Mrs Rima Tüzün talked about the situation and the It appears periodically, published was to establish a step towards an intercultural position of the Suryoye women in society and men- by the European Syriac Union exchange and to promote the linguistic and social tioned in view of this the causes of the bad devel- (ESU) in Brussels-Belgium. integration of the women in Europe. Through the opment in the range of education and integration of contribution of the assembled advisers, Mrs. Antje Suryoye women. Blumenthal, MdB/CDU delegate; Mrs. Martina Contact: Severin-Kaiser, ecumenical reverend of the Aftter the advisers held their speeches in the first Phone: 0032 2 523 4181 Nordelbischen church and Mrs. Rima Tüzün, repre- block of the women conference, a podium discus- Fax: 0032 2 523 6201 sentative of the Bethnahrin Frauen Union, it was sion was introduced after a 30 minute break by the Internet: www.esu.cc possible to jointly analyse and discuss special leader of the conference, Mrs. Meryem Sass. The e-mail: [email protected] points of interest. possibility was offered to the more than 140 partici- pants to ask questions to the advisers. Address: The first adviser, Mrs Antje Blumenthal talked in her speech about the difficulty of a female politician to European Syriac Union be elected and recognised. She also showed that Rue Bara 152 women are paid lower wages than men and 1070 Brussels expounded on a proposal to combat the causes of Belgium wage differences between men and women.

Reverend and designated person for ecumenism of Chairman: Mr. Iskender Alptekin the Nordelbischen church, Mrs Martina Severin- e-mail: [email protected] Kaiser explained to the listeners that the 8th of Deputy. Chairm: Mr. Fikri Aygur e-mail: [email protected] Secretary: Mr. Evgil Turker e-mail: [email protected] Local Elections in Turkey Treasurer: Mr. Nail Akcay e-mail: [email protected] At the last week of the mars Turkish voters went to to gain some of the southern cities, Izmir and Members of the Union the polling booth to give new names for the next Antalya but this did not happen. period. The elections also in Turabdin change the atmos- Union der Suryoye Vereine in der As is well known Turkey passed difficult times and phere of the region. The Syriac attendance and Schweiz turmoil beause of the political arena. According ro interest was high as the last years. Switzerland some of the specialists the winner of the elections Bethnahrin Informations Netz is the govermentale party, AKP and to others is the At the Turabdin the important point was that three Switzerland main oppositon party CHP. villages had turn to the Syriac means Anhil, Ciwardo and Marbobo. Union der Assyrer-Suryoye Prime Vereinigungen in Deutschland Minister On the other hand for the first time Syriac were pre- Germany Recep sented to the local representatives. At the different Union der Freien Frauen Bethnahrin Tayyip cities three Syriac won their places for the new UFFB Erdogan duties. At the Subhi Uysal from the AKP, at Germany with the the Jacob Gabriel from DTP and from speech Bakirkoy, Istanbul Selim Algaz from CHP won their Syrianska-Assyriska Riksförbundet i that deliv- places at the munucipal council. Sverige ered to the Sweden journalists Lastly at the the Midyat, densely populated with the Renyo Hiro Magazine he highlighted the unsatisfaction of the election syriac, Sehmus Nasiroglu from Democratic Party Sweden results and he addad alson that was surprised. won the municipality for the third time. Erdogan declared that they will analyze very deeply Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Union the message of the voters and they will try to take The participation to the local elections was at the some lessons from these results. high degree also the interest of the Syriac to the election was important point to highlight. Stichting Bethnahrin Informatie Accordingly AKP gathered 38.78%, CHP 23.12, Bureau Netherlands MHP 16.04 % and DTP 5.68 %.

Centre Culturel du Peuple de On the other hand the AKP for the first time is loos- Mesopotamie ing the votes. According to some experts and elec- Belgium tion specialists the reason of this decline could be the economic crisis results, going far rom the Institut Mesopotamie de Bruxelles European Union promises and lastly the internal Belgium politic atmosphere. Assyrer-Suryoye Kultur Verein Austria AKP won 10 of the big metropols and other parties also gain few cities. The main objective of AKP was