Volume I - Issue 5 The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 5 page 4

ESU is scrutinized. ple. The campaign will continue in the coming May 2006 The Voice of the months in other countries of too. Syriacs The ESU, with this campaign, aims to enlighten the Syriacs in these two areas and to inform them about the institution of ESU. This campaign is supervised IMPRINT by the members of the Executive Board Mr. Fikri Aygur (the Vice Chairman) and Mr. Evgil Turker. Information bulletin about the Each of the two subjects is covered in a session of social position of the Syriacs in five hours; and at the end of these sessions in order and outside the . to further enlighten the attendees their questions are It appears periodically, published answered. by the Chairman’s message (ESU) in Brussels-Belgium. The first sessions of the campaign were held in ESU MEETS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TURKISH Brussels. Nearly, 80 people attended the courses given in Brussels. Thereafter, the educational pro- Today 91 years passed after PARLIAMENT Contact: grams were held in Wiesbaden, Giessen, the genocide (Seyfo), which th In order to solve these disputes the local Phone: 0032 2 523 4181 Tauberbisschofsheim, Göppingen, Bietigheim, has been made in 1915 against On 9 May 2006, the Syriac delegation, com- Feudal Aghas acting as intermediaries and Fax: 0032 2 523 6201 Heilbron and Augsburg towns of Germany. Also, the Syriacs by the Ottoman prising the ESU, Suroyo TV representatives that they take big sums of money in bribes Internet: www.esu.cc each of these sessions was attended by 45-60 peo- Empire and the Kurdish forces. and the Swedish MP Yilmaz Kerimo met the e-mail: [email protected] Through murders around Chairman of the Turkish Parliament Mr. from the Syriacs 500.000 Syriacs have died, Bulent Arinc, who was accompanied by a That the effect of the cartoon incidents that FIRST APRIL FESTIVAL IN ISTANBUL including the victims caused by Turkish delegation on an official visit to were originated in Denmark were felt in Address: hunger and diseases. Sweden, in Stockholm. , that an association called the The First April Spring festival, which is also known This year it was for the first time that the festivity of “Selahaddin Eyyubi Thoughts Association” European Syriac Union as “Akitu” is a festival that the Syriacs bequeathed the First April was being organized by the ESU and During the last 15 years the Syriacs became In the Syriac delegation, Fikri Aygur (Vice organized a march against the Syriacs in Rue Bara 152 to the world; today it is celebrated under different MEZODER and was being viewed around the world active in the struggle for the political and social Chairman of the European Syriac Union Midyat, thus spreading fear among them 1070 Brussels names and customas. This festival that symbolizes when it was broadcasted life from the Suroyo Tv. issues of their people. Also the genocide issue (ESU), Jacob Mirza (Member of the The Priest of the Diyarbakir town Parish of Belgium the re-birth of the nature, transformation and the As this event was being celebrated for the first time appears on the international agenda of the Governing Board of the European Syriac Mother Mary being threatened to be killed. new life is celebrated by the Syriacs, who are its Syriacs. Through the last 10 years protests and Union), Yilmaz Kerimo (a Syriac MP in the native inventors, in various countries and places hunger strikes took place in different metropolis- Swedish Parliament), Yusuf Kangus (Suroyo The ESU representatives stated that these Chairman: Mr. Iskender Alptekin every year. The spring festival that we inherited es of Europe, thus the Syriac people recognize TV News General Director), Ninorta problems are making the Syriacs who are e-mail: [email protected] from the Sumerian, Acadian, Assyrian and the meaning of Seyfo and at the same time they (Member of the Executive Board of Suroyo planing to return to anxious and that Deputy. Chairm: Mr. Fikri Aygur Babylonian civilization has been celebrated by the could draw the attention of the West on them- TV) and Nail Yoken were present. they make the Syriacs who live in the region e-mail: [email protected] Syriacs sometimes discreetly and sometimes with selves. Today the Syriac people carry out the afraid. Accordingly, the most appropriate solu- Secretary: Mrs. Rima Tüzün small commemorations, for thousands of years. duty for the Seyfo and accept it as part of their During the meeting, the Chairman of the tion would be to establish an enhanced state e-mail: [email protected] identity. Turkish Parliament Mr. Bulent Arinc was control, replacing the system of the Feudal Treasurer: Mr. Tuma Çelik The changes that took place around the world and informed about the institutions of the Aghas in the district of -Midyat and e-mail: [email protected] especially in the Middle East have contributed to The Syriacs reached a professional approach European Syriac Union (ESU), Suroyo TV their surrounding region. Also, that should the some major developments. One of the countries for their issue, as well as the Seyfo case. This and their activities. It was emphasized that bribes given to the Aghas for solving the prob- Members of the Union that have seen some of these changes is Turkey. year with the guidance of ESU in Switzerland, in the ESU is a Union that was founded two lems are used as economic investments, they Therefore, the Syriacs have had an opportunity to Sweden and in Germany 3 conferences have years ago, following the initiative of many could serve greatly to the prosperity of the celebrate their national festival Akitu for the last two been held about the Seyfo, where academics Syriac institutions and that it currently has region. Union der Suryoye Vereine in der years in Turkey. The spring festival that was cele- and scientists of our people and the Europeans regular meetings with the European Union. It Schweiz brated for the first time in Turabdin, this year was participated, i.e. Martin Tamcke, Gabriela was stated that one of the main issues of Also in the meeting, the Syriac delegation Switzerland celebrated in the multicultural city Istanbul. Yonan, etc. Altogether about 1000 Syriacs have these meetings is the relations of the Turkish answered the questions of Mr. Bulent Arinc. participated to these conferences. This proofs Republic with the EU and that the ESU annu- When Mr. Arinc asked about the reasons for Bethnahrin Informations Netz The First April festival that had been celebrated by in Istanbul, it drew the attention of many private per- that the Syriac people notice their duty for the ally reports to the European Commission the emigration of the Syriacs, the Chairman of Switzerland the civil organizations, in the last two years has sons and institutions. Seyfo. about the Syriacs, also that it clearly supports ESU Mr. Fikri Aygur underlined the following been celebrated by the Patriarch of the Syriac the Turkish Republic in the process of joining three points: Union der Assyrer-Suryoye As the Syriacs do not have Constitutional Vereinigungen in Deutschland Orthodox Church, with conveyance of the celebrat- In the event that started in the afternoon hours with To strengthen this fact and reinforce the Seyfo’s the EU. Germany ing messages of his Holiness. By doing so, it was a life music program, the Association of Diyarbakir status, today a new Academic Institution has to It was stated that Suroyo Tv was founded two Security they cannot develop their culture and shown that not only the civil institutions should par- and many people attended to show their support be established by the Syriacs together with the years ago in Sweden, that it serves as a due to the fact that they are Christians they Union der Freien Frauen Bethnahrin and collaboration. Singers from Europe as well as Europeans, to serve that aim. bridge between the Syriacs and the countries are being discriminated against. UFFB other singers from Turkey participated and support- of the Middle East. That the aim of Suroyo TV The area being financially not prosperous Germany ed the festival. Another topic, that is of importance for the is to promote the Syriac culture and language, As a result of the PKK’s activities that started in 1984, a fear being spread in the region and Syriac people, is the 1st April, the National and accordingly, it broadcasts via the satellite Syrianska-Assyriska Riksförbundet i consequently nearly 50 Syriacs being killed, Sverige The event that was held in the Florya Council cultural New Year celebration. This has been throughout Europe and the Middle East, in are some of the reasons for the emigration Sweden Facility Halls was attended as a guest by the Vice celebrated in different places. For the first time, Syriac, , Turkish and English. It was fter receiving this information, Mr. Arinc stated President of the Association of the Human Rights last year, the festival’s celebrations have been also mentioned that it previously made a spe- Renyo Hiro Magazine that he was pleased to have acquired such Mr. Akin Birdal. The Secretary of the President of organized in TurAbdin by ESU and the Syriac cial interview with the Foreign Affairs Minister Sweden information and that he would undertake the the Republic of Turkey, the Interior Minister, and the institutions at place. This year ESU organized of the Turkish Republic Mr. Abdullah Gul. necessary exertion to eliminate the problems towns officially appointed and elected Mayors send this celebration with a Festival in Turkey, Further, it was stated that the Syriacs see Assyrian-Chaldean-Syriac Union their celebrating messages to the First April Spring faced by the Syriacs in Turkey. Netherlands Istanbul, which has been broadcasted life by themselves as part of the multicultural mosa- Festival. Suroyo TV. This had an important meaning for ic of Turkey, that they have never harmed Stichting Bethnahrin Informatie the Syriac people. With such Festivals the cul- their states, neither under the Ottomans rule Bureau The first message that was read in the event came ture of the Syriacs could be announced to other nor under the Turkish Republic. That they are Netherlands from the Patriarch of the . It peoples in Turkey and the rest of the world. pleased with the process of undergoing was then followed by other messages of the reforms in Turkey, thus, they have turned their Centre Culturel du Peuple de The Syriacs, who have a different history, lan- Archbishops of Turabdin and Mardin as well as by guage, culture and religion from the peoples faces again to Turkey and they are seeking Mesopotamie hundreds of messages that came from other Syriac Belgium they live with, must be accepted and recognized suitable conditions for their return. However, ticipate in such commemorations. In the messages institutions and people. Meanwhile, hundreds of by those peoples, as the indigenous people of there are some difficulties in doing so. The Institut Mesopotamie de Bruxelles of his Holiness the Patriarch, stated that all the thousands of Syriacs around the world rejoiced Turkey. stated difficulties were: Belgium Syriacs, namely the Eastern and the Western together by watching the event being life broadcast- Difficulties arising from the adverse posses- Syriacs are one populace; he celebrated their First ed. sion of the properties of the Syriacs by the Assyrer-Suryoye Kultur Verein April Spring Festival and called them to be unified local people, and that sometimes the Syriacs Austria Iskender Alptekin, together. ESU Chairman are subjected to violence and threats. The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 5 page 2 The Voice of the Syriacs Volume 1 - Issue 5 page 3

The Iraqui’s Christians issue in the European Parliament The Syriac Orthodox are intergrating examplary ... continued from Issue 4: Swedish flag, a building that looks like a Orthodox girls fix the fashion in the city. But On 29th January 2006 there have been six to assist and protect this vulnerable and urges the communities in to come toget- monastery, and surely, one stadium as refer- they also have adjusted to the Swedish and attacks on churches, two in Kerkuk and four in disenfranchised community by the her in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect; The Christians suffered a tremendous blow ence to the first class football club Assyriska. their strong desire for rest and privacy. Thus, in Bagdad. After this attack European Syriac Commission? expresses its full support for the efforts of the when the Mongols conquered the Middle East the streets they are quieter than they were Union informed the European Parliament en UN in promoting intercommunal dialogue wit- in the 13th century. The religious tolerance of But also, on the right side under, we have seen used to. the European Commision about the situation On 6th of april, this issue has bean discused at hin the framework of a national dialogue; wel- the new masters disappeared, when their an expression of the , for sword The church made also a concession to the of the Christians in Iraq. the European Parliament. The European comes the initiative by the League of Arab leader converted to Islam. According to Bas and indication of the genocide of 1915. new cultural pattern, the Sunday service and Parliament took the following decision: States to hold a second conference on national Ter Haar Romeny: ‘’ all hope evaporated for the youth service start late, so that the youth the Christians at that point.’’ Atto could establish that the integration in can feast the evening before. At 9th of Februari 2006 has Dr. Charles Sweden passes more flexible than in Tannock, member of the European Parliament, Regarding the Assyrian community When summarizing, the treatment of Germany. In Germany, in the sixties, the first What is left over in Sweden, of, for the Middle asked the European Commission following (Chaldeans, Syriacs and other Christian mino- Christians in the Middle East: ‘’It was no para- Syrian Orthodox Christians have arrived East so typical clan thinking? question: rities) MEPs strongly condemn all acts of vio- lence against them. They urge the Iraqi autho- dise but the previous Islamic masters painted a together with the Turkish guest workers. Atto: It is weakened, but still plays a role. For better picture in comparison to the crusaders , Because they too came from Turkey, the example; when a church council has to be cho- Following the answer given by the rities and the Multi-National Force (MNF-I) to who did not only kill muslims but also many Germans made no difference. In the long run, sen or the board of a union. Than the battle Commission on 10/2/05 is the Commission find the perpetrators of these serious crimes local Christians and Jews.’’ they notice that there are Turkish people went takes place between families. There is not so aware of further outbreaks of violence against and bring them to justice as soon as possible. to the church. “Do you read the Koran”? The much talk about it, the feeling lives that it is not the Christian Community in Iraq? In particular MEPs urge Iraq’s authorities to protect the Romeny is more pessimistic about modern church- goers asked the Syrian Orthodox appropriate anymore. that in January 2006 a number of attacks on Assyrians from discrimination, in accordance times:’’ Christians from the region in when they lost themselves in reading their Christian churches in Kerkuk and Bagdad, with their international obligations. the South East of Turkey, but also from the Bible, also they made enquiries about The coming years they hope to come to know Iraq, took place in which three people, inclu- West Bank and Iraq express their bitterness. Ramadan. more about the other groups that they like to ding a 14 year old child died, several people Parliament urges Iraq’s authorities to improve They refer to an extinction of their culture. One research. The Copts will be a suitable subject. were injured, and six churches were damaged. the security situation of the Assyrians and to can actually feel it in the atmosphere there, In the long run the term of Christian Turks They have a young migration tradition that only These Christian groups in Iraq (Chaldean- facilitate the return and resettlement of this is dying’’ he says. He refers to a town developed unfortunate because of 1915. They started since the sixties. Entire Egypt wanted Assyrian-Syriac) constitute the most ancient Assyrian refugees in a secure environment which was predominantly Christian two gener- prefer to call themselves as Syriacs with refer- to leave at that time, because of poverty, but people of Iraq and are very vulnerable to these where their customs and way of life are reconciliation with the participation of all Iraqi ations ago. He also refers to a group, still ence to the time before Christianity, Assyrians for the Christians there were extra reasons. constant and repeated acts of aggression, inc- respected. It calls for the involvement of the communities. They urge the Constitutional renowned by name but converted to Islam out or Aramaic. Up till now there are certain people luding threats of being killed, kidnapped and Christians in Iraq in the reconstruction and Committee of the Iraqi Council of of starvation at some point. who find it hard to understand that there are Their position is worsening. The government looted if they do not readily convert to Islam. administration of their land and villages in Representatives to preserve the cultural and Christian coming out of Turkey. In Enschede, fights firm against the Muslim extremists, but Many are therefore being forced to flee abroad Northern Iraq and elsewhere in the region in religious rights of all Iraqi communities in its order to preserve their cultural, religious and proposals for a constitutional amendment. All Syrian orthodox families suffered tremen- the Syrian Orthodox built a church with a huge does at the same time unpleasant concessions to seek sanctuary in 3rd countries including ethnic identity within one undivided country. dously during the genocide in 1915. cross, and on the door is written that it is a to the orthodox Islam, to take the wind out of EU member states. MEPs call on the Commission and the Council church. Yet, the taxi driver said to Atto: they are the extremists sails. MEPs strongly support calls by most Iraqi poli- to take all necessary measures to assist and It is still unclear whether the genocide was offi- dancing in the Mosque. What specific measures are being carried out tical and religious leaders for restraint and protect the Assyrians. cially just against the Armenians or also Romeny shows another picture, now made by against other Christians. In practice the latter What went better in Sweden? Atto, “Sweden a Copt: the Coptic Pope emphasizes on the were most certainly a target. According to makes better use of the self organizations. In bond between Copts and the old Egyptians of Romeny:’’ common people did not differentiate Germany you have got them too, but the the Faro’s. SEYFO CONFERENCE between Armenians and other Christians. ’’In authorities do not stimulate them. In Sweden The picture illustrates it. Subject is the Holy fact many people were killed by the common- they do. They use them actively to communi- Family, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus, on a On 29th April the European Syriac Union islamism. In order to realize their ambitions the The Social Democrat MP Mr. Christer ers, who attacked the Armenians and other cate with the Syrian Orthodox. donkey during their flight to Egypt. The Copts (ESU) together with the Syriac-Assyrian Christians were an obstacle for the Ottomans, Erlandsson made clear his party s stand the Christians during the famous deportation tell, based on one bible verse, a complete Federation in Sweden, Bethnahrin Cultural and had to be vanished. genocide issue. “We as the ruling party has marches. In the Netherlands one hears that self organi- story with a full traveling route. Centre in Södertälje and the Swedish ABF raised the genocide issue to the parliament That genocide belongs to the luggage with zations affirm the minorities in their isolation. (official organization for promoting the educa- The Christian Democrat activist Margareta before but we could not agree or acknowledge which the Syrian Orthodox arrived in Europe, Atto: The Syrian Orthodox are just proud of On the background the pyramids of Gizeh are tion) organized a conference about the 1915 Viklund in her speech made it very obvious as genocide because there are still some legal also the youth. Romeny shows a painting on their Swedish identity. The drawing shows it. visible. Also the trees have been portrayed Genocide. Among the speakers, historian Mr. that as a result of the affects of the conditions questions that are related to be solved”. Mr. the computer screen from a sixteen years old But the group identity is important too. Faraoic. Romeny: the message is clear: we Zeki Yalcin, politicians Margareta Viklund (a of the time, the victims suffered immense dam- Erlandsson continued with saying that the Syrian Orthodox. The painting was full of Which changes have occurred within the Christians are the real Egyptians. former MP for the Christian Democrats), the ages. Thereafter, she also underlined that as a Social Democrat Party will try its best in con- Swedish and Syrian Orthodox symbolic, and Syrian Orthodox in the past years? In Chairman of the Liberal Youth Association Mr. result of the massacres and the mass-murders tributing with economical means to make nec- with reference to the old Assyrians. Thus, we Södertälje they form 20% of the population. from the Dutch Newspaper TROUW, 2nd Frederik Malm (a parliamentary candidate) and the area was cleansed out of Christians. She essary scientific researches. could see the united with the The shopkeepers got an impulse. The Syrian September 2005 - By Eldert Mulder the Social Democrat MP Mr. Christer stated that “ it is impossible to predict the Erlandsson were present. extend of the physical and psychological By the end of the conference the audience affects that the Christians had to suffer under asked the speakers questions related to the ESU STARTED A TRAINING CAMPAIGN The conference started with an introductory the Ottoman Empire. What we do know is that acknowledgement of the genocide in the speech about the genocide by the ESU repre- the persecutions and the oppressions on the Swedish Parliament. Most of the questions The ESU Governing Committee has initiated a sidered. Therewith, the denominational divi- aftermath of 11th September and the reasons sentative Mrs. Bahiye . Then a minute Syriac people are still going on. Even today, were headed to the Social Democrat PM, campaign, following a decision that was made sions caused by their conflicts with the for the Syriacs to emigrate from their home- of silence was held for the memory of the vic- Turkey is not willing to protect the Christian because of that the party can push forward an in April, to give training to its members and Byzantium; the Islamic conquers of the region land, especially to Europe, that were fuelled by tims of the genocide, then Archbishop of minorities. acknowledgement of the genocide in the par- supporters. and the influences that the Syriacs left on the these changes are reflected on. Subsequently, Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia Mor liament. Arab culture are studied. In the summary, the the need of an international representation of Julius Abdlahad Gallo Shabo made a short The Chairman of the Liberal Youth Association The program that was needed since the found- genocides that have been carried out against the Syriacs, which led to the foundation of the speech. Mr. Frederik Malm (a parliamentary candidate) ing of the ESU has been designed to cover two the Syriacs and the reasons for their emigra- declared for the audience his party’s stand in main educational courses. The subject to be tion to the Diaspora are examined. Then the Historian at Orebro University Mr. the genocide issue. Mr. Malm underlined, that covered in the first course is the History of the Yalcin as an expert on the Genocide was the he and his party colleagues are agreed that Syriacs: Under this subject, the history of The second subject is the international political first speaker who informed the present politi- the genocide has accrued and no body can and Mesopotamia which are the homeland of conditions and the situation of the Middle East cians and the audience about the conditions disagree and deny that. And he also spoke the Syriacs is looked at. Then, the states and that necessitated the foundation of the ESU, during the World War I. by using different pic- about the party s work for making the genocide civilizations that were founded by the hence, the Great Middle East Project. The sit- tures and maps in an OHP (Overhead projec- acknowledge. ”The first time we got knowledge Acadians, Amorites, Assyrians, Aramaics and uation of the Syriacs in the Middle East during tor). In his speech Mr. Yalcin ephasizied the about the genocide was when we hade Babylonians, who are the ancestors of the the Cold War; in the aftermath of the downfall reasons behind the genocide. He stated: “ the speeches for members of your community. Syriacs, will be enlightened. Thereafter, the of the Soviet Union a lack of power in the Young Turks had two main motives for com- And after that we started to arrange different mass conversion of the Syriacs into the region that led to the extremist Islamic move- mitting the genocide. The first motive was the activities around this issue”. Christianity and the process of the re-formation ments to threaten the very being of the modern Pan-turkism and the second was Pan- of their nation under the new religion are con- world, the Great Middle East Project in the