Syriac Turkish MP Tuma Çelik: We Syriacs love and defend this country no less than you do!

ANKARA — Transcription of full Statement by Syriac Member of Turkish Parliament for Mardin Province Tuma Çelik, as addressed to the Grand National Assembly of Turkey on the 18th of June 2020.

********** STATEMENT **********

Distinguished Chairman, Dear Fellow Members of Parliament.

For a long time, consecutive administrations of this country have neither wanted to remember nor did they want to acknowledge historical events — on the contrary, they deny the events. But denial does not change the historical truth. This country has, many times over, experienced many such cases of denial.

We must not forget and understand that with denial of history come new genocides, more repression and new coups. This approach has not brought our country any step forward. Past events we had to go through clearly prove this.

A very good example is that of a monk who lives 24 hours a day in a monastery in the mountains. He gets arrested in the early morning and put in prison. But it should be known to everyone that this monk, according to his calling, will provide help to anyone and go everywhere where aid is needed.

Fires occur annually where the Syriac population density is high. So far, no prevention measures have been taken by the authorities and calls for measures are ignored. The fires are left to burn, with all their consequences, until they go out themselves.

Syriac property, in ownership for thousands of years, is seized and transferred to the Diyanet Directory of Religious Affairs. And this despite the fact Diyanet has no relation whatsoever in matters of Syriacs. When protested publicly, some of the property is returned but some of the property is stolen and not returned.

And this happens every few years or so.

Despite the rights Syriacs have according to the Lausanne Treaty, we are not allowed to live our identity, teach our language, or develop our culture.

In conclusion: we are not allowed to live our life as Syriacs. We are not allowed to exercise our rights. And when we protest, we are flouted and treated as if we are traitors. I want to state here very clearly for the record: we Syriacs love and defend this country no less than you do!

The process of denial and subordination started in 1915 with the genocide on the Syriacs. The genocide is called Sayfo by Syriacs. It continues to this day.

In the year 1915, at least 300,000 of 700,000 Syriacs were killed in this country. And up to 200,000 were forced to change their identity, convert, or were deported. Text continues below Tweet

"1915 yılında bu topraklarda 700 bine yakın Süryaninin 500 bini yok oldu, yok edildi. Süryanilerin “Sayfo” diye adlandırdıkları bu dönem 1915’de başladı ve hâlâ devam ediyor. 1915’te hayatını kaybedenleri saygıyla anıyoruz." @tumacelikhdp pic.twitter.com/8OecODaiXO

— HDP TBMM (@HDP_TBMM) June 19, 2020

In 1924, more than 80,000 Eastern Syriacs, or Nestorians, were expelled from the land into an uncertain life in the diaspora. What happened during and after their expulsion is known very well to all of us.

In 1928, the last two Syriac schools in Diyarbakir and Mardin were closed. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate which resided for more than 600 years in the Dayr al-Zafaran was expelled from the country.

Unjust policies of repression were continued through the 1942 property and asset tax laws, the Events of 6-7 September 1955, and events during the Cyprus affair.

In all the above cases, Syriacs were made targets. Life for Syriacs was made very difficult in this country, and made many migrate from this country because of these unjust policies.

Syriac children were required to attend Islamic lessons, a product of the 1980 junta led by Kenan Evren. It forced all children to attend Islamic classes in school. Because of this, thousands of Syriacs saw themselves forced to leave the country.

In the 1990s, more than 50 Syriacs were killed. All these killings got the curious label “unknown killer”. Targeted by dark forces, Syriacs again saw themselves forced to leave the country.

And despite all that, Syriacs started coming back to the country from the diaspora where they had established their lives after a single message from the authorities. However, again they were not left alone. For all the issues Syriacs had to go through in recent years, no one asked or cared about them.

Because all previous and current rulers and administrators that governed this country do not recognize past events and do not see or accept the responsibility that comes with their office. That is why our criticisms and complaints of systematic policies of denial are addressed to all rulers and all administrations. Our demands are directed to all in this country.

Mister Chairman, if I’m allowed to finish my speech …

We believe that the first step for all the above issues to be settled and reconciled is to face the past. And to prevent past events from repeating, past events must be brought to the open. The perpetrators of past crimes need to be identified, brought before the court and, if found guilty, punished.

Dear friends, it is impossible to live our lives in security and have a safe and joint future if we ignore repression. In order for us to establish safe livelihood, past events and offenses must be condemned.

This matter is most important for a future society of coexistence, hope, and peace in our country. That is why we call everybody to an inclusive society, to living together, to equal citizenship, and to freedom of individual identity, without limitation.

In closing, I respectfully bow my head in memory of the Sayfo martyrs of 1915.