MIDYAT: SÜDEF President Evgil Türker on 10th anniversary, full of conviction about achieving cultural, linguistic and constitutional rights for Suryoye in Turkey

MIDYAT, Turkey — The wronged Suryoye (Syriacs) in Turkey have long had to do without an independent secular organization defending their cultural, linguistic, and constitutional rights. Decades of denial and subordination of the Suryoye to the Turkish state and Kurdish tribal hierarchies failed to put an end to the patriotic will and resilience of this ancient Mesopotamian people.

The Federation of Syriac associations in Turkey or SÜDEF (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu) is celebrating its tenth year of founding. In its ten-year existence, SÜDEF has been able to achieve a lot and put Suryoye back on the Turkish cultural and political map.

SÜDEF President Evgil Türker stated to Suroyo TV on the occasion that “in the past, our Suryoyo people in Turkey did not have the needed Federation that could unify the local and individual social and political organizations. That is why we established the Federation of Syriac associations in Turkey 10 years ago this day. Under the umbrella of SÜDEF, we were able to unite them and work together. We had our ups and downs and maybe shortcomings, but we were able in the last ten years to implement many projects and activities in Tur Abdin and Turkey.”

“We thank all our member organizations for ten years of commitment and cooperation in addressing and solving the problems of our people here in Turkey, and bringing the position of our people to the fore on national and international platforms.”

Türker stated that the Syriac associations in Turkey have had good success, despite obstruction efforts by established parties. SÜDEF was therefore not always able to provide an appropriate response or action. Sometimes his Federation had to take a step back so as not to draw attention to itself and not become a target, he noted. Türker confidently concluded that the Syriac associations in Turkey will continue their founding work and struggle politically, economically and socially to meet the needs of the Suryoye in Turkey and neighboring countries.

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— Süryani Hakları Platformu (@suryanihaklari) December 23, 2021