TURKEY: Syriac organizations express serious concern about land transfers near Syriac areas to TOKI, “Steps must be taken to alleviate the worrisome situation of our people in Tur Abdin.”
BRUSSELS – Four Syriac organizations in Europe issued a joint press statement on the transfer of lands near the Syriac villages in Tur Abdin to the Turkish national housing agency or TOKİ (Toplu Konut İdaresi Başkanlığı) and the sale of these lands at exorbitant prices. The organizations express great concern over the new situation that has arisen and state they expect the local Turkish authorities, relevant institutions and the government to take all necessary actions on the worrisome issue and take steps to alleviate the situation for the Syriac people, which already has a hard time surviving in Turkey.
The European Syriac Union, Dachverband der Entwicklungsvereine Tur-Abdin, Kano Suryoyo and the Turabdin Föreningarnas Förbund in Sweden issued the following statement:
——— Joint Statement from the Syriac Organizations in Europe ———
We as Syriac organizations and signatories to this statement, find it necessary to share with the public an issue that is close to our heart, and which we consider very important to our people. In recent years, Syriacs who have emigrated to different parts of the world have started visiting and returning to their homeland Tur Abdin. They did so despite the many obstacles, difficulties and security issues. They reconstructed their villages, repaired churches and monasteries and build new houses. After two years of pandemic, Syriacs from the diaspora have visited Tur Abdin and given color to the region. However, there are new negative practices that worry us and there are violations and attacks targeting our Syriac population that are alarming.
In addition to the existing chronic issues with property ownership, ongoing legal processes, incorrect and incomplete land boundaries revealed during land registries and cadastral surveys in most of the Syriac villages in Tur Abdin, a new development that Syriacs have been following with great concern in recent months is the transfer of lands belonging to the Ministry of Finance near Syriac settlements to TOKI. Although similar practices have been carried out in several other provinces of Turkey, this transfer of land adjacent to or near Syriac villages to TOKİ besides possible new zoning schemes, is a process that Syriacs are following with closely and with great concern. According to information that has reached us from various sources, TOKİ is also selling the lands to Syriac citizens at exorbitant prices and in an opaque manner. This development, which is occurring precisely at a time when Syriacs are claiming and registering their land in large numbers, is worrisome. What are the principles of price practices maintained by TOKİ? Does TOKİ have a plan in this regard? If there is a plan, will it be communicated transparently with the public?
As Turkey gears up for social, economic and political change on the eve of the general elections, the Syriacs, one of the most vulnerable and minority peoples trying to survive in the country, are closely following this process and wish for the changes to take place in a fair and equal manner for all segments of society. Democratization, human and minority rights, freedoms, human and property rights are fundamental rights. Long in the midst of a conflict zone, Syriacs were forced to leave their region, their villages were evacuated, and they became victims of unsolved murders.
For the Syriac people to build their future in peace and security, especially in their home region of Tur Abdin, they must first and foremost be allowed to live in an environment where the constitution and laws actually function, and that their rights are guaranteed. It is in the interest of both Syriacs and the country of Turkey, and especially of tourism in the region, to protect and strengthen the unique Syriac presence, their cultural heritage in the TOKİ areas in particular and in the region in general. We therefore expect the local authorities, all relevant institutions and the Turkish government to take all necessary measures and steps to alleviate the situation for our people.
Dachverband der Entwicklungsvereine Tur-Andin (DETA)
European Syriac Union (ESU)
Kano Suryoyo
Turabdin Föreningarnas Förbund i Sverige (TFFS)
25/01/2023