Turkey: Martyr Matay Rabo Iskender Alptekin commemorated in Tur Abdin

KAFRO, Turkey — The 14th anniversary of the martyrdom of Matay Rabo Iskender Alptekin, a founding member and former President of the European Syriac Union (ESU), was commemorated at the cemetery in his hometown of Kafro, Turkey, in the historic Tur Abdin region.

The event saw participation from various institutions of the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) in Tur Abdin, as well as Women’s Unions and Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) communities from Medyad (Midyat), Iwardo, Kafro, Arkah, Arbo, and Midin.

Mayor Türkan Kayır of Beth Zabdai (Azekh / İdil) also attended the commemoration. The event began with a minute of silence to honor the martyrs of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people at the Kafro cemetery.

Kafro Mayor Israel Demir delivered a speech on the significance of martyrdom and the sacrifices made by the martyrs. Evgil Türker, representing the Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF) and MUB, spoke about Matay Rabo’s character, his works, sacrifices, and his role in the national struggle of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people.