Syriac artist Juliana Jendo released after arrested for 5 days in Sweden; Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Ataş visited her

SÖDERTÄLJE, Sweden — As part of her tour to Sweden, the famous Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) artist Juliana Jendo has been under arrest by the Swedish police for 5 days.

Jendo was scheduled to participate in 2 concerts in 2 Swedish cities, then leave Sweden on Tuesday.

However, after the Linköping concert on Friday, and before heading to Södertälje concert on Saturday, she was arrested by the border police.

According to Jendo’s lawyers Ninib Haffo and Karen Tornel, the police arrested Jendo because of their suspicion of her leaving Sweden. Therefore, she was arrested to be deported to the US, where she resides.

Earlier, media outlets reported that Jendo is accused of tax evasion, but her lawyers refuted the news.

In comments to our newsdesk, the lawyers stated that Jendo was not aware of the necessity of having work permit in Sweden, because this is the responsibility of the concert organizers.

The lawyers declared that they filed a complaint against the Swedish police, denouncing the inappropriate method of arrest. Finally, the court’s decision stipulated Jendo release.

After her release, Patriarchal Vicar of the Syriac Orthodox Church in Sweden Archbishop Mor Dioscorus Benjamin Ataş visited Jendo, and he expressed the church’s solidarity with her.

Ataş commended Jendo great contribution to enriching the art of the Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean- Assyrian) people. He also conveyed Jendo thanks to everyone who supported her.