TURKEY: Syriac Orthodox Mor Youhanon Church in Tur Abdin village of Qelleth used for yoga event

QELLETH, Turkey — The churches and monasteries of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people in the historic Tur Abdin region, in what is now southeastern Turkey, have become unlikely venues for cultural activities by Turkish citizens, raising concerns and outrage among the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community.

Recently circulated photos on social media show a group of tourists practicing yoga on the holy altar of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Youhanon in the Syriac village of Qelleth. The images sparked outrage among the local community. No information has been provided about the identities of those involved or how they gained access to the church. The Instagram account that shared the images, run by yoga instructor Seda Deliormanli, has since been made private.

The incident has been described as a blatant violation and desecration of the religious and cultural heritage of the Syriac people.

This is not an isolated event. In July, Suroyo TV reported a similar incident at the historic Mor Yakub Nusaybini Monastery, where a group of Turkish individuals filmed scenes involving singing and dancing.

Suroyo TV called on the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community to remain vigilant and actively protect their ancestral culture, religion, and history, which continue to face encroachments in their homeland.