SÜDEF President Evgil Türker urges Turkish government to give Syriacs their full right and introduce official education in the Syriac language

ANKARA, Tur Abdin (Turkey) — Evgil Türker, President of the Syriac Associations Federation (SÜDEF) in Turkey, has urged the Turkish government to support Syriac language education, drawing comparisons to initiatives in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), Iran, and North and East Syria. Türker emphasized that such efforts are vital to prevent the extinction of Syriac, a language deeply rooted in the region’s history. 

Türker highlighted Kurdish leader Abdullah Öcalan’s call for peace, which includes freedom for all peoples and languages, describing it as a beacon of hope for Syriacs striving to preserve their linguistic heritage. He noted that fear of repression and memories of past genocides have led many Syriacs in cities like Urhoy (Urfa) and Omid (Diyarbakir) to abandon their mother tongue in favor of Arabic or Kurdish. However, Syriac remains spoken in areas like Tur Abdin (Turkey), North and East Syria, and Mosul. In contrast, Syriacs in Daramsuq (Damascus), Holeb (Aleppo), and Hmoth (Homs) predominantly speak Arabic despite their significant presence. 

Türker pointed out that Syriac is taught in schools in North and East Syria and the KRI where Syriac students attend dedicated schools. In Iran, Syriacs (Assyrians-Arameans-Chaldeans) receive two to four hours of Syriac language education weekly in government schools. Yet, in Turkey, Syriac language education is absent from state schools, leaving the community without institutional support.

Süryani Dernekleri Federasyonu Başkanı Evgil Türker, dilin korunması için devlet desteği ve anayasal güvence çağrısı yaptı

‘Kürtçe’nin okullarda eğitim dili olarak okutulması, bizim açımızdan da önemli olur’

Haber: Şirin Bayık @srnbyk @EvgilTrker https://t.co/gRc56t9dwi pic.twitter.com/tQjKWJkHPk

— İlke TV (@ilketvcomtr) April 17, 2025

Türker expressed solidarity with Kurdish demands for mother tongue education, suggesting that such progress could pave the way for Syriacs to achieve similar rights. He underscored the shared struggle between Kurds and Syriacs in advocating for linguistic and cultural preservation. Reflecting further on the situation Turkey, the current peace process, and Öcalan’s call for a democratic society, Türker described the initiative as an opportunity for diverse identities and languages to thrive. He noted the positive reception of Öcalan’s message by various Syriac organizations, viewing it as a step toward greater inclusivity.

According to UNESCO’s Atlas of Endangered Languages, Syriac is among 18 languages in Turkey, that are either extinct or at risk of extinction. Türker’s appeal serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect this ancient language and the cultural identity it represents.

The Syriac Associations Federation, officially known as Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu (SÜDEF), was established in 2012 to unify and represent the Syriac (Suryoye) people in Turkey. It brought together various Syriac cultural, social, and political organizations under one umbrella to advocate for the political and social rights and preserve the heritage of this ancient Mesopotamian people.