TURKEY: Event in Tur Abdin honors Sayfo Genocide victims, calls for official recognition

MEDYAD, Turkey — On the 110th anniversary of the Sayfo Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire and its Kurdish tribal allies against the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (Halkların Eşitlik ve Demokrasi Partisi, DEM Party) and the Democratic Regions Party (Demokratik Bölgeler Partisi, DBP) organized a commemorative meeting with members of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community in the historic region of Tur Abdin.

The event, held at the Federation of Syriac Associations in Turkey (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF) headquarters in Medyad (Midyat), featured participation from prominent figures, including SÜDEF President Evgil Türker, Merde (Mardin) MP George Aslan (DEM Party), Co-Spokesperson of the Peoples and Beliefs Committee Yüksel Mutlu, DBP Co-Chair Keskin Bayındır, and residents of Medyad and surrounding Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) villages, along with MPs and mayors. 

The meeting highlighted calls for broader support for the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community, drawing on Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan’s vision for peace and a democratic society.

Speaking in Syriac, Evgil Türker stressed the importance of Turkey confronting and officially recognizing the Sayfo Genocide. He emphasized that Ocalan’s call for unity holds significance for all communities of Beth Nahrain (Mesopotamia), not just the Kurdish people. 

Keskin Bayındır underscored the historical and cultural contributions of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community, describing them as one of the world’s oldest surviving nations. He advocated for solidarity with Ocalan’s ideas as a framework to address not only Kurdish issues but also the challenges facing Syriac (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans), Armenians, and other Middle Eastern peoples, offering a path toward overcoming historical injustices and fostering coexistence.