TURKEY
The Mhalmoyto Region: Macsarto (Ömerli), Beth Awe (Kayadere), and Harbtho d’Gargnose (Aliçli)
By Denho Bar Mourad-Özmen journalist and moderator at Suroyo TV Macsarto ܡܰܥܣܰܪ̈ܬܐ (Ömerli) Macsarto (Ömerli) is a city and district in Mardin province, southeastern Turkey, and is located in the historic Syriac homeland of Tur Abdin. The Syriac name Macsarto ܡܰܥܣܰܪ̈ܬܐ (in the Mhalmi Arabic vernacular معسرتة) means ‘wine press’…
Read More »Stephen Cook in Foreign Policy: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Israel do not trust Turkish President Erdoğan
In an article for Foreign Policy, Stephen Cook, columnist and Eni Enrico Mattei senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, argues that Turkey’s attempts at the rapprochement with countries in the Middle East will be short-lived and have only come as a result…
Read More »Erdogan’s plan to resettle Syrians in occupied areas of northern Syria met with domestic and regional condemnation
ZALIN, Syria — Not long after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s remarks that his government plans to return 1 million Syrian refugees from Turkey to Turkish-occupied areas in northern Syria, Turkish opposition parties denounced the plan which they called spiteful due to its violation of the international right of asylum…
Read More »European Parliament condemns sentencing of Turkish activist and businessman Osman Kavala
STRASBOURG, France — Following the 25 April decision of a Turkish court to sentence prominent businessman, philanthropist, and activist Osman Kavala to life in prison on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” for supporting protests in 2013, the European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the sentencing and called on…
Read More »Historic Sumela Monastery reopened to tourists after cliffside secured
TRABZON, Turkey — Following six-months of work to secure some 360 tons of rock mass to the cliffside, the Sumela Monastery in the Black Sea province of Trabzon has reopened for visitors on 1 May. Previous restoration work undertaken by the Turkish government in 1991 was found in 2007 to…
Read More »The Mhalmoyto city of Sawro ܨܰܘܪܐ
By Denho Bar Mourad-Özmen journalist and moderator at Suroyo TV The city of Sawro is located in the middle of the Mhalmoyto Region and is already mentioned by the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II as an important city. Its name is derived from the Syriac (Aramaic) word Sawro ܨܰܘܪܳܐ , which…
Read More »Revitalizing Syriac Christianity in Turkey: New priest consecrated for the Chaldean Church in Omid
OMID (DIYARBAKIR), Turkey – With the laying on of hands by Bishop of the Chaldean Church Remzi Karmo, Iraqi Syriac deacon Fahid Aal Murad has been ordained a priest and pastoral shepherd for the Diocese of Omid in southeastern Turkey. Bishop Karmo was assisted during the ordination ceremony, held at…
Read More »Easter Monday (Thnahto): Syriacs gather at the cemeteries of Tur Abdin to be with their departed loved ones
TUR ABDIN, Turkey – On Easter Monday, Syriacs traditionally gather at the graves of their departed loved ones. In the Syriac homeland of Tur Abdin, young and old took to the cemeteries in Midyad, Midin, and Mzizah to pray, remember, to show their generosity in the name of the dead,…
Read More »U.S. president Joe Biden describes 1915 Turkish atrocities as genocide, Turkish Foreign Minister flashes ultranationalist “Grey Wolves” sign at Armenian demonstrators
WASHINGTON, D.C. / MONTEVIDEO — On 24 April each year, the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), Armenian, Greek peoples commemorate the anniversary of the 1915 Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire against the non-Muslim population, predominantly Christians but also Yezidis. The atrocities claimed the lives of millions. On Sunday, U.S. President Joe Biden…
Read More »Future Syria Party: Turkey’s goals in Syria and Iraq are occupation and assimilation
NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — The Future Syria Party issued a statement on Wednesday saying that Turkey’s objectives in Syria and Iraq are clear: occupation and Turkification. The statement urged the people of both countries to unite against the Turkish colonial project. The full statement from the Future Syria Party…
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