TURKEY
TURKEY: Syriac Churches in Tur Abdin celebrate Feast of Assumption of Blessed Virgin Mary
TUR ABDIN — On 15 August, Syriac churches across Tur Abdin, a historic region in what is now southeastern Turkey encompassing significant locations such as Midyat, resounded with celebrations on the occasion of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Arbo village hosted an event that extended…
Read More »German Journalists Association advises members not to travel to Turkey following arrest of Bundestag Deputy
BERLIN — The German Journalists Association (Deutscher Journalisten-Verband, DJV) issued an advisory to its members to avoid travelling to Turkey following the recent arrest of German Bundestag Deputy Gökay Akbulut. The DJV is among the largest journalists’ organizations in Europe. Headquartered in Berlin, it has about 38,000 members. On 3…
Read More »German lawmaker detained in Turkey vows to continue advocacy
ANTALYA, Turkey — A German parliamentarian revealed on Sunday that she was detained for several hours upon entering Turkey earlier this month, a consequence of her past social media posts from 2019. Unfazed by the incident, she affirmed her commitment to visiting Turkey and expressing her candid opinions about its…
Read More »Turkish water policy’s devastating impact on North and East Syria’s water security and agriculture
HASAKAH, Syria — The dwindling water levels in the Euphrates River have rendered vast agricultural lands unproductive, casting a shadow over regions in the North and East of Syria. Hammoud al-Hamadin, the administrator of Tishreen Dam, voiced concerns over the far-reaching consequences of Turkey’s water-cutting policies. He stressed that this…
Read More »UN receives formal complaint over Turkish airstrikes on civilian hospital in Iraq
NEW YORK — A formal complaint has been submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) accusing Turkey of targeting a civilian hospital in Iraq and resulting in the deaths of eight people. This is the first case concerning Turkish airstrikes against the Yezidi people to be brought before…
Read More »Turkey continues air raids, burning villages and forests in Nohadra (Duhok) Governorate, Iraq
NOHADRA, Iraq — Turkish forces have launched a series of air raids on villages in Nohadra (Duhok) Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), resulting in the destruction of forests and farms belonging to local residents. Despite widespread condemnation from local, regional, and international communities, Turkey persists in breaching international law…
Read More »TURKEY: Arkah village youth launch Arkah News to showcase community activities in Arkah and other villages on Turo d’Izlo in Tur Abdin
ARKAH, Turkey — The youth of Arkah village in the historic Tur Abdin region in southeastern Turkey have launched the Arkah News Facebook page to showcase the activities of Arkah village and the surrounding villages of Turo d’Izlo (Mount Izla). The page will be managed by individuals from the village, both…
Read More »Turkish opposition leader Kılıçdaroğlu criticizes President Erdogan’s economic policies
ANKARA — In the aftermath of the economic collapse in Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s visits to Arab Gulf countries, opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu the leader delivered a scathing speech during his party’s weekly meeting, criticizing Erdoğan’s policies. Drawing a striking analogy, Kılıçdaroğlu likened Erdoğan’s actions to that of…
Read More »The Diril family rejects the recent judicial ruling in Shmuni and Hurmuz Diril case
MEHRE, Turkey — The Syriac Chaldean Diril family strongly rejected the ruling issued in their parents’ case by the Şırnak court. They decided to file the case with the Supreme Court, due to the judicial ruling unfairness and unaccountability for the perpetrators. The Syriac-Chaldean Diril couple had returned in 2011 to…
Read More »European Parliament: Turkey’s EU accession tied to human rights, not linked to Sweden’s NATO bid
BRUSSELS — The European Parliament has firmly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s attempt to link Sweden’s accession to NATO with Turkey’s accession to the European Union. Instead, they emphasized that Turkey’s path to EU membership hinges on the promotion of public freedoms and human rights within the country. The…
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