Forced to leave home in 90’s, Syriac priest buried in his village in Şırnak
Syriac priest Mete Eksen who died in Belgium on April 5 was buried in his native village in Şırnak where he was forced to leave in the 90s.
Syriac priest Mete Eksen had to migrate from the Syriac village of Hesana in Şırnak's Silopi district during the notorious 1990s.
The Syriac priest who lost his life in Belgium on April 5 was buried in Hesena, the village where he was born, based on his last will.
A religious ceremony was held for Eksen at the Marmoshel Church, right across his ruined house.
Silopi Co-Chair Süleyman Şavluk of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), several priests and hundreds of people from Europe and neighbouring cities attended the ceremony.
Following the ceremony at the church, the body of Eksen was taken to the village cemetery, 500 meters away.
Eksen's son, Besim Eksen, welcomed those attending the funeral in Kurdish, Turkish and Syriac languages.
Besim Eksen said that his father wanted the well-being and peace of the peoples throughout his life. Afterwards, verses and hymns from the Bible were recited.
The family accepted condolences at the Hesena Condolence House.
