Syriacs living in the Midyat district of Mardin province are preparing a rally on 24 April in protest at the genocide perpetrated in 1914-1915. They will for the first time protest the genocide that they suffered alongside the Armenians.
Syriacs living in the Midyat district of Mardin province are preparing a rally on 24 April in protest at the genocide perpetrated in 1914-1915. Syriacs in Turkey will for the first time protest the genocide that they suffered alongside Armenians and other communities in the region.
Syriacs will also hold a hunger strike each day for 1 hour starting on 19 April and continue for 100 days in protest at the 100th anniversary of the genocide.
The head of the Syriac Unity Association, Yuhanna Aktaş, told ANF that the Syriacs have been intimidated for years by the regime, but this year they will protest the genocide with a march to be held on 24 April and a hunger strike of 100 hours to be started on 19 April. Aktaş said these symbolic actions aim to unite the Syriacs and to raise a community consciousness.
Aktaş said they will organise events to tell the villagers what happened in 1914 and 1915 and conferences and meetings will be held regularly this year, adding that the Association will apply to the municipality to hang on its walls for 2 months banners reading: “Stop denying the genocide, recognise it”. Aktaş said they will request this from all the municipalities in the province whether run by the DBP or other parties.
Aktaş also said the 1915 genocide is identified as the Armenian genocide, however the Syriacs also suffered, adding that they find it very positive that the Pope and the EU recognised the genocide. Aktaş said: “Although it came late, it is positive that a known and a real event has finally been recognised. It is a fact of history and you cannot ignore it. The reactions against the recognition are childish. We have to confront our history”.
Aktaş added that the Syriacs will hold a big march from Midyat to Evardo (Gulgoze) village in June or July with the participation of Syriacs coming from all over Turkey and from abroad. Aktaş said Syriacs fleeing from the genocide took shelter in the church in Evardo, where there are still bullet holes in the walls. “This village saved the Syriacs at that time and for us it is symbol of resistance. We will organise a march to that village and we will repeat this every year”, said Yuhanna Aktaş.
