28 Mart 2024 Perşembe

EU Commission: Assyrians in Turkey Face Many Problems

The European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, said that the Syriac Orthodox community in Turkey and their churches are facing many challenges regarding the imprisonment of Sefer Aho Bileçen, the priest of the Mor Yakup Church in Nusaybin.

Priest Sefer Aho Bilecen

According to Borrell, the ongoing war in Syria and the coronavirus pandemic aggravated the problems experienced by the Syriac community.

Four Dutch parliamentarians, members of the Conservative Group in the European Parliament, submitted a parliamentary question in April regarding the situation of priest Sefer Aho Bileçen, who was sentenced to 2 years and 1 month in prison on charges of “aiding a terrorist organization”.

Dutch parliamentarians stated that the priest Bileçen, known as “Father Aho”, gave only a piece of bread to 2 people who wanted to eat at the door of the monastery, reminding that the Assyrian cleric was sentenced to 25 months in prison on the grounds that these people were PKK militants.

Deputies from Christian parties evaluated this decision of the Turkish court as “a blow to democratic principles, human rights and the protection of minorities and vulnerable groups in Turkey”.

Members of the European Parliament urged the EU Commission to seek further clarification from the Turkish authorities on the situation of priest Bileçen and to take necessary initiatives with the Turkish authorities through Borrell.

Josep Borrell

EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, in a written reply to Dutch parliamentarians, stated that the Syriac Orthodox community and its churches in Turkey are facing many challenges.

The EU official pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing war in Syria aggravated the problems experienced by the Assyrians in Turkey.

According to the Catholic News newspaper published in the Netherlands, Borrell also stated that he visited the Mor Gabriel Monastery in the Nusaybin district of Mardin last April after the trial.

Pointing out that the European Council stated last month that “the rule of law and fundamental rights in Turkey remains a major concern”, Josep Borrell said, “Dialogue on these issues remains an integral part of EU-Turkey relations.”

According to Dutch parliamentarians, the fact that Mor Yakup Monastery was visited by an EU representative is a positive development. Parliamentarians hope this will lead to talks and actions that will change Ankara’s mind on the treatment of Christians and other religious minorities in Turkey.

Bileçen, who was taken into custody with 12 other people on January 9, 2020 in Nusaybin, was released on January 14 after an appeal.

As the reason for the arrest of priest Sefer Aho Bileçen, the prosecutor cited the statement of a confessor and a report by the Gendarmerie that included the allegation that “members of the organization entered the monastery” in 2018.

Priest Bileçen stated the following in his statement through his lawyer:

“In 2018, 2 members of the organization came to the monastery. They asked me for food. And I gave them food. This was later found. Then the Gendarmerie Commander of the time talked to me. I did not deny it. I asked for security measures to prevent the incident from happening again, but no security measures were taken. I thought the issue was closed after the record was taken. I’ll help whoever comes to my door. I have to do this religiously and philosophically. And because I’m a priest, I can’t lie. I am not doing this to help any organization, but because of my faith. In terms of religion and philosophy, I can’t report either.”

Last April, the 4th High Criminal Court of Mardin, sentenced priest Sefer Aho Bileçen to 2 years and 1 month in prison on charges of “aiding a terrorist organization”. (BBC)

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