Current situation - October 2020
In these difficult times of pandemic, preventive measures, and partial lockdowns we ask for strength, health, and patience to all. We as European Syriac Union co-chairs had hoped that the world would come to reflection, understanding, and cooperation in fighting this virus. Unfortunately, we see hostilities and wars continuing. Enmity endures and we see authoritarian regimes trying to benefit from the situation. This is inexcusable.
In the Middle East, we see that the U.S.-led International Coalition against ISIS has brought back hope for indigenous components like Syriacs and Yazidis who suffered genocide by terrorist ISIS. Slow reconstruction work and insufficient peacebuilding efforts in the ISIS aftermath, however, are threatening the existence in Iraq of these indigenous components. Syriacs and Yazidis are still forced to flee their Mesopotamian homelands.
ESU statement on Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict
Since the start of the conflict over Artsakh, Nagorno-Karabakh, we are following the ongoing hostilities between Armenian and Azeri forces in Artsakh with great concern. The war has brought many civilian casualties and the regional and international powers and community have stayed too cautious in the matter.
ESU congratulates
Mgr. Najeeb Michaeel, the Syriac Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul in Iraq, with his nomination and him being shortlisted for the prestigious European Sakharov Prize 2020 and many other Syriacs.
ESU closely monitors the cases of the Syriac-Chaldean Diril couple and monk Aho
Turkey – The trial against Syriac Orthodox monk Sefer Bileçen - monk Aho - of the Mor Yahqoub monastery in the Tur Abdin region in southeast Turkey continued at the end of September in the fourth Heavy Penal Court in Mardin. Monk Aho is accused of membership of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) for giving bread and water to PKK fighters. The PKK is designated a terrorist organization in Turkey.
Read more … ESU closely monitors the cases of the Syriac-Chaldean Diril couple and monk Aho
ESU calls for official recognition by the Iraqi state of the Simele Massacre on the Suraye people
On 7 August 1933, Iraqi state military forces and local allied Kurds and Arabs massacred hundreds of Suraye (Suraye) in the village of Simele. During that whole month of August 1933 more than 60 Suraye villages in Amadiya, Zakho, Nohadra (Dohuk), Sheikhan and Mosul, northern Iraq, were destroyed and burned.
Fundraising for Fire Extinguishers for Syriac villages and monasteries in Tur Abdin
The European Syriac Union and five other Syriac organizations held a joint fundraising in June 2020, to raise money for fire extinguishers for Syriac villages and monasteries. The fire extinguishers were much needed as every summer Tur Abdin is plagued by fires devouring Syriac farmland, orchards and vineyards costing the Syriacs (part of) their livelihoods.
Read more … Fundraising for Fire Extinguishers for Syriac villages and monasteries in Tur Abdin
105 years genocide against the Syriac people
On the 105 commemoration of Sayfo 1915 genocide against Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian-Aramean people, European Syriac Union, ESU would like to draw your attention to the atrocities and traumas experienced by our people and try to find solution and recognition.
ESU petition for Recognition Sayfo 1915 Genocide by European Parliament
On the occasion of the annual Sayfo Remembrance Day on June 15th, the European Syriac Union has started a petition to urge the European Parliament to recognize the Sayfo Genocide of 1915 and side with historical truth. ESU asks the European Parliament to choose for peace and justice according to its founding pillars and ideals.
Help us achieve Sayfo Genocide of 1915 recognition by the European Parliament. Help us reach the necessary 5.000 signatures.
SIGN THE PETITION HERE
Read more … ESU petition for Recognition Sayfo 1915 Genocide by European Parliament
