BETH ZABDAY, Turkey — A Turkish lawmaker has called for the removal of the mayor of Beth Zabday (İdil / Azech) after municipal authorities demolished a building belonging to a Syriac family, sealed residential properties and closed a guesthouse operated by the town’s Syriac Orthodox Church, raising concerns over the treatment of the region’s ancient Suroyo (Syriac–Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community. George Aryo, a member of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) representing Merde (Mardin) whose imposed Turkish surname is Aslan, …

NORRKOPING, Sweden — The International Idil (Azech) Syriac Federation has sent a letter to the Turkish Ministry of Interior regarding the municipal sealing, fining, and demolition orders of homes and buildings owned by Syriacs in Beth Zabday (In colloquial Syriac also called Azech. Mandatory Turkish name: Idil). The letter, titled An Urgent Call for the Protection of Syriac Presence and Heritage in Idil…

By Matay Türker Local government constitutes that component of democracy closest to citizens. The duty of a mayor is to unite rather than divide, to deliver public services rather than display power, and to inspire confidence rather than create fear. The mayoral office is not the prize of a political victory, but a heavy responsibility borne toward society.  Unfortunately, a mentality currently prevails across many Turkish municipalities where perception takes precedence over service, propaganda over transparency, and appearance over actual production.

BETH ZABDAY, Turkey — The historic Virgin Mary Syriac Orthodox Church in Beth Zabday (Azakh–İdil), one of the oldest churches in the world, has been fined TL 1.17 million (approximately USD 23,000) by the İdil Municipality over alleged zoning violations, weeks after authorities sealed the church over a disputed restoration project. Robert Tutuş, president of the Virgin Mary Church Foundation, said the foundation will appeal the municipality's decision before the Administrative Court and pursue additional legal action, arguing that the measures violate the principle of equality.

ISTANBUL — The Commission Against Racism and Discrimination of the Human Rights Association (İnsan Hakları Derneği, İHD) has featured a report based on Gazete Sabro's coverage of the sealing of the historic Virgin Mary Church in Beth Zabday (Azakh–İdil), Tur Abdin. The Syriac Orthodox church is regarded as one of the oldest churches in the world. The İHD compiles its…