Presentation of the film : 'The Hidden Pearls, Indigenous Christian People of Mesopotamia.'
Organised by the Syriac Universal Alliance.

For the release of the film 'The Hidden Pearls, Indigenous Christian People of Mesopotamia,' Gabriel Sengo, the Representative of the Syriac Universal Alliance (SUA) to the UNOG, presented an extract of the film outlining the history of the Aramean People, an Indigenous Christian minority originating some 3,000 years ago from the border region between Turkey, Syria and Iraq. Afterwards, Professor H. Hollerweger, an expert on the region, addressed the current situation of the Aramean People in Tur Abdin, Southeast Turkey. Finally, Richard Ghazal, also of SUA, spoke of the 1923 Treaty of Lausanne and its implications.

The film explained that the current Diaspora status of 99% of Arameans is not new; this has been the case for several thousand years and they left a cultural legacy in Mesopotamia in the form of their language, Aramaic. This is an early Semitic language, spoken by Jesus and in common use from Egypt to India. A full copy of this film, and accompanying book was presented to the UN library at the end of the presentation.

Professor Hollerweger, discussed the improving situation in Tur Abdin despite continued oppression by the Turkish government; the general infrastructure has been enhanced which includes transport, plumbing and more steps towards greater freedom of movement. Many of the villages have been renovated and the Diaspora population is financing churches, pivotal roles in Aramean culture.

The main aim of attending the conference on the Working Group for Indigenous Populations, said Mr. Ghazal, was to improve the 'human, religious and cultural rights' of Aramean Christians living in Southeast Turkey and to raise awareness for their causes. There has been a steady exodus since the Treaty of Lausanne, when the Arameans were not recognised as a non-Muslim minority in Turkey. Currently, some 2,500 people live in Tur Abdin, a mere fraction of the 300,000 who lived there before 1923; however with nearly half under 20 years old there is general optimism for their continued presence.

Mr Ghazal, a member of the first generation in Diaspora living in the US, ended by saying that Arameans are neither after political autonomy like the Kurds, who originate from the same area, nor the physical return by those who have left but a 'preservation of the homeland.'

By: James Gasteen

BACK