SYRIACS INVITATION TO BUSH

Syriacs, who have been living in peace with the Muslims in Midyat district of Mardin for years, have suggested that the US President George Bush, who has been looking for inter-religious dialogue, take this city as a model.

When the day begins in Midyat where three religions, Muslims, Christians, and Yezidis, live and four languages - Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic and Syriac - are spoken, some people go to mosques, while some go to churches and some other turn towards horizon line where the sun sheds its first lights on earth to worship. The history of inter-religious dialogue and tolerance that have been brought to agenda in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 dates back to many years in this part of the world. It is because of this custom that Syriacs are inviting the US President Bush to Midyat and suggest him taking this city as a model.

Syriacs call the region, which encompasses Mardin, Hasankeyf, Cizre and Nusaybin, as Turabdin. The center of this region is Midyat. Syriacs were recognized for their gold and silver works (called telkari) in this city, which dates back to B.C. 3000. What strike the eye at first in Midyat are five elegant bell towers and two minarets. There are 26 Syriac villages and 6 monasteries in the region. 15 priests hold religious services of 40 active churches.

Timotheos Samuel Aktash, the most important clergyman of Syriacs, began his words by saying that "there were inter-religious dialogue and tolerance much before" in his room decorated with the pictures of President Ahmet Necdet Sezer, the ninth President Suleyman Demirel and the Director of Religious Affairs Mehmet Nuri Yilmaz . For him, however, this concept has begun to be mentioned more after the attacks of September 11. Saying that it is not rational to accuse Islam of this terrorist attack in the USA, Aktash stated concerning religions that "there should be no jihad in religion".

Head of Syriac Catholic Foundation Edip Ozaltin has a proposal about inter-religious dialogue and tolerance: "USA has begun to develop inter-religious dialogue and tolerance after the attacks of September 11. Whereas, we have been enjoying this here for years. President Bush should take this city as a model, an example for inter-religious dialogue and tolerance."

(Sabah Daily, 08/02/2002).