Assyrian Awareness: Organizations Responses

Amnesty International, Turkey Coordination Group
by Barbara Neppert
Posted: Monday, December 04, 2000 07:43 pm CST

Dear ladies and gentleman!

We have received many appeals from a lot of different countries calling for the release of the priest Yusuf Akbulut in Diyarbakir. Since these messages contained wrong information, e.g. that he is still in custody, that he has been charged with treason and is facing the death penalty, I would like to inform you of the facts which we have received from Yusuf Akbulut's relative, who lives in Germany and who spoke to the priest on the phone.

The background of the case is a discussion in the Turkish media about the recent debate in the U.S. Congress concerning a declaration with respect to the massacre of Armenians in Turkey in 1915. When asked by journalists in Diyarbakir on his view on this problem, Yusuf Akbulut told them, that not only Armenians but also Syrian-orthodox Christians were victims of the massacre at that time. The journalists published his statement in the daily newspaper "Hürriyet" which triggered a lot of protests.

Yusus Akbulut was eventually detained by policemen in the evening of 6 October 2000 within the compund of his church (Meryem Ana Kilisesi) in Diyarbakir. He was interrogated until 3 o'clock at night and then released. The following day he had to appear in court. A judge confirmed his release but also ordered an investigation in his case.

Afterwards Yusuf Akbulut apparently went to the monastery Mor Gabriel near Midyat to see his bishop. He has now returned to his church in Diyarbakir. He has been charged with "incitement to racial hatred" according to Article 312 of the Turkish Penal Code and could thus be sentenced to one to three years inprisonment. His first hearing is scheduled for 21 December 2000 at the State  Security Court in Diyarbakir. According to Syrian-orthodox Christians in  Germany somebody from their community in Sweden or the Netherlands plans to attend the hearing on 21 December 2000 as an observer.

Kind regards

Barbara Neppert
Turkey Coordination Group
Amnesty International
German Section


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