MIDYAT, Turkey — Syriac Christians in southeastern Turkey say a land dispute over the historic Mor Gabriel Monastery in Midyat, Turkey, is part of a larger system of discrimination against the religious minority in this overwhelmingly Islamic country.
Muslim residents of southeastern Turkey dispute the boundary lines of an ancient Christian monastery dating to the fourth century as being unnecessarily large for the needs of a religious community. Islamic leaders from Yayvantepe, Eglence and Candarli are attempting to confiscate one-third of the monastery’s property, claiming it was wrongfully appropriated and that they need it for livestock.
The mayors of the three towns also charged the monastery with attempting to proselytize young children, which is illegal in Turkey, and carrying out “anti-Turkish” activity.
Metropolitan Timotheos Samuel Aktas, leader of the monastery, said in a report that these claims were groundless and of the same provocative nature that has historically sparked violence against Turkey’s Christians.
“All the allegations are frivolous and vexatious, devoid of any logic or evidence, solely aimed with the malicious intent of rousing anti-Christian sentiments by the surrounding Muslim villages,” he said.
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