Serious crimes against Assyrian-Syrian-Chaldeans in Midyat

20.9.2006

WRITTEN QUESTION E-4151/06
by Jonas Sjöstedt (GUE/NGL)
to the Commission

On 15 July, a member of the Shemmo family was shot at because the family refused to pay ‘protection money’ to village guards belonging to the Cimmo clan. Despite the fact that the shooting occurred in the very centre of Midyat, no-one was caught. Reporting the incident to the police made matters even worse for the family.

On Monday 28 August 2006, the Assyrian-Syrians, Yusuf Ay and Isa Dogan, from the village of Hah, were badly beaten up by the same clan members, led by Casim Jimo, in central Midyat in front of police. The motive was simply that the persons concerned refused to pay USD 7000 in ‘protection’. Although the incident was reported to the police, no action has been taken by the authorities.

All Assyrian-Syrian-Chaldeans are now targets for intimidation and blackmail. Many of those affected have appealed to the governor to no avail. The Turkish authorities are allowing such incidents to happen without intervening.

If such crimes do not stop, there is a major risk that all Assyrian-Syrians in the region will flee their homes and local areas.

Is the Commission aware of these attacks? What has been done and what will be done to put an end to the oppression and organised persecution?

OJ C 329, 30/12/2006