🔴 "We did not come from another planet," pro-Kurdish DEM Party MP George Aslan (@george_aryo) told opposition members in Turkish parliament. "We are the autochthonous people of this land. This language did not come from another planet."#DEMParty | #Christmas | #MotherTongue… pic.twitter.com/KEpMpfq1Qb
— MedyaNews (@1MedyaNews) December 19, 2023
A Christmas greeting in Syriac from a pro-Kurdish party deputy resulted in protests and the subsequent departure of a nationalist deputy in Turkey’s parliamentary session on Monday.
During budget talks in the Turkish parliament, George Aslan, a Syriac deputy from the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democracy and Equality Party (DEM Party) representing Mardin (Mêrdîn), a southeastern province with a significant Syriac population, greeted the assembly in Syriac to celebrate Christmas. The move drew criticism from the nationalist opposition Good Party (İYİP), who insisted on Turkish being spoken in the assembly.
İYİP deputy Lütfü Türkkan notably responded with, “Are we watching a theatre? He should speak this at home. This is the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, not a personal estate.” Despite the backlash, Aslan continued his address in Syriac, asserting the historical presence of his people in the region and describing the language as a national treasure.
In response to constitutional reminders from İYİP MPs, Aslan retorted, “Did you leave any Constitution? You dispersed it, tore it up, and yet you still talk about the Constitution.” His speech received prolonged applause from DEM Party members. “We did not come from another planet. We are the autochthonous people of this land. This language did not come from another planet. You will accept this language. This is a richness for Turkey,” he said.
Amid continuing confrontations, Deputy Speaker Sırrı Süreyya Önder addressed the assembly, emphasising the sanctity of mother tongues and the diversity of languages as a gift from God.
Önder, referring to the recent passing of Felicity Party MP Hasan Bitmez, said, “I made a prayer [in Arabic] for the deceased here. Did one of you ask what is the Turkish version of this? He [George Aslan] also greeted his people in his own language. We are talking about language. Have some tolerance!” He continued, “You did not object when I read a verse in Arabic, I ask why you object to this one, you say it is not a verse. Let me tell you another verse; your languages are also verses of Allah.”
He concluded, “Even if you were to threaten my life, I would not interfere with a person’s mother tongue,” at which point İYİP member Yasin Öztürk left the dais in protest. Önder subsequently called for a break in the session.
