Pope Leo should stand up for minorities and peace

The Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) is calling on Pope Leo XIV to find clear words in favor of persecuted minorities, peace, and the observance of fundamental human rights before his trip to Turkey.

STP Middle East expert Kamal Sido emphasizes the urgency of the appeal: “We hope that the Pope will use his unique moral authority to press for justice and demand the protection of religious and ethnic communities. The situation of many people remains precarious – and Turkey bears responsibility for this in terms of both its domestic and foreign policy.”

At the heart of the appeal is the demand for clarification of the fate of the two bishops of Aleppo who were abducted in 2013: "Archbishop Mor Gregorius Yohanna Ibrahim and Archbishop Boulos Yazigi were abducted not far from the Turkish border; since then, there has been no sign of life. Their families and friends are still waiting for answers. Turkey can and must use its influence on actors in Syria to finally provide clarity,“ Sido warns.

There are indications that radical Syrian Islamists, who were and continue to be supported by Turkey, were involved in the abduction.
In addition, Sido points to the continuing tense human rights situation in Turkey itself. ”Kurdish activists and democratic opposition figures continue to be persecuted. A just peace between Kurds and Turks would be a turning point – including for the lives of Christians and other minorities."

In his view, a political compromise and a positive response by the Turkish state to the peace offers made by the Kurdish PKK and its founder Abdullah Öcalan, who has been imprisoned for 26 years, would be decisive steps toward stability in the entire region.

The human rights organization also encourages the Pope not to visit only Istanbul during his trip, but also Tur Abdin, the historic home of Syrian Orthodox Christians. “A visit to the Mor Gabriel monastery would be a strong sign of support. This ancient religious heritage has been under pressure for years and needs international attention in order to survive,” said Sido.

The organization combines its appeal with further demands on the Turkish government, including the release of political prisoners, equality for all religious communities, return rights for displaced Christians, Kurds, and Yazidis, and an end to support for Islamist militias in Syria.

The STP has been monitoring the situation of minorities in Turkey since the late 1960s. It calls on Pope Leo XIV to send a clear signal of solidarity with the disenfranchised and oppressed during his trip.

Dr. Kamal Sido is an advisor on ethnic, religious, linguistic minorities and nationalities

The views expressed are solely those of the author and may or may not reflect those of Middle East Online