International
Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that the Turkish authorities have
stalled the investigation into the disappearance of
elderly Assyrian-Chaldean Christians Hurmüz and Şimuni Diril. They were
kidnapped from the Turkish village of Mehr, located near the Iraqi
border, one-year prior on January 11, 2020. The abductors are believed
to have been affiliated with the PKK, a Kurdish militant group
designated by the US State Department as a terrorist organization.
The
absence of the Diril couple was discovered by their son. The Turkish
authorities unsuccessfully conducted a search and rescue operation, but
winter weather conditions were challenging. However, the search never
resumed as the weather cleared. Two months later on March 20, 2020,
the dismembered body of Şimuni was discovered in a nearby river. The
whereabouts of Hurmüz remain unknown.
According to a family
representative, the authorities never opened a new search into the
whereabouts of Hurmüz. Paperwork regarding the autopsy investigation of
Şimuni’s death remains incomplete with large pieces of information
missing. The procedural system associated with the autopsy process has
not moved forward. As a result, the family is left with no answers to
the reason for the couples’ kidnapping and subsequent loss of life. The
family representative is thus asking the following:
- The opening
of an investigation into any procedural failures involving the autopsy
report and an investigation into possible negligence of the authorities.
-
A release of all documents to the family relevant to Şimuni’s death.
Completion of the forensic report and the report of the evidence
gathered in the criminal investigation.
- A serious investigation about the fate of Hurmüz.
- That the authorities show a commitment to finding the guilty parties.
The
couple was abducted from the village of Mehr, a historically Assyrian
Christian village that has been repeatedly caught in the crosshairs of
various conflicts. The village was previously evacuated in 1989 and 1994
because of the conflict between the PKK and Turkish army. Ten years
ago, the Diril couple had returned to the village despite the dangers in
an attempt to rebuild. Their son, Father Remzi (Adday) Diril, is
an Assyrian-Chaldean Catholic priest based in Istanbul, known
internationally for his pastoral care of 7,000 Iraqi Christian refugees
displaced in Turkey.
Juliana Taimoorazy, founder and president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, says, “There
has been much trauma inflicted on the children of Hurmuz and Simoni. We
are requesting the Turkish authorities to treat this case with urgency
and care and provide the grieving Diril family with much-deserved
answers.”
Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Today
is a solemn day for the Diril family as they mark the anniversary since
their parents’ disappearance. The past year has been incredibly
difficult as they attempt to understand what happened and why. We urge
the Turkish authorities to fully investigate this case as well as to
consistently and openly communicate to the family each step where they
are in the process.”
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.
Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842
International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org
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