The new hearing in the trial of Assyrian monk, Fr Sefer (Aho) Bileçen, was held on the 27th of January at the High Criminal Court in Mardin. As in the previous hearing in early November, proceedings were held in camera with no journalists allowed.

Fr Sefer faces terrorism charges. Prosecutors accuse him of aiding a member of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which is outlawed in Turkey, by giving a piece of bread. The court ordered another postponement with the next hearing scheduled for April.

If convicted, the clergyman could get two to 15 years in jail for giving food to someone who asked for it at the door of his monastery. For his part, the monk recently reiterated his position, namely that he does not know the people who came to the monastery begging for food, and that he opens the door to them “out of Christian charity”.

Fr Sefer (Aho) Bileçen is the custodian of the monastery of Mor Yakup (St James), which dates back about 1,500 years. 

The monk was arrested on 9 January 2020 as a result of the testimony of an alleged (later repentant) PKK member. Four days later, he was released pending trial, thanks also to a grassroots movement by local Christians who petitioned the authorities to let him go.

The confession of the PKK member remains the key factor in Assyrian priest’s indictment. A second witness, also in prison, said he did not know the religious and had heard from others that he gave food to the needy as an act of charity.

For further details, please click here.