Deputy visits the Assyrian Associations Holland.

BY: GEORGE HANNA
ENSCHEDE

On wednesday 9th of april, Deputy of the Province Overijssel in Holland, Gert Ranter, visited the Assyrian associations. In the Assyrian Mesopotamian Association centre in Enschede a cultural program was presented to the dutch politician.

After a welcoming speach the program was opened with the Assyrian lute by musician Alias Musake of the Mor Ephrem Assyrian Choir of Enschede. The Mor Ephrem Assyrian Choir was established with the support of the Assyrian Mesopotamian Association Enschede and has about 40 members, under the leadership of Alias Musake.

In his speech the deputy emphasized on the need for a more intensive cooperation of the regional dutch government and the local Assyrian associations. ‘’The Assyrian community is more and more visible for the provincial parliament of Overijssel since a few years,’’ said the Deputy.

Julyet Eilyo-Akcay spoke on behalf of the Assyrian organisations about the obstacles that they have met over the years in communication and cooperation with the local and provincial authorities.

The speeches were followed by a video documentary of the Assyrian theatre play in the dutch language regarding the so-called ‘’Loverboys’’ and ‘’Violence and Aggression with the families’’. This play was performed in the Rabo-Theatre in the city of Hengelo for the Dutch and Assyrian audience. About 300 attendants watched this play ‘’Sara, an ordinary girl’’. Project leader Aryous Ailo of the Assyrian Association ‘’Ninwe’’ of the city Vriezenveen, explained the importance to discuss Taboos such as these in the form of theatre for a broad audience.

The event ended with typical Assyrian food and an informal discussion.

The members of the several Assyrian associations in the province Overijssel in the eastern part of Holland are all originally from Tur Abdin in south eastern Turkey and Qamishly and Hassake region of north eastern Syria. They are all members of the Syrian Orthodox Church and speak the western Assyrian dialect – also known as Suryoyo Assyrian dialect of Tur Abdin.