Kurdish Musician stresses importance of ‘meaningful steps’ beyond apology and renovation of churches
DIYARBAKIR, Turkey (A.W.)—An evening of music and poetry was held at Sourp Giragos Church in Diyarbakir/Dikranagerd on June 11, 2013.
The event, attended by more than a thousand people, featured Kurdish musicians Tara Jaff and Pervin Çakar who performed Kurdish and Armenian songs, and poet Azad Ziya Eren.
In conversation with the Armenian Weekly correspondent, Harpist and singer Tara Jaff, who is from Iraqi Kurdistan, said she first learned about the genocide of the Armenian and other minorities as a child, from her father. She deepened her knowledge of the Armenian genocide after escaping from Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and settling in England, she added.
Jaff noted that the purpose of holding the concert at Sourp Giragos is to keep the Armenian issue in the forefront in Turkey. She said that returning churches and an apology is not enough, and that realistic and meaningful efforts should be undertaken to secure the return of the Armenians to these lands. In that, she argued, the Kurds have a huge role to play.
In turn, Pervin Çakar, who performed Armenian folk songs, noted how proud and honored she feels to be performing in the renovated Sourp Giragos Church.
Poet Azad Ziya Eren said, “Tonight, we sang lamentation both for Der Zor and Dersim.” He noted that Sourp Giragos was, therefore, an appropriate venue for the event, and the huge crowd that attended the event is a testament to that.
Eren told the Armenian Weekly that both his parents are half-Kurdish, half-Armenian.
The Armenian Weekly correspondent Gulisor Akkum files this report from Diyarbakir.
Gulisor Akkum
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I think this church has a great importance in Armenian and the Kurdish people’s life. Very meaningful event and kudos for the organizers.Keep up the good job!
My G’Father & many members of our family were from Diyarbakir during the Genocide. I’m so happy to experience this connection to a church 7 people there.
May our Soup Giragos Church become a vibrant center for art & entertainment, peace and friendship and A refuge for wounded souls for all.
Thank you Kurds for your performance,
Thank you Gulisor Akkum for reporting,
Thank you Armenian Weekly for connecting/providing
A very meaningful event, and how wonderful it would have been to be present there. Kudos to the organizers, and to Gulisor Akkum for reporting on it.
My favotite graffiti from protests from istanbul…
it was in Taksim and on an Armenian Church wall.
‘You open the bridge just with imam, look at, there are christians in this country’ ( to Erdogan)
Diyarbakir originally Dikranagerd “Land of Armenian king Dikran” our family’s homeland where my Grandfather and Grandmother was born but where forced to leave as children after their parents were murdered in 1915 genocide.
Many thanks to the Kurdish artists and Gulisor Akkum for reporting about the event.
But what I personally regret very much is that the Armenian Patriarchate is not supporting the reopening of this Armenian church
enough ! On Whitsun there should have been an Armenian Service at St.
Giragos. I absolutely do not accept the excuse, there were not enough
Priests at Istanbul. What is the Patriarchate afraid of ?
Thanks to the Kurdish authorities of Diarbekir for promoting Armenian-Kurdish friendship, to the Kurdish artists performing in remembrance of Der-zor and Dersim, to Gulisor Akkum for reporting the event and to all involved in organizing the event. May the Force be with you.