Syriac Couple in Şırnak Missing for 24 Days

Click to read the article in Turkish

Hurmuz and Şimoni Diril, a Syriac couple from Mehre (Kovankaya) village in the Beytüşşebap district of the southeastern Şırnak Province, have been missing since January 11. 

They are the parents of Remzi Diril, the priest of the İstanbul Chaldean Church. Diril told bianet that the search is continuing.

Conducting an investigation into the incident, the prosecutor's office imposed a confidentiality order on the case on January 16.
"Three or four days after the incident, their neighbors said the family [the couple] were kidnapped. Why didn't they state this in the first place but now? According to their statement, 'Three people, including a woman, took the couple.' A technical search was carried out based on this statement but there was no result," Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Tuma Çelik told bianet.

"Besides, the prosecutor's office imposing a confidentiality order on the file is also raising many questions. According to the information I received from the district governorship, a technical search is being carried out.

"If this state cannot find the couple who have been missing for 24 days in an area like this, this means it is incapable. I don't think Turkey is so incapable, which means there is not a sufficient search. I don't believe the state is doing the necessary search and rescue work with all its organs."

What happened?

Remzi Diril had announced that he has not been able to reach his parents as of January 11.

Informing bianet that the couple resided in both their village and İstanbul, Çelik had said, "Apart from the Diril couple who has got missing, there is only one person living in the village. This other person is a relative of theirs.

"The village is in mountainous terrain, it is a military zone and usually forbidden. Due to winter conditions, we as well as their family members have difficulties in reaching the village. The family members are deeply worried, they cannot reach the region, either."

Syriacs are a Christian minority who mostly live in the southeastern parts of the country.

(EMK/VK)