Syriac Christmas Message Stirs Debate in Turkish Parliament

Turkish members of Parliament attend a session to discuss the 2024 Central Government Budget Law Proposal at the General Assembly of the Turkish Grand National Assembly in Ankara on Dec. 11, 2023.

Turkey’s parliament erupted in controversy this week when the nation’s only Assyrian lawmaker delivered a Christmas message in his native Syriac language, offending other legislators who believe that only Turkish should be spoken in the national assembly.