Assyrian Christmas message raises tensions in Turkey’s parliament

ANKARA — Turkey’s opposition lawmakers became entangled in a squabble when the parliament’s sole Assyrian lawmaker, George Aslan, wanted to deliver a Christmas wish for the Assyrian people in his mother tongue.

“I congratulate all Christians, starting with our Greek, Armenian and Assyrian Syriac citizens living in Turkey, on Christmas,” said Aslan late Monday during a budget debate. “I’d like to deliver the same in Assyrian, for the Assyrian people who don't know Turkish,” said the lawmaker, who was elected from the country’s sole pro-Kurdish party in last May's general elections.

As he was speaking in his mother tongue, grumblings rose from the chairs of the opposition, with nationalist Good (Iyi) Party lawmakers objecting to Aslan speaking a foreign language on the parliament’s rostrum.