Church of Saint Jacob of Nisibis Priest Sefer (Aho) Bileçen, who was detained on January 9 in Nusaybin district of Mardin, was arrested due to illegal organisation membership. Bileçen had a meeting with Urfa Bar Association Human Rights Center lawyers and stated that two illegal organisation members have arrived in the Church and asked for food in 2018 and that he gave them food in accordance with his beliefs. Bileçen further stated that the District Gendarmerie Command is also informed about this incident, which happened in 2018, and that he told them the truth in the meeting they held with him two years ago, further adding that the only was to prevent this is to increase security measures in the region. The priest lives a secluded living in the Church and is not leaving the Church in accordance with his beliefs and philosophy. Bileçen was released after the objection against his arrest was accepted.
14.01.2020
Mezopotamya News Agency