Assyrian merchant Yuhanna Aktas no longer has to hide from villagers in his conservative corner of southern Turkey that the grapes they harvest are destined to become wine.
A member of the shrinking Christian minority in Mardin Province, Aktas has been waging a lonely battle for acceptance by his Muslim neighbors and local officials, who frown on alcohol sales.
“Winegrowing and reviving the disappearing Assyrian culture were my childhood dream,” Aktas said, next to barrels of wine fermented from green grapes in Midyat, a town 50km from the Syrian border.
Only about 3,000 Assyrians still live in the wider Mardin Province, which is
Assyrian merchant Yuhanna Aktas no longer has to hide from villagers in his conservative corner of southern Turkey that the grapes they harvest are destined to become wine.
Court case against priest evokes bitter memories for Turkey’s Assyrians Turkey’s tiny Assyrian community views a jail term handed to an Assyrian priest on “terrorism charges” as an official strong-arming tactic, while Assyrians around the world call for dismissal of the case. A Muslim Turkish soldier stands guard outside the Mor Gabriel monastery on Jan. 11, 2003 in Midyat, Turkey. The soldier was part of a bodyguard unit for some high-ranking Turkish army officers visiting the ancient monastery. The 1,600-year-old Mor Gabriel is located in a part of Turkey that was one of the orginal cradles of the Christian church. - Chris Hondros/Getty Images