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