Iskender Alptekin ( syr, ܐܣܟܢܕܪ ܐܠܦܬܟܢ; 29 August 1961 – 18 May 2010), also known as Matay Rabo, was an
Aramaic
The Aramaic languages, short Aramaic ( syc, ܐܪܡܝܐ, Arāmāyā; oar, 𐤀𐤓𐤌𐤉𐤀; arc, 𐡀𐡓𐡌𐡉𐡀; tmr, אֲרָמִית), are a language family containing many varieties (languages and dialects) that originated in ...
politician, musician and the President of the
European Syriac Union (ESU).
Biography
Iskender Alptekin was born on 29 August 1961 in the
Kafro village in
Tur Abdin
Tur Abdin ( syr, ܛܽܘܪ ܥܰܒ݂ܕܺܝܢ or ܛܘܼܪ ܥܲܒ݂ܕܝܼܢ, Ṭūr ʿAḇdīn) is a hilly region situated in southeast Turkey, including the eastern half of the Mardin Province, and Şırnak Province west of the Tigris, on the borde ...
, Turkey. He passed his childhood at the village while studying the primary at the same time learning
Syriac language
The Syriac language (; syc, / '), also known as Syriac Aramaic (''Syrian Aramaic'', ''Syro-Aramaic'') and Classical Syriac ܠܫܢܐ ܥܬܝܩܐ (in its literary and liturgical form), is an Aramaic language, Aramaic dialect that emerged during ...
. He left his village in 1977 for
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
to find work. In 1978 he married Ferida Cacan and emigrated to
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
. He was the father of two daughters.
In Switzerland he became active in Syriac politics, joining various national conferences in Europe, the United States, and Australia.
Iskender Alptekin became the first chairman of the newly established
European Syriac Union
European Syriac Union is an alliance between different Assyrian/Syriac political and cultural organizations in Europe that was established in May 2004. The group emerged from the Bethnahrin National Council or Mawtbo Umthoyo d'Bethnahrin (MUB) ...
on 14 May 2004. He was again unanimously re-elected at the second ESU Congress in 2007.
Death
On 18 May 2010, Alptekin died of a
heart attack
A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may tr ...
in
Switzerland
). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...
.
See also
*
European Syriac Union
European Syriac Union is an alliance between different Assyrian/Syriac political and cultural organizations in Europe that was established in May 2004. The group emerged from the Bethnahrin National Council or Mawtbo Umthoyo d'Bethnahrin (MUB) ...
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alptekin, Iskender
Swiss politicians of Assyrian descent
Swiss people of Assyrian descent
1961 births
2010 deaths
Assyrian politicians