‘I Have Never been so Ashamed’

During a speech he gave at the ‘Lives Devoted to Humanity’ session of the Platform, Michel pointed out that all the Holy Scriptures direct people to help the poor and orphaned. Michel said that the life of Harja, the mother of the Prophet Ishmail, would be a great lesson within this context. "The story of her life remains in the background of both Judaism and Christianity. Both religions should take this up again."

Michel underlined that the world is headed towards another global war. He urged people to do something to stop it from happening.

Michel also voiced his great disappointment about the tortures inflicted on the Iraqis. He added that most Americans think like him. "I have an older sister in her 70’s. In a letter she wrote to me, she said, ‘I wouldn’t imagine that the U.S. Armed Forces could do such a thing.’ Many people are aware that they are not being told the whole story about the incidents." Meanwhile, Coordinator of the Symposium, Cemal Ussak, emphasized that followers of the various religions are required to take steps to find solutions to issues in common. Ussak said, "People who are working on the subject of dialogue should not overlook the blood being shed in Palestine, Iraq and other parts of the world." The symposium, which opened last Thursday in Mardin, ended with a dinner last night at the Sepetciler Qasr, a special type of villa from the Ottoman era.