Deaf in Türkiye (Turkey)

Introduction / History

The Turkish Deaf community in Central Taurus is spread across three small villages in close proximity to each other. Due to the remoteness of their location and lack of resources or mobility, these villages were reasonably isolated until very recently. Beginning around the 1960s, they developed their own sign language (Central Taurus Sign Language) that is entirely distinct from Turkish Sign Language (TID). There is a high population of Deaf community members across these three villages due to hereditary Deafness and family marriage practices.

The three villages that the Central Taurus Deaf community calls home are in a remote mountainous area in south-central Türkiye. The nearest major cities are Mersin (110 miles away) and Adana (170 miles away).

What Are Their Lives Like?

The Central Taurus Deaf community lives self-sufficient and straightforward lives. They rely on animal husbandry and agriculture to meet their daily needs, and much of their day-to-day life is concerned with tending to animals and making food. The women also create beautiful, embroidered mats and tapestries that are used for carpets and wall-hangings in their houses. The men enjoy engaging each other in tabletop card games in their spare time. Most households have a TV, and the younger generation all have phones or mobile devices that they spend a lot of time on. Many of the older generation did not receive any education because children (even hearing children) were not usually sent away to go to school. As such, they could not study for more than the five years offered in the small village school.

What Are Their Beliefs?

The Central Taurus Deaf community is in an area of Türkiye well-known for adherence to Alevi Islam, which is a somewhat less restrictive form of Islam linked to Shia beliefs. However, Sunni Islam is also present in the area due to its prevalence in mainstream Turkish society.

What Are Their Needs?

The Central Taurus Deaf community is in desperate need of more education options. The school in their village doesn’t cater for Deaf students, and as a result, most of the community members never learnt to read or write. Some younger people have been able to attend mainstream Turkish Deaf schools in Mersin or Adana, and in doing so have acquired Turkish Sign Language as a second language. Many of the elders fear that TID may end up replacing their own sign language.

Prayer Points

Pray that the Central Taurus Deaf community will have better access to education for themselves and their children, and that all the village members will continue to love and respect them.
Pray that they have the opportunity to meet and get to know Deaf Christians – perhaps through the encounters they have when visiting and attending schools outside their village.
Pray that Jesus will become known to them in a way that speaks to their hearts and that they will have the opportunity to receive scripture in their own language.
Pray that Mark 7:37 would be a reality in the lives of this community: People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said, “He even makes the Deaf hear and the mute speak.” May this Deaf community hear Jesus and speak his name for all eternity!

Text Source:   Joshua Project