Amid the ongoing challenges faced by Syria, activists are raising concerns about the potential loss of the Syriac Aramaic language, a crucial part of Syria’s historical and cultural identity. This language, deeply tied to the Christian Syriac community, could face erasure without proactive measures to safeguard its presence in the nation.
The onset of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 marked the beginning of significant upheaval, with various groups, including the Syriac Military Council (MFS), aligning themselves with broader forces like the Syrian Democratic Forces in the battle against ISIS. These dynamics continue to influence the country’s political landscape, as efforts to draft a new constitution are underway.
Central to these efforts is the call for the recognition of Syriac Aramaic within this new constitutional framework. Sardar Sharif, a human rights advocate writing for Syriac Press, emphasized the importance of this recognition. He stated that acknowledging the language constitutionally would be “a fundamental step in protecting this ancient cultural heritage and ensuring its continuity for future generations.” The language itself is a descendant of the dialect spoken by Jesus Christ.
Preserving the language is seen as critical not only for maintaining one of the region’s oldest linguistic traditions but also for fostering peaceful coexistence among Syria’s diverse communities. Sharif underscored this by highlighting the language’s role in cultural preservation and community strengthening.
A Demand For Action (ADFA), another advocacy group, echoed these sentiments in an appeal to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The group expressed concerns about the removal of Syriac language from public signage in areas like Hassakeh in northeastern Syria, where only Arabic and Kurdish are now visible. This change, labeled by some as a “minor administrative adjustment,” is seen by Syriacs as a significant cultural loss.
ADFA emphasized that the Syriac people are the descendants of those who lived in the region long before the arrival of Arabs and other groups. The organization appealed directly to von der Leyen, stating, “Ursula von der Leyen, you are the most powerful politician in Europe. You speak of reform and a new path forward for Syria. But there can be no true progress in the quiet disappearance of a people’s identity. To erase a culture is not reform. It is loss. We call on you to stop the erasure of the indigenous people of Syria.”
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
