Condolences loss of our fellow Syriac brothers and sisters, Support & Cooperation

Hengelo (The Netherlands), 1 November 2010

Re: Condolences loss of our fellow Syriac brothers and sisters, Support & Cooperation

To His Beautitude Mor Ignatius Joseph III Younan,

Your Excellency, it is with much grief that we heard the heartbreaking news about the recent terrorist act in the name of Islam against our Syriac Catholic congregation in Baghdad. By all means, the Syriac Universal Alliance sharply condemns this cowardly attack. On behalf of my board and all our national federations and local associations, I express our heartfelt condolences to the Syriac Catholic Church. This past Sunday was a Black Sunday for the Aramean people all over the world. I humbly request His Excellency to convey our message of empathy and fellowship to all the members of our Syriac Catholic community.

As you know, the Syriac Universal Alliance is a recognized NGO at the United Nations that actively defends and promotes the interests of the Syriac (Aramean) people all over the world. In the last decade, the Chaldean, Nestorian (Assyrian), Syriac Orthodox and Syriac Catholic communities in Iraq suffered more or less from the same terrorist attacks. We believe it is high time that they all stand up together for their fundamental human rights and dignity and to speak up with one voice -- not as separate religious groups, but as one people who are equal heirs to the rich Aramaic heritage, present-day threats and a future destiny.

Your Excellency, you are aware about our work in advancing the human rights of the Aramean people in Turkey. In the recent months we have studied the situation in Iraq and are now slowly expanding our domain to faithfully serve our persecuted people in Iraq too.

If, therefore, there is anything the Syriac Universal Alliance can do to promote the interests of our Syriac Catholic community in Iraq, such as assisting you in raising more awareness in the USA, Australia and Europe about the precarious situation of our people in Iraq, or increasing the information flow to the relevant agencies of the United Nations and the European Union, please know that we are most willing to support you wherever we can.

It would be greatly appreciated if His Excellency could recommend sincere, knowledgeable and diligent individuals from the Syriac Catholic community who wish to cooperate with the Syriac Universal Alliance’s Team on Iraq to further the interests of our people.

We are looking forward to hearing from you. Respectfully yours,

Johny Messo
President
Syriac Universal Alliance