WCA President speaks at 3rd International Conference on Victims of Religious and Ethnic Violence in the Middle East
On Monday 14 May 2018, the Belgian and Lebanese Ministers for Foreign Affairs organised the 3rd International Ministerial Conference on the Victims of Religious and Ethnic Violence in the Middle East. The WCA was requested to speak on the situation of the native Aramean Christians in the Middle East.
Invite to mark fifth anniversary of Mor Gregorius Yohanna Ibrahim's Abduction
22 April 2013 – 22 April 2018
On behalf of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”), we cordially invite you to participate in a symposium to mark the lapse of five years since the abduction of the Metropolitans of Aleppo, Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi, who were kidnapped on 22 April 2013.
Kurdish YPG / Asayesh Forces Kidnapped More Aramean Christians in Northeast Syria
The Kurdish YPG/Asayesh forces have begun to intensify their ongoing intimidations and threats towards Christians in Northeast Syria. They are now increasingly kidnapping and conscripting teenagers with the intention to send them to the frontline in places like Afrin.
Photo: courtesy of Waarmedia.com
Turkish Bill Sees Return of 55 Aramean Christian Properties in Mardin
The St. Gabriel Foundation, which manages a good deal of at least 110 confiscated Aramean Christian properties in 2017, received today 50 of the 55 returned title deeds from the Turkish Government. Recently, parliament voted in favor of a bill dealing with the return of these assets after the expansion of the municipality of Mardin, a city in Southeast Turkey.
New Turkish bill and European Parliament Resolution on Christian property issues
The European Parliament has expressed its concerns over the more than 50 seized Aramean churches, monasteries and other assets in Turkey. Yesterday’s adopted resolution calls on the European Commission to raise this issue with Turkey. Meanwhile, the state’s officials and Aramean representatives are negotiating a bill to return the confiscated properties.
Syriacs Demand to be Included in Iraqi Constitution to Secure their Future in Post-ISIS Era
The indigenous Syriacs (Arameans) of Iraq are deeply concerned about their rights and future in their ancestral land. The Nineveh Plain is close to be reconquered from ISIS, but the Syriacs fear to return home without international protection. The first step to ensure their future in their homeland begins with granting them recognition in Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution.
WCA Meets with UNESCO to Preserve the Endangered Aramaic Language
Following a recent request, WCA met with UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris on 26 April 2018 to discuss the endangered Aramean cultural heritage, especially the Aramaic language.
Video Shows Christian Property in Syria Seized by Kurdish Forces
As a Western ally in the fight against ISIS, Syria’s Kurdish PYD (Democratic Union Party) has been vigorously presenting itself as an advocate of peace, democracy and ethno-religious pluralism. Its actions on the ground, however, especially its treatment of the dwindling indigenous populations, fly in the face of international law and debunk its idyllic portrayal.
Video Courtesy of Eddie Gaboro Hanna (photo)
Request to amend article 125 of Constitution and ID Card
Iraq’s Arameans express deep concern about the lack of constitutional recognition as a distinct ethno-religious people and their uncertain future in their homeland in the Nineveh Plain which soon may be retaken from ISIS. Unlike other populations in Iraq such as Turkmen, Chaldeans and Assyrians, the Syriacs are not mentioned in Article 125 of the Constitution. Therefore, they are now forced to identify themselves by one of these identities, or the Arab one, and thus adopt an identity that is entirely foreign to them in the ID Cards that have to be issued. This has caused serious concerns and angry reactions among hundreds of thousands of Iraq’s indigenous Arameans in and outside Iraq who refuse to identify themselves other than Syriacs or Arameans.
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) addresses this pertinent issue in a letter that has been sent by the WCA to Iraqi government officials and the media. The WCA and its Member Federations also sent the letters to Iraq’s Ambassadors across Europe, the USA and Australia, requesting them to share it with Baghdad and the dignitaries in charge of constitutional amendments and also requesting for meetings to further clarify the issue and the uncertain future of Iraq’s Aramean Christians in the post-ISIS period in Iraq, considering that the Nineveh Plains may be reconquered in the near future.
Scroll down below to download the letter of the WCA and the Syriac Orthodox and Catholic Archbishops of Iraq. Also, view the video message of the WCA President and the Vice-Chairman of the Aramean Federation in the Netherlands.
The Syriac Catholic activist Isho' Majeed Hadaya (1954-2006) was murdered on 22 November 2006 in his hometown of Baghdeda (Qaraqosh), North Iraq, because of his Aramean Christian identity. At his funeral, the Aramaic flag was laid on his coffin.
