Events Update: Ehwo Party Cancelled, Midyat Party Continues as Scheduled
We are truly saddened to announce the cancellation of our WCA Youth Party tomorrow evening, August 16th, in the village of Ehwo (Güzelsu). Recently, the Mardin Governorship declared a security operation in this region (Turizlo). Ehwo is one of nine villages that is part of the “Temporary Special Security Zone” until this Friday, August 18th.
The Third Aramean Congress, 7 March, Sayfo 1915-2015 and the Aramean Identity
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (WCA) and the Federation of Arameans in Germany (BVDAD) cordially invite you to The Third Aramean Congress titled "SAYFO 1915-2015 and the Aramean Identity." It will be held on Saturday, 7 March 2015, at the Suryoyo Sat Studio in Gütersloh, Germany.
This year, we all honor the 100th Anniversary of the Sayfo. The WCA, its Member Federations, local associations, Suryoyo Sat, SAUF and SAAF have initiated a Sayfo documentary in cooperation with a Dutch Christian channel, a Sayfo logo and the Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/1915sayfo.
We all have more initiatives in the pipeline, just like each of you is now preparing various Sayfo events. Therefore, we see the necessity to bring together all our organizations and leading intellectuals in order to exchange ideas and dates for our Sayfo activities to create a SAYFO 2015 Agenda. For it would be good to be aware of each other’s agendas so that we can cooperate and attend each other’s events.
Besides the WCA’s Member Federations and Associations, we cordially invite Suryoyo Sat, the Sweden-based Syriac Aramaic Youth Federation (SAUF) and Syriac/Aramaic Academicians Federation (SAAF), Kreis Aramäischer Studierender Heidelberg (KrAS), Nisibin – Stiftung für Aramäische Studien, Stiftung zum Erhalt und zur Förderung des Aramäischen Kulturerbes, Kifa Magazine, the Aramean Movement for Human Rights (ABM), the Aramaic Democratic Organization (ArDO), Lebnon, our predecessors in the Aramean organizations and influential intellectuals.
For this event, we have also invited the well-known German genocide scholar, Dr. Tessa Hofmann, to give a presentation of one hour about the destruction of the Aramean people in 1914-1918.
We request each one of you to inform ALL of your members and inform them about the importance of this Congress. Kindly distribute this letter to your members via email and hang it in your offices. You(r delegates) can sign up until Friday 27 February 2015, by emailing their (family) name, position and contact details to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (only registered persons can attend for only 25 euro per person!).
We strongly believe that this historic Congress has the power to bring us all much closer to each other, increase our activities and make us individually and collectively stronger. Therefore, we look forward to receiving you at the Congress and hope to see you soon in Germany!
PROGRAM: SATURDAY, 7 MARCH 2015
SAYFO 1915-2015 AND THE ARAMEAN IDENTITY
09:30 – 10:00 Breakfast: Tea/Coffee & Sandwiches
10:00 – 10:30 Welcome & Opening Remarks by Mr. Daniyel Demir (7 min.),
Chairman Federation of Arameans in Germany
Speech by Mr. Johny Messo, WCA President (20 min.):
Sayfo and our People: Creating a Global Aramean Force
10:30 – 12:00 Statements by Organizations (5 min.) & Individuals (3 min.)
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch
12:45 – 14:15 Questions and Answers & General Discussion
Moderator: Dr. Gabriel Hanne
14:15 – 15:15 Lecture by Dr. Tessa Hofmann, Genocide Scholar
Persecution and Destruction of the Arameans in the Ottoman Empire and Ottoman Occupied Iran (1914-1918) – A Forgotten Genocide?
15:15 – 16:00 Questions & Answers
16:00 – 16:15 Break
16:15 – 17:45 Synergizing Thoughts and Initiatives: The SAYFO 2015 Agenda
Moderator: Dr. Gabriel Hanne
17.45 – 18.00 Presenting a DRAFT Joint Declaration to the German Government
We will translate and send it to our various Parliaments and Media
18:00 – 18:15 Final remarks by Mr. Daniyel Demir & Mr. Johny Messo
18:30 – 19:30 Dinner
20:00 – 22:30 Live Tahrazto on the 3rd Aramean Congress & The SAYFO 2015 Agenda
If you would like to attend it, email us at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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CONFERENCE | "Christians in Syria: The Challenge of Speaking with One Voice"
GENEVA, 8 MAY 2014, 8 P.M. – ESPACE FUSTERIE
Download the Press Release in English | Français
Download the Poster in English | Français
On May 8, 2014, at 8 pm at the Espace Fusterie in Geneva, seven representatives of the largest Churches in Syria - Orthodox and Catholic, senior members of the clergy and lay persons – will witness the dramatic situation confronting Christian communities in a conflict that is tearing this ancient land apart – a land with great culture and a cradle of Christianity.
Support Turabdin by Attending and Enjoying WCA's Open Air Parties
Get ready to dance under the stars of Turabdin in Southeast Türkiye at the picturesque village of Ehwo and the plaza of the enchanting Turabdin Hotel in Midyat. Let the vibrant Aramaic melodies fill the night as we come together to celebrate our ancient Aramean cultural heritage!
ISRAEL’S FIRST REGISTERED “ARAMEAN” TO ADDRESS UNITED NATIONS IN GENEVA
Amsterdam, 21 November 2014 - On 16 September 2014, Israel’s Minister of Interior, H.E. Gideon Sa‘ar, signed a document that recognizes “Aramean” as a distinct national identity in Israel’s population registry. In order to promote this historic decision, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) has invited the first registered Aramean from Israel to present a momentous statement on behalf of the Arameans worldwide at the UN Office in Geneva. Next Wednesday, 26 November, the WCA will address the Seventh Session of the Forum on Minority Issues on “Preventing and addressing violence and atrocity crimes targeted against minorities” (“UN Seventh Session”).
Click here to download this Press Release in PDF.
WCA interviewed by BBC in London
On 7 december 2012 the WCA President mr. Johny Messo has been interviewed by the BBC head office in London concerning a special Christmas programma on the plight of the Christians of Syria.
Celebrating 35 years WCA, live on SuryoyoSat
This year, WCA is celebrating its 35th anniversary since its establishment on 16 July 1983. To celebrate this joyous occasion, WCA will host an exclusive reception with former and present members of WCA, its federations and its lifelong benefactors! After the reception, the anniversary celebration will continue LIVE on SuryoyoSat and we invite you to join us!
SEMINAR: The Syria Policy of Sweden and the EU under Review
On Wednesday 2 July 2014, the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) will organize a seminar on the Syria policy of Sweden and the EU at the Almedalsveckan on the island of Gotland, Sweden. At this important annual platform, Swedish politicians, media and civil society organizations gather to discuss a variety of topics that involve their country.
The seminar, which is open to the public, will review how the decisions and the policies of Sweden and the EU have impacted the human rights situation on the ground, the Syrian asylum seekers in Sweden and more.
The knowledgeable speakers, Mr. Marcus Birro (Swedish journalist, author and poet) and Mr. Johny Messo (WCA President and writer from the Netherlands), will present their views and answer questions from the audience. The event will be moderated by Mr. Daniel Gabriel, an experienced lawyer from Australia and former UN NGO and Human Rights Director of the WCA.
Click here to download the poster
Photo: EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Ms. Catherine Ashton and Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Carl Bildt (AFP)
WCA attended lecture: "THE SYRIAN CRISIS: The Armenian Community in Syria Nowadays"
6 december 2012 the WCA President and WCA Vice-President/Human Rights and UN NGO Director attended an interesting lecture on:
