Syriac writer and poet Malfono Hanna Hanna passes away at 71 in Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria

ZALIN, Syria — On Friday, 16 December, Syriac writer and poet Malfono Hanna Hanna passed away in Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria, from a heart attack.

Hanna was born in 1951 in the village of Al-Hadi Al-Sharqiah. He married Warda Romanos and had three sons and three daughters.

Through his work, he enriched Syriac literature with various books, writings, and poems in the Syriac and Arabic languages. Hanna wrote several books and poems about Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia), the history, civilization, and culture of the Syriac (Aramean– Assyrian–Chaldean) people, Sayfo Genocide, Simele Massacre, and Syriac (Aramean– Assyrian–Chaldean) people martyrs. He participated in several programs on SuroyoTV.

Hanna was also known for his sacrifice and love for the Syriac (Aramean– Assyrian–Chaldean) homeland and its people, in addition to his hard work in developing Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) institutions and parties.

He held the position of official of the Syriac Cultural Association in Zalin, was a member of the Council of the Syriac Union Party (SUP), and a deputy in the Culture Authority of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria.

The Syriac Cultural Association in Zalin released a condolence letter that read as follows:

“At first, our condolences to ourselves, his family and his friends. We lost a great person who sacrificed himself for the sake of the word, for his Syriac history, and for the cultural heritage he left in people’s minds and hearts. His wise leadership of the Syriac cultural movement and his fruitful interaction with all the components of the region will not be forgotten.

May you rest in peace Syriac researcher, writer, thinker, Malfono Hanna Hanna.”

His funeral service was held on Friday morning in the Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Ya’qub al-Nusaibini in the presence of a large public gathering and representatives of institutions of Beth Nahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB).

The prayer was presided over by Fr. Shamoun Ibrahim, Fr. Habib Issa, and Fr. Aho Ibrahim. He was buried in the Syriac Orthodox cemetery.

The condolences were presented to his family in the hall of Syriac Orthodox Church of Mor Kiriakus.

The funeral prayer for his soul will be held on Saturday in the Church of Mar Ya’qub al-Nusaibini.