Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Yawsef III Younan calls for a democratic Syria with a new constitution that protects the rights of all components

GOZARTO REGION, Syria—Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mor Ignatius Yawsef III Younan concluded his pastoral tour in North and East Syriac with a Divine Liturgy in the Syriac Orthodox Church of Saint Jacob of Nisibis in Zalin (Qamishli).

In exclusive statements to our news desk, Patriarch Mor Yawsef III Younan stated that only he used to hear and read about the regions of North and East Syria and the situation of Christians in the region, indicating that his current visit came about and aimed to help achieve the aspirations of the Christian people – which in majority are Syriacs – and making their voice heard in the critical situation Christians and Syria is going through.

“The political situation in Syria has exacerbated the crisis and division of the Christian people,” the Patriarch said. He indicated that the cultural, ethnic, and national rights must be given to the Syriac people, in addition to respect for human rights and political freedom.

“Some minorities have re-organized themselves in these areas [of North and East Syria], while our Christian people for more than a decade have continued to migrate from Syria, Turkey, Lebanon and Iraq, which led to a great void in diversity.”

“We pray for peace, equality, and security in this land, for the rights of our people who have lived here throughout history, and for no religion or nationalism to be imposed over the entire country.”

“I call for Syria to be a civil and democratic state. A new constitution should protect the rights of all components,” the Syriac Patriarch concluded.

The Syriac Security Forces (Surtoro) secured the Patriarch during his visit to the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

For the article in Arabic here