Beth Nahrin National Council issues statement on International Mother Language Day

BETH NAHRIN — On the International Mother Language Day, the Beth Nahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) published a statement titled “Our Mother Language is Title of Our National Identity.” The statement declared that the MUB struggle aims to establish and develop the historical and cultural rights of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, especially the Syriac language, which is a cornerstone of Syriac national identity. The statement also clarified that the MUB’s primary goal is to protect the Syriac language from extinction.

The MUB statement added that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) specified 21 February as International Mother Language Day in 1999 after studies concluded more than 100 languages are at risk of extinction, among them the Syriac language. Syriac is a native language to Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) and was significant for its role in early scientific and religious pursuits.

In its statement, the MUB noted that because the Syriac people did not have a homeland and international support, the threat to their mother tongue increased. The governments of Beth Nahrin adopted hostile mentalities and engaged in systematic purges and massacres against the Syriac people.

The use of the Syriac language in the region was limited to religious rites and public conversations, which contributed in some way to keeping the language alive.

The MUB added that the struggle of the Syriac people and their practice of the Syriac language is currently contributing to its rapid development, but their struggle faced various difficulties and obstacles in many regions.

“Regarding the basics of teaching the mother tongue, our Syriac people suffer from many difficulties in terms of knowledge and national unity. In order to overcome the policies of exclusion and discrimination that tyrannical governments have practiced for decades against our Syriac people, we must revive and develop our language. Our language plays an important role in transmitting our cultural, historical and national identity to future generations. Dialogue is the way out and the solution to unite and organize us,” read the statement.

In addition to having a distinctive language that shows Syriac culture, customs, newspapers, and homeland to the world, we must practice, learn and develop our mother tongue, the statement continued..

“On this day, we call on our Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people to assume their responsibilities towards their mother tongue and support the education system in North and East Syria. Learning our mother tongue will increase our organizational structure, and thus strengthen us to defend our rights, values, enrich our land and heritage, which will break the chains of fear and support our struggle towards achieving national freedom,” the statement added.

The MUB extended its congratulations to the students, mothers, teachers, and all Syriac people on this occasion.