Celebration held in Ankawa, Iraq on Syriac Press Day

ANKAWA, Iraq — Yesterday, the Syriac Writers and Authors Union celebrated Syriac Press Day in Ankawa, marking the173rd anniversary of the issuing of the first Syriac newspaper Zahrire d-Bahra (Rays of Light) in the city of Urmia, Iran, in 1849.

The event started with a minute of silence for the souls of journalist martyrs. It was attended by Florin Gorgis from the Office of President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), Director General of Syriac Culture and Arts in the KRI Caldo Oganna, and Director General of Syriac Education in the KRI Nizar Hanna.

A number of officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), head of the Syriac Writers and Authors Union Rond Bulos, poets, writers, intellectuals, those interested in the Syriac cultural affairs, media personalities, professors and students of the Syriac department at Salah al-Din University in Erbil were also among the attendees.

Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian writers and intellectuals and Secretary of the KRI Journalists Syndicate Azad Hamad also attended.

The opening speeches were delivered by head of the Syriac Writers and Authors Union Rond Bulos, Director General of Syriac Culture and Arts in the KRI Caldo Oganna, and Secretary of the KRI Journalists Syndicate Azam Hamad.

Moderated by author Akkad Murad, the attendees discussed the experience of the Iraqi Scientific Academy / Syriac Department.

Author Butros Nabati moderated the second topic of discussion, renewing the Banipal Magazine.

The third topic, the general situation of Syriac language press, was moderated by journalist Valentina Hedo.