European Syriac Union receives President of International Religious Freedom Secretariat Nadine Maenza at its headquarters in Brussels

BRUSSELS — After being announced as a Global Fellow of the Wilson Center, a quasi-government research center and think tank based in Washington, D.C., President of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat and former Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Nadine Maenza visited the headquarters of the European Syriac Union (ESU). They discussed the situation of the Syriac (Aramean—Assyrian—Chaldean) people in their homeland of Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia).

Maenza was received by ESU Co-Chair Tony Virgili, Chairperson of Stichting Schlomo, the Netherlands affiliate of Syriac Cross, Sandra Korteweg-Vermeer, and Director of Sallux Johannes de Jong. She was accompanied by International Secretary of Christian Action Research and Education (CARE) Charlie Hoare and CEO and President of the Board of the Freedom Research Foundation Brandon Wheeler.

According to ESU officials, several issues were discussed with the delegation during a working dinner, including the conditions of the Syriac (Aramean—Assyrian—Chaldean) people and other Christian peoples in the Middle East. The ESU stated it was a pleasure to host Maenza, Hoare, and Wheeler.

With needs for #Syriac #Assyrians & other religious & ethnic minorities in the Middle East still so great, encouraging to see the important work of @esu_int. Appreciate the warm welcome in Brussels and time with co-Pres @TonyVergili & other great friends. @IrfSecretariat @FRF1984 https://t.co/5Y9Z6rbPsH

— Nadine Maenza (@nadinemaenza) January 18, 2023