Nadine Maenza visits Suroyo Media Foundation in North and East Syria

BETH ZALIN, Syria — As a part of her current to North and East Syria, 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 Syriac Union Party (SUP) in Beth Zalin (Qamishli) on Wednesday.

She was received by SUP Co-Chairs Sanharib Barsom and Nazira Goreya, members of the SUP Executive Body Rubel Bahho and Afram Ishaq, and spokesperson for Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Aram Hanna.

They discussed the political and economic situation in the region, as well as the status of religious freedom and coexistence. The attack on the Sayfo Genocide Memorial was highlighted. Maenza condemned the attack and considered it an attempt to undermine coexistence in the region.

The situation of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people in the region, and Syria in general, was also discussed.

Following the meeting, Maenza was accompanied by the SUP delegation on a visit to the Suroyo Media Foundation. They toured the newsdesk, Suroyo TV and Suroyo FM facilities, and praised the staff’s efforts in conveying the voice of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people to the international community.

In comments to Syriac Press during her visit, Maenza spoke about her meetings with officials of the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria, especially in Raqqa, which has begun to witness a growing sense of religious coexistence after the city’s destruction at the hands of the Islamic State (ISIS).

It is important for the American people to learn about the DAA and its model of inclusive governance, she stated.

Maenza also praised the DAA’s efforts to deliver aid to areas in northern western Syria devastated by the February earthquake.