Syriac Writers and Authors Union in Iraq celebrates Syriac Press Day in Ankawa

ANKAWA, Iraq — On the 174th anniversary of issuing the Zahrira D-Bbahra newspaper, or World Syriac Press Day, the Syriac Writers and Authors Union in Ankawa, Iraq held a celebration to commemorate this day.

This year, the celebration was held under the auspices of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The celebration was attended by religious, political, parliamentary, governmental and cultural figures from Erbil and the Nineveh Plain, in addition to workers in the media field and those interested in Syriac culture.

Students of Syriac studies in Saladin University also attended the event.

The celebration began with a minute of silence in remembrance of journalists and writers, followed by a speech by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts, delivered by its Director Kaldo Ramzi Oganna.

Then, the speech of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate head was delivered by Azad Hama Amin.

Rond Bulos, head of the Union also delivered a speech about the importance of this day and the role of the Syriac press in spreading the Syriac language and its development.

A number of congratulatory telegrams were read on the occasion, from governmental institutions, parties, media figures, academics, and those interested in the Syriac language.

Then, a dialogue session began by the journalist Georgina Behnam Hababa.

She hosted Archbishop Youssef Tuma, who spoke about his experience with the Christian Thought Magazine, and the journalist, Nassim Sadiq, about the Syriac media, its situation and role in our current issues.

At the end of the celebration, a number of Syriac writers were honored with the Union Shield in appreciation of their efforts in spreading the Syriac culture.