Discussion panel on Syriac language revival held in Istanbul on International Mother Language Day
ISTANBUL — On 18 February, marking International Mother Language Day, a panel discussion was organized at the headquarters of the Human Rights Association in Istanbul.
Titled The Past and Present of the Syriac Language, the panel centered on the significance of revitalizing and advancing the Syriac language.
Initiated by Gazete Sabro editor Marta Sömekîn, the panel was organized by Gazete Sabro and the Federation of Syriac Associations (Süryani Dernekler Federasyonu, SÜDEF), in collaboration with the Human Rights Association, Istanbul Branch (İnsan Hakları Derneği, İHD).
Notable attendees included representatives from Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean), Circassian, Laz, Kurd, Armenian, and Greek communities.
SÜDEF President Evgil Türker delivered the opening speech, underscoring the significance of Mother Language Day in combating language extinction, including that of Syriac. Türker also criticized the insufficient efforts of the UN in thwarting these extinction attempts.
“After the establishment of the Turkish Republic, the last Syriac school was closed in 1928,” Türker remarked. “Therefore, the continuation of Syriac language teaching is not officiall and is rather limited to the liturgical language in churches. This situation has not witnessed any development or progress.”
He advocated for new legislation in Turkey to uphold democratic principles and human rights.
Gülistan Yarkin, a member of the Anti-Racism Committee in Turkey, outlined efforts to support the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community and highlighted the case of a nun from Zaz village who faced pressure from authorities to leave the church.
The telegram from the Bethnahrin Women’s Union (Huyodo d’Neshe d’Bethnahrin, HNB) stressed the pivotal role of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) women in language preservation, emphasizing the challenges ahead.
Bilgi University Professor Bülent Bilmez addressed the issue of multilingualism, criticizing the university’s neglect of languages spoken in Turkey and advocating for change.
Activist Altan Açıkdilli welcomed attendees in various Turkish languages, emphasizing the ongoing resistance against language extinction since 2007.
Teodora Hobil of the Syriac Women’s Association (Süryani Kadın Derneği üyesi, SÜRKADİM) delivered her speech in Syriac, stressing the importance of mother tongue preservation, particularly of Syriac.
Writer Yaşar Güven, from Jineps, highlighted the disappearance of numerous languages in Turkey and called for solidarity among all communities to prevent further linguistic violations.
Writer and Professor Muzaffer İris urged recognition of linguistic genocide in addition to the Sayfo Genocide. “In my opinion, the genocide against languages should also be recognized,” he added.
Panel organizers concluded by presenting demands for language preservation, including the promotion of Syriac language instruction, legislative protection of language rights, and the inclusion of Syriac as an academic language in Turkey.
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