Bethnahrin National Council: Preservation and advancement of Syriac fortifies national and social fabric

BETH NAHRIN — On the occasion of Mother Language Day, the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB) issued a statement on the importance of ensuring the strength of the Syriac language.

“The significance of 21 February, Mother Language Day, sanctioned by the United Nations in 1999, resonates deeply with the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community. Our Syriac language serves as the cornerstone of our identity, substantiating our existence, chronicling our history, and encapsulating our cultural heritage. The preservation and advancement of Syriac not only fortifies our national and social fabric but also enrich our communicative bonds, fostering heightened awareness among the Syriac people,” read the MUB statement.

The statement emphasized that the Syriac mother tongue shapes the national identity and social spheres, permeating all aspects of life. As a Semitic language, Syriac has existed for millennia in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia).

Semitic languages, predating written communication, splintered into various branches utilized by diverse Middle Eastern societies.

As Aramaic emerged as the lingua franca of trade and correspondence circa 1000 B.C., it fostered prolific literary and artistic achievements. Syriac served as a pivotal conduit for translations between civilizations.

Although having survived centuries of upheaval, the foundations of the Syriac language have eroded in the modern era, the result of nationalist projects attacking indigenous peoples and their cultures.

“Presently classified as endangered, Syriac confronts existential threats stemming from the fragmentation and dispersal of our people and their historical and social dynamics. Policies of demographic manipulation aim to eradicate Syriac. Despite lip service from prevailing powers and discriminatory regimes in the Middle East acknowledging Syriac culture and language, they fail to recognize the rights, identity, freedom, and autonomy of the Syriac people. Consequently, the perilous assault on the Syriac community and language persists,” the statement noted.

Confronting genocidal and denialist policies head-on, the MUB urged the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, intellectuals, educators, and institutions to safeguard and nurture our mother tongue, repelling assaults and enhancing educational initiatives in native Syriac.

The MUB further called upon the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community to engage in organized resistance and institutional advocacy for their language and identity.

The MUB statement closed, “In commemorating Mother Tongue Day, we reaffirm our commitment to the national struggle for liberation, extending gratitude to Syriac educators, language proponents, and our resilient community.