Middle East and North Africa Youth Conference highlights participation of Syriac youth

BEIRUT — In comments to our newsdesk, Zana Mustafa, a member of the preparatory committee for the Middle East and North Africa Youth Conference, stated that preparations for the conference have been underway for a year and a half.

“It included sessions with various youth movements, political party youth groups, activists, politicians, and journalists from the Middle East and North Africa, along with a series of physical visits,” Mustafa said.

He stated that more than 22 youth organizations and movements, along with women’s associations and youth activists from multiple countries, participated in the conference. Youth from over 15 countries attended the event.

“What distinguishes this conference is the cultural and linguistic diversity, the variety of sects, cultures, and religions, as well as the participation of Syriac [Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean] youth from North and East Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon,” Mustafa noted.

He emphasized the importance of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) youth participation, highlighting the historical suffering of the Syriac people through exterminations and massacres.

Mustafa praised the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) youth for their role in advancing the democracy project to ensure the rights of indigenous Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people. He pointed out that within the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES), the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people have secured their rights to preserve their identity and language.