Olaf Taw Association for Syriac Language participates in first Syriac Symposium in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Under the banner “Syriac is a Living Culture that Enhances Our Resilience,” the first Syriac Symposium was held in Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), gathering cultural, educational, and social institutions from several countries. The event was hosted under the patronage of Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government Masrour Barzani.

The Olaf Taw Association for Syriac Language participated in the conference, which was organized by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts and the Yunan Hozaya Center for Future Research and Studies. The event took place at the Martyr Saad Abdullah Palace.

The opening ceremony began with a moment of silence in honor of martyrs, followed by a performance from the Syriac band Barmaya, which presented a traditional folkloric dance. Kaldo Ramzi Oghna, Director General of Syriac Culture and Arts, delivered a keynote speech, followed by remarks from Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on the importance of regional diversity and nationalities. Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel also gave a speech congratulating the participants.

During the symposium, attendees visited key cultural sites, including the Cultural Center for Preserving Syriac Manuscripts, the Syriac Heritage Museum, and the Digital Documentation Center for Oriental Manuscripts.

The symposium concluded on Saturday at Patriarch Youssef VI Audo’s conference hall in Ankawa. The Symposium Sessions Management Committee issued a final statement, which included several key recommendations. Among them was an appeal to the Prime Minister of Iraq to reopen the Syriac Language Authority within the Iraqi Scientific Academy, and a call for the establishment of a Syriac Academy in the Kurdistan region. The committee also urged greater support for the Syriac language and literature by backing the Union of Syriac Writers.

The symposium concluded with a commitment to continue holding such conferences to further promote Syriac culture and heritage.