Syriac Press Day: Honoring 175 years of Syriac journalism and cultural preservation

BETH NAHRIN — Celebrated by the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people around the world annually on 1 November, Syriac Press Day recognizes the press’s vital role in fostering awareness of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) identity and advocating for national and legal issues facing the community.

The celebration commemorates the issuing of the first issue of the Syriac-language newspaper Zahriri Dabahra — meaning ‘Light’ — on 1 November 1849, marking the birth of modern Syriac-language journalism.

Historians, however, trace the roots of Syriac journalism back even further, to ancient Assyrian clay tablets, known as the Assyrian Annals, where Assyrian kings documented their achievements and campaigns, providing the earliest recorded instances of journalism from Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) thousands of years ago.

Though Zahriri Dabahra ceased publication in 1918 due to the impacts of World War I, its influence in preserving the Syriac language and culture endured. It set a foundation for newspapers and magazines that continue to address Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) affairs both in the homeland and in diaspora communities, particularly as migration increased in the early 20th century.

Over the past 175 years, many prominent figures emerged in Syriac journalism, including Naoum Faiq, Ashur Youssef, Youssef Malik, Farid Nazha, Yohanoun Qashisho, and Maryam Narmah, the latter of whom played a pioneering role in establishing Syriac-language feminist journalism.

With advancements in print, broadcast, and digital media, the Syriac-language press expanded, reaching new audiences. In 2004, Suroyo TV became the first major Syriac visual media outlet, aiming to amplify the voice of Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) through studios in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Sweden. The channel produced programs covering national issues, cultural preservation, and women’s rights.

In 2019, Syriac Press was launched as a digital platform to document the lives of Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) in their homeland and to serve as a platform advocating for their historical and national rights. That same year, Suroyo FM began its broadcast from Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria, providing a connection between Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) in their homeland and those abroad.

Throughout its history, Syriac-language press has faced many challenges, yet it has persisted, serving as a shield for the Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) people and preserving their cultural heritage amid changing times and hardships.