Syriac leaders call for inclusion of national and religious rights in Syria’s new constitution
ZALIN, North and East Syria — Afram Ishak, Deputy Chair of the Syrian Democratic Council (SDC) and member of the Executive Committee of the Syriac Union Party (SUP), and Georgette Barsomo, head of the Syriac Women’s Union (SWU), have called for the inclusion of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people’s national and religious rights in Syria’s new constitution. These appeals were made during separate interviews with Syriac Press.
A Call for Recognition
Following the fall of Syria’s previous regime last month, the Syriac Union Party organized a demonstration in Zalin (Qamishli), within the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES). The protest aimed to highlight the need for constitutional recognition of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people’s rights within a pluralistic and decentralized Syria.
Afram Ishak emphasized the importance of the demonstration, stating, “We are raising our voices to assert that we are an indigenous people of Syria, not a minority.” He reiterated the party’s commitment to Syria’s political transition and stressed the necessity of including representatives from all Syrian communities in the upcoming National Dialogue Conference, which will draft a modern, democratic constitution.
Ishak also reaffirmed the party’s longstanding demand to uncover the fate of Syriac leader Saeed Malke, who was detained by the previous regime in 2013. He emphasized their determination to ensure adequate representation for the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people in Syria’s political process and guarantee their voices are heard in the drafting of the new constitution.
Empowering Women’s Rights
Georgette Barsomo echoed Ishak’s sentiments, focusing on the historical struggles of Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) women. She urged the international community to support the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, who have endured centuries of oppression. She expressed hope for a pluralistic, democratic, and decentralized Syria that guarantees equal rights for all.
In her interview with Syriac Press, Barsomo highlighted the importance of safeguarding the progress achieved by Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) women, emphasizing the need to preserve their hard-won rights in the future constitution.
Both leaders underscored that the new constitution must reflect the diversity of Syria’s people and provide lasting protections for the Syriac-Assyrian community, a group that has lived in the region for thousands of years.