SÖDERTALJE: SUP holds lecture-discussion on the future of Syriacs in Syria and the importance of joint efforts to safeguard political rights

SÖDERTALJE, Sweden —The Syriac Union Party of Syria (SUP) on Sunday held a lecture in the Swedish city of Södertälje focusing on the future of the Syriac (Assyrian-Chaldean-Aramean) people in Syria. The event emphasized the importance of intensifying joint efforts at multiple levels to safeguard national and political rights of the Syriacs in Syria’s new constitution and the broader struggle for recognition.

A diverse group of Syriac activists, writers and politicians committed to the national cause took part in the lecture-discussion, which was chaired by Joseph Lahdo, Head of the SUP European Section, along with Jacob Mirza, ESU European Representative for Internal Affairs. The event was held at the Suroyo TV studios in Södertälje.

A call for unity and constitutional recognition

Lahdo and Mirza stressed the need to unite efforts on all fronts – Syriac political parties, churches and civil institutions – to develop a common vision for their role in a future Syria. They emphasized that the rights of Syriacs should be enshrined in the new Syrian constitution, just like those of all other peoples and communities.

Several participants stressed the importance of establishing a democratic civil state in Syria, based on the principles of citizenship, justice and equality between all ethnic and religious groups. They called for official recognition of Syriac identity and advocated for the Syriac language to be designated as the official language of the country. In addition, they emphasized the right of Syriac students to receive education in their mother tongue.