Bethnahrin National Council issues statement on International Mother Language Day: “Tihe lu leşono emhoyaydan dkıtyo i ithuthaydan” | Our Mother Tongue is Our Existence

BETH NAHRIN — The Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB), released a statement titled “Our Mother Tongue is Our Existence” in celebration of International Mother Language Day. The statement extended congratulations to all Suryoye/Suryaye on this occasion and called for the preservation of their ancestral language.

Rich History of Syriac language

In its statement, the MUB emphasized that Syriac is the mother tongue of the Syriac and one of the oldest written languages in Beth Nahrin (Mesopotamia) and the Middle East. It highlighted Syriac’s historical role in fostering relations between civilizations, which enriched the language over centuries. 

However, the Council noted that with the loss of political authority and legal status, the Syriac language faced pressures from dominant cultures and ruling systems. Over time, this weakened its role in social life, leading to a decline in literacy and reducing the language to a primarily ecclesiastical and liturgical function. As a result, the national identity of the Syriac people became increasingly linked to religious affiliation. 

Suppression and Revival of Syriac Identity

The statement condemned ruling powers in the Middle East for viewing the Syriac people solely as a religious sect while denying their national identity. It stated that Arab, Turkish, and Persian authorities have put in place enforcing policies of denial and erasure, including educational systems that marginalized and banned the Syriac language. This suppression led to its gradual exclusion from daily life. 

However, the MUB Council pointed to recent geopolitical shifts, particularly the collapse of the Ba’athist regimes in Iraq and Syria and the weakening of Iran’s religious ‘guardianship’ over the region. These changes have allowed for greater representation of the Syriac people, with their political and cultural rights now being discussed on the highest international level. Given these developments, the Council urged for a stronger and more responsible national struggle against totalitarian policies aimed at erasing language and heritage. 

Call for Educational Reform

To prevent the Syriac language from falling into obscurity, the Council called for the establishment of educational institutions that teach Syriac wherever possible, particularly in Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. It urged resistance against Arabization and Turkification efforts by implementing an independent national curriculum tailored to the community’s needs. Additionally, it stressed the importance of safeguarding the language in the diaspora, where cultural assimilation poses a significant threat. 

Language as Pillar of Freedom

The Council declared that the fight for freedom is inseparable from the struggle to preserve culture, language, and historical values. It called for collective action to promote Syriac education, urging all community institutions, intellectuals, educators, and individuals to seize every opportunity to protect their mother tongue with determination. 

Furthermore, the statement underscored the necessity of advocating for the Syriac language to become an official language in the educational systems in the homeland. Recognizing it within national constitutions and securing its legal protection would mark a crucial step toward affirming the Syriac identity. 

Commitment to Preservation

The statement of the Bethnahrin National Council concluded by reaffirming that the recognition of the Syriac language in legal frameworks would not only secure its future but also serve as a formal acknowledgment of the Syriac people’s national identity. The Council extended its greetings on International Mother Language Day, celebrating the efforts of educators and community members working tirelessly to preserve and develop their ancestral language. 

In Syriac: 

Tihe lu leşono emhoyaydan dkıtyo i ithuthaydan. 

(Long live our language which is our Existence)

Tihe lu ağunaydan du leşono emhoyo Suryoyo.

(Long live our struggle four our national language Suryoyo)