Syriac Union Party joins protest in Beth Zalin against Constitutional Declaration

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — In a show of defiance against the Syrian Transitional Government’s (STG) Constitutional Declaration, diverse communities from Gozarto (Jazira) Canton in North and East Syria, including the Syriac people represented by the Syriac Union Party (SUP), took to the streets. The demonstrators marched to the United Nations headquarters, demanding revisions to the Declaration to ensure fair representation for all Syrians.

Unified Rejection of Constitutional Declaration

The protest in Beth Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria was part of a growing wave of opposition to the Constitutional Declaration signed last Thursday by Transitional President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Various political parties, ethnic groups, and local residents participated in the demonstration, which began at the Khalij Roundabout and proceeded to the UN office in the city.

Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans rejecting the declaration, arguing that it fails to represent the aspirations of all Syrians. They called for drafting a new constitution that safeguards the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, including the indigenous Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people.

Call for Equal Representation

During the demonstration, representatives from various political parties and ethnic groups — including Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans), Arabs, and Kurds — delivered speeches condemning the declaration. Among them was Sabah Shabo, a member of the SUP, who criticized the document’s exclusionary nature.

Shabo strongly opposed reducing Christian representation to a solely religious framework, emphasizing that the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people must be acknowledged for their historical, linguistic, and national identity.

“The new declaration does not acknowledge our people’s rightful place in Syria’s history,” Shabo declared. “It fails to reflect the diverse fabric of this country.”

Defending Autonomous Administration Model

Shabo also expressed support for the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES), emphasizing its Social Contract as a framework that ensures cultural, historical, and national rights for all communities.

On the sidelines of the protest, Shabo gave a statement to SyriacPress, highlighting the importance of the demonstration.

“This protest is a testament to our people’s voice,” she said. “The Syriac Union Party stands as the legitimate representative of the Syriac-Assyrian community in Gozarto.”

Legacy of Marginalization

Shabo also criticized the Constitutional Declaration for neglecting the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people, who have endured decades of marginalization and exclusion despite being among Syria’s oldest communities.

“It is unacceptable that the declaration disregards us, especially when the very name ‘Syria’ originates from the Syriac people,” she asserted.

The protesters’ primary demand was unequivocal: a pluralistic, decentralized Syria where all citizens — regardless of ethnicity or sect — are treated equally under the law.