Cultural Board of North and East Syria rebukes Syrian Minister’s remarks on Syriac language, calls for respecting cultural diversity

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — The Cultural Board of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) issued a sharp critique this week of recent statements made by Mohammad Saleh, Syria Transitional Government (STG) Minister of Culture, accusing him of undermining the linguistic and cultural identity of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people.

In an official statement released on Monday, the Board condemned Saleh’s characterization of Syriac as an “old Arabic dialect,” labeling the claim as historically inaccurate and culturally dismissive. “The Syriac language is an independent Semitic language within the Aramaic branch, with a well-documented history spanning thousands of years,” the statement asserted.

During a televised interview, Saleh also claimed that the term “sir” derives from “Syria,” meaning “lords,” and is the root of the English honorific “Sir.” The Cultural Board dismissed these remarks as “pseudo-historical mythology,” clarifying that the name “Syria” was historically used by the Greeks to describe a region home to Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Arameans, and Syriacs, reflecting its ancient heritage.

The Board described Saleh’s comments as indicative of an “exclusionary and authoritarian mindset” reminiscent of previous regimes. “Such thinking undermines the pluralism essential for a democratic Syria,” the statement warned.

DAARNES called on the STG to respect Syria’s ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity, emphasizing that safeguarding cultural identities is vital for the nation’s democratic future. “Diversity is not a concession — it is a foundation,” the statement concluded.

The remarks have reignited debates over the cultural policies of Syria’s transitional leadership and their impact on minority communities, which have long been marginalized in the nation’s official narratives.