North and East Syria’s Culture Board calls for historical accuracy on Syriac language and name ‘Syria’

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — In a move described by cultural circles as necessary to mend a growing rift in national consciousness, the Co-Chair of the Culture Board of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) issued a statement this week addressing recent remarks made by the Syrian Transitional Government’s (STG) Minister of Culture regarding the origins of the Syriac language and the etymology of the name ‘Syria’.

The statement, released in Arabic, Kurdish, and Syriac, underscored the importance of respecting the history and identity of all Syrian communities, rejecting any narrative that marginalizes or erases any of them.

Merhef Fahd, Co-Chair of the Culture Board, told SyriacPress that the minister’s claim that Syriac is “a dialect of Arabic” and his superficial interpretation of the origin of the name of Syria have caused significant social and cultural harm.

“The truth is that Syriac is of Akkadian origin, one of the Semitic languages of the region,” Fahd said. “The Syriac people are a founding component of Syria. Any attempt to ignore or exclude them — whether intentional or not — is an act of division, and that’s unacceptable.”

He emphasized that public discourse, especially from state institutions, must reflect Syria’s rich mosaic of identities — including Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans), Kurds, Arabs, Circassians, Armenians, and others. “The Ministry of Culture must portray each community in its true colors and avoid imposing a single narrative or identity,” he added, warning against a return to the Baathist-era mentality of ‘divide and rule’.

Serferaz Sharif, also Co-Chair of the Culture Board, reiterated the institution’s commitment to fostering social cohesion. She highlighted the danger of recent misstatements about the Syriac language and Syria’s name, which she said had damaged national unity.

“We are working to reinforce cohesion among all Syrian components — Syriac, Kurdish, Arab, and others,” Sharif said. “That’s why we issued this statement in three languages: Arabic, Kurdish, and Syriac — to affirm that every group has the right to express its culture and history without being marginalized.”

She cautioned that such misrepresentations threaten to unravel progress toward unity and warned against regressing to a vision of Syria that fails to embrace its multiethnic and multireligious reality.

Syriac Cultural Association: Demand for Official Recognition and Apology

Sophia Youssef, a representative of the Syriac Cultural Association, called on the minister to issue an official apology, describing his comments as a distortion of Syriac heritage.

“We strongly condemn and demand a retraction of the claim that Syriac is an ‘Arabic dialect’ or that the name ‘Syria’ simply means ‘lords,’” Youssef said. “Syriac is not a dialect — it’s an ancient language that shaped human civilization. It is the language of Beth Nahrin, with countless inscriptions and ruins across Syria attesting to its deep roots. It must be recognized as an official language in the new Syrian constitution.”