Syriac Progressive Youth Union calls for boycott of Civil Waves organization over exclusion of Syriac language in cultural project

NORTH AND EAST SYRIA — The Syriac Progressive Youth Union (SPYU) has called for a boycott of the Civil Waves (PEL) organization following the launch of a project documenting historical and cultural sites in North and East Syria, which failed to include the Syriac language. 

In a statement, the SPYU described this omission as a violation of the Social Contract of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES). The contract underscores cultural diversity and recognizes Syriac, Kurdish, and Arabic as the region’s three official languages. 

Speaking to our newsdesk, Sobhi Malke, head of the SPYU, stressed the importance of the Syriac language in the region. He warned that disregarding it undermines the rights of the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people and the integrity of DAARNES’s decisions. 

PEL, a non-profit organization operating in North and East Syria, aims to empower diverse community groups, including youth and women, in political, social, and economic spheres. 

In its statement, the Syriac Progressive Youth Union demanded that PEL issue a formal apology, incorporate the Syriac language and Syriac scholars into the project, and ensure its inclusion in road signage. The SPYU also urged DAARNES and the Social Contract Court to enforce the terms of the contract and impose strict measures against violators.