Syriac women praise “Sureyto” Women’s Conference for historic reach and unity

ANKAWA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The Sureyto Women’s Conference concluded this past Saturday with synchronized sessions held in three cities — Zalin (Qamishli) in Syria, Ankawa in Iraq, and Giessen in Germany — under the banner “No Equality Without Justice, No Justice Without Women.” The event drew participation from more than 550 women of different denominations and representing various institutions and regions.

Following the conference, SyriacPress conducted a series of interviews with participants, highlighting the event’s significance. 

Ronak Elias Hanna, Deputy Chairwoman of the Bethnahrin Women’s Organization in Iraq, expressed pride in the scale and coordination of the gathering. She noted it was the first time such a large, unified conference had been held across homeland and diaspora communities with this level of organization. She stated that the conference addressed the social and political challenges facing Syriac women and opened the door to constructive dialogue among women from different geographic and institutional backgrounds. 

Ikbal Elias, a member of the Bethnahrin Women’s Organization, underscored the importance of the conference’s concrete outcomes — most notably, the establishment of a Women’s Council to follow up on the conference’s recommendations and resolutions. She said the council would mark a new beginning for joint women’s advocacy efforts. 

She added that more than 300 women had joined from Iraq alone, reflecting a strong desire for women to engage in political and social decision-making processes. 

Participants emphasized that the conference represents a turning point in the Syriac women’s movement, expressing hope for similar gatherings in the near future.