Beth Nahrain Women’s Union congratulates HNSB for 10 years of empowering women and defending freedom

BETH NAHRIN — On August 30, the Beth Nahrin Women’s Protection Force (Ḥaylawotho d’Sutoro d’Neshe d’Beth Nahrin, HSNB) marked the tenth anniversary of its founding. On this occasion, the Beth Nahrain Women’s Union (Huyodo d’Neshe d’Bethnahrin, HNB) issued a statement titled “An Organized Woman… A Free People.” 

The statement opened with a reflection on the long struggle of Syriac-Assyrian-Chaldean-Melkite-Maronite women, noting that “After thousands of years of subjugation, Syriac-Assyrian-Chaldean-Melkite-Maronite women have struggled to attain a place in society. The women of our people have endured suffering, faced hardships, and been subjected to various forms of violence, without public outcry or societal equality, and have been excluded from all spheres of life.” 

The HNB went on to state that, “as descendants of pioneering women throughout history—among them Ishtar, Enheduanna, Shamiram, Zenobia, and many others—our women embody the heritage and spirit of the warrior woman. This strength was evident during the societal revival that followed the Sayfo genocide. Yet, in the aftermath of Sayfo and the many subsequent genocides committed against our people, the collective will—especially that of our women—was broken.” 

HNB emphasized however, that after new opportunities opened for the women of their community—guided by the philosophy and path laid down by the leadership of the Beth Nahrin National Council, and the founding of the HNB— women have taken on a pivotal role in shaping their people’s future. It noted that women seized these opportunities, assuming prominent positions across all sectors and levels, contributing to every field of their community’s endeavors, and representing their people on the international stage. Having advanced step by step and proven their competence in all domains, the Union stressed, there remains one decisive step for women to undertake: to demonstrate their ability to sacrifice and to defend their people. 

The HNB added that, with the onset of ISIS attacks in the 2010s, women chose to defend their people and homeland “as a mother protects her children.” On this basis, HSNB was established in 2015. The statement described this step as the final cornerstone in building a strong women’s organization, proving within their own community and to other peoples that Syriac-Assyrian-Chaldean women are capable of shaping their own destiny and standing on the frontlines to defend their values. 

The Beth Nahrain Women’s Union concluded its statement by affirming: “With the legacy of pioneering women throughout history, we will open the path toward freedom and equality for the women of our people. We call on every Syriac-Assyrian-Chaldean woman, young and old, to join the organization with pride and honor. In the 21st century, Syriac-Assyrian-Chaldean women will chart the course to our people’s freedom.”