SYRIA

TARTUS, Syria — Residents of Tartus woke up Tuesday morning to find a provocative poster affixed to the wall of the city’s Syriac Maronite church, calling Christians to convert to Islam or pay the ‘Jizya’, a tax historically imposed on non-Muslims. The poster, written in Arabic and signed off with…

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — Against the backdrop of shifting political and security conditions in Syria, particularly in the northeast, the Council of Notables of North and East Syria, in coordination with the Syriac Military Council (Mawtbo Fulhoyo Suryoyo, MFS), hosted a pivotal meeting in Beth Zalin (Qamishli)…

LONDON / AMMAN — A policy brief published by PeaceRep in February warned that the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) risks replacing one form of kleptocracy with another through a rapid shift toward ‘Islamic neoliberalism’. Authored by Joseph Daher and Zaki Mehchy, Syria’s Economic Transition: From Kleptocracy to Islamic Neoliberalism in…

BETH ZALIN, North and East Syria — The Syriac Cultural Association in Syria celebrated its 17th anniversary with a vibrant event held at the Armenian General Benevolent Union Hall in Beth Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria.  The celebration brought together representatives from the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo d’Bethnahrin,…

MAHARDA, Syria — Following the overthrow of the Syrian regime and the ouster of Bashar al-Assad, the Christian communities of Syria are facing heightened sectarian hostility and violence under the Syrian Transitional Government (STG). Recent incidents in the Hemto (Hama) Governorate have amplified fears for the safety and future of…

Beneath the skies of Zalin (Qamishli) and across the expanse of the Gozarto (Jazeera) Region, where the scent of jasmine mingles with the breath of Syriac (Aramean-Chaldean-Assyrian) history, a dream was born in the heart of a man who was no ordinary leader but a symbol of resilience and hope.…

LONDON — Amnesty International has called on Syrian Transitional Government (STG) to implement tangible measures to achieve justice, uncover the truth and provide reparations to address the devastating wartime violations.    In a recent statement, Amnesty International pressed the STG to enact human rights-based reforms aimed at preventing further abuses. “Syria’s…

RISH AYNO, North and East Syria — Armed factions affiliated with the Turkish-backed terrorist group Sultan Murad Division have erected new checkpoints across the western countryside of Rish Ayno (Ras al-Ain), where they are reportedly extorting local residents and confiscating personal property, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights…

DAYRO ZCURO, North and East Syria — The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) reported that an Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist cell targeted one of its military vehicles in the Abu Hamam area of the Dayro Zcuro (Deir ez-Zor) countryside, highlighting the ongoing security challenges in northern Syria.  The assault resulted in…

DARAMSUQ — Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Vicar for Youth Affairs and Christian Formation Bishop Mor Andraus Bahhi met with Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of the Syrian Transitional Government (STG) Dr. Marwan Halabi in Daramsuq (Damascus). The two discussed initiatives to strengthen Syria’s academic and scientific institutions. Acting under…