CULTURE

BARITLE/BARTELLA, Iraq — The Christian Cultural Center in Bartella, a historic Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian town in Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, held a celebration in honor of International Mother Language Day. The event showcased a variety of cultural and musical performances, paying tribute to the Syriac language and its rich heritage. The celebration was…

QABRE HEWORE, North and East Syria — On 21 February, the Olaf Taw Association for Syriac Language hosted a vibrant celebration in Qabre Hewore (Qahtaniyah), located in Gozarto (Jazira) Canton, North and East Syria, to commemorate International Mother Language Day. The event, held at the headquarters of the Syriac Union…

HASAKAH, North & East Syria – The Olaf Taw Association for Syriac Language and the Syriac Strategic Studies Center organized an event to celebrate International Mother Language Day on Friday. It was attended by representatives from institutions affiliated with the Beth Nahrain National Council, Syriac political and party figures, intellectuals, and…

BARITLE/NINEVEH PLAIN, Iraq – The youth wing of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrain Athroyo, HBA) held a celebration on International Mother Language Day on Friday evening in the Syriac town of Baritle in honor of the Syriac language. The evening was hosted by HBA Youth committee member Noor Kajo…

BAGHDEDE/NINEVEH PLAIN, Iraq – The sixth annual Baghdede Mother Language Day festival was held at the St. Paul’s (Mar Bulos) House for Church Services in the Syriac city of Baghdede (Qaraqosh / Hamdaniyah) in Nineveh Plains, Iraq. The evening was under the auspices of the Syriac Catholic Archdiocese of Mosul.…

BETH ZALIN (Qamishli), North and East Syria – In a celebration reflecting the importance of preserving cultural and linguistic heritage, the Olaf Taw Association for Syriac Language, in collaboration with the Syriac Strategic Studies Center, organized a scientific and cultural language symposium on the occasion of International Mother Language Day.…

ZALIN (Qamishli), Syria — A British women’s delegation from Ireland and Scotland visited the Women Authority of the Democratic Autonomous Administration of Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES) to gain insight on women’s role in the Region.   The delegation was received by Co-Chair of the DAARNES Women Authority Adalet…

ANKAWA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts, in partnership with the General Directorate of Syriac Education, hosted a vibrant event at the Syriac Heritage Museum in Ankawa to commemorate International Mother Language Day. The celebration highlighted the rich historical and cultural legacy of…

The world observes International Mother Language Day on 21 February each year. Established by the United Nations in 2000, this day aims to promote linguistic diversity, foster peace, and protect all mother languages worldwide. A mother tongue is the first language a person speaks and the first words they hear.…

By Jamil al-Jamil | Poet and Activist The injustices faced by Syriac-speaking Christians do not only include discrimination, segregation, killings, and massacres — they extended to the deprivation of their right to practice their identity and traditions. Many came to believe that their geography was their only shield against recurring…