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Beyond the Speaker’s Election: Turkey’s quiet influence on Syria’s emerging political elite
DARAMSUQ — The election of constitutional scholar Abdul Hamid Aqil al-Awak as Speaker of Syria’s transitional People’s Assembly is more than the first major parliament…
The Deadlock of Unstable and Opportunistic Politics
By Suphi Aksoy The operation launched by the United States and Israel against the Iranian regime on 28 February continues with different tactics. However, no definitive result is …
First anniversary of Suwayda massacres marked with renewed calls for justice by Druze and Christians
BRUSSELS — One year has passed since the outbreak of violence in Syria’s southern Suwayda countryside, where mutual abductions between armed Druze factions and Bedouin triba…
Why Democracies Are Stronger
By Hicham Bou Nassif | Weinberg Associate Professor of International Relations and the Middle East and George R. Roberts Fellow at Claremont McKenna College-California Years …
Syria’s Parliament convenes for first time, marking new phase in post-Assad political transition
DARAMSUQ — The People’s Assembly of Syria, also referred to as the parliament, convened for the first time on Sunday, opening a new chapter in the country’s post-Assad polit…
Is Equal Citizenship Confined to Istanbul?
By Matay Türker The Republic of Turkey is a state governed by the rule of law. At least, that is what the Constitution states. In a state ruled by law, public institutions cannot …
Syriac Cultural Association in Daramsuq holds lecture on Syriac heritage and Syria’s Aramean history
DARAMSUQ (DAMASCUS) — As part of efforts to introduce Syria’s diverse communities and peoples to the history and civilization of the Syriac (Aramean-Assyrian-Chaldean) peopl…
European Syriac Union calls on Suraye all over the world to support the joint national efforts and activities of Suraye political parties in Iraq
BRUSSELS — Following the global attention generated by the peaceful protest organized by three Suraye (Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian) national parties in Nohadra (Duhok), calling on th…
Levantine National Council concludes communication training program in Daramsuq
DARAMSUQ (Damascus) — The Levantine National Council (LNC) has concluded a three-day training program focused on communication skills and interpersonal development. The workshop, …
Sovereigntist Lebanese Christian leaders mourn U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON / BEIRUT — Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, a leading voice on American foreign policy and one of the Senate’s most influential national security advocates…
Iraqi Premier pledges support for Christian return as Patriarch Nona urges new era of confidence
BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Prime Minister, Ali Falih al-Zaidi, has pledged broad government support to encourage the return of Christians who fled decades of war, terrorism and instab…
Dr. Amine Jules Iskandar on heritage, identity, the Syriac Language, and his Mount Lebanon
BEIRUT — Lebanese architect, historian and author Dr. Amine Jules Iskandar, president of the Maronite Union-Tur Levnon (Mount Lebanon), is calling for a renewed commitment to the …
The Names Still Missing
By Musa Ergin Not all names from Tur Abdin have yet been documented. Therefore, I would like to turn the social media comment made by our reader into an open invitation that appli…
Christian village of Al-Ghassaniyah in Edleb celebrates first Divine Liturgy in 14 years
AL-GHASSANIYAH, EDLEB (IDLIB), Syria — One year after Al-Ghassaniyah residents in Edleb (Idlib) countryside were able to visit to their homes, which they had fled after the Syrian…
French Senate launches fact-finding mission on Syria’s reconstruction amid uncertain transition
PARIS — A delegation from the French Senate is set to travel to Syria as part of a parliamentary fact-finding mission examining the country’s reconstruction and political fu…
Beth Nahrain Women Organization launches third Art Therapy program for students
MOSUL-NINEVEH PLAIN, Iraq — The Beth Nahrain Women Organization (BNOW) has launched a new cycle of its psycho-social support through art program in the city of Mosul, continuing i…
Suspect arrested over vandalism at historic Armenian cemetery in Istanbul
ISTANBUL — Turkish authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the vandalism of six graves and a fountain at the historic Surp Garabed Armenian Cemetery in Istanbul’s Ü…
Nadine Maenza meets leadership of the Bethnahrin National Council and its Institutions in Beth Zalin
BETH ZALIN, Gozarto (Jazira) — As part of her regular visits to North and East Syria to assess the state of religious freedom, understand the realities facing the region’s c…
Navigating Syria’s Complex Opening: Implications following removal of the State Sponsor of Terrorism designation
By Sally Obeid | Fellow Researcher at IDI Center — Washington and Founding Member of the Syrian Christian Congress One point warrants precise correction before anything else:…
Global support grows for Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian protest over land rights in Iraq
CAMPBELL, California, USA / LONDON — The peaceful protest organized by political parties representing the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in Nohadra (Duhok), calling for justice a…
Lebanese Forces party leader Samir Geagea: We must all stand behind the state, not level accusations
BAABDA, Lebanon — Ahead of Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s departure to the United States for talks with President Donald Trump on the implementation of the framework agree…
European Parliament adopts resolution condemning sexual violence during 1974 Cyprus conflict, calls for compensation from Turkey and a monument in Nicosia
BRUSSELS — The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted a resolution titled The impact of the 1974 intervention on Cypriot women and girls, and the crimes committed by Turkish for…
Lebanese federalist figure Alfred Riachi faces legal action renewing debate over free speech and political prosecutions
BEIRUT — A legal case against Lebanese academic and federalist advocate Dr. Alfred Riachi has reignited debate over freedom of expression, judicial independence, and the growing u…
HBA President Joseph Sliwa on land encroachment protests: ‘We will not give up our lands’
ANKAWA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Joseph Sliwa, President of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA) has accused authorities in the Kurdistan Region of …
The Intentional and Unintentional Misidentification of Syriac Inscriptions
By Mihayel Rabo Following the media coverage of the latest discovery of Syriac inscriptions in Turkey, some public comments drew special attention. While some commentators claimed…
Six graves vandalized in historic Armenian cemetery in Istanbul
ISTANBUL — Six graves and a fountain were vandalized at the historic Surp Garabed Armenian Cemetery in Istanbul’s Üsküdar district after an unidentified individual entered t…
The National Enlightenment of the Suraye
As the Suraye — the Syriac–Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean people — like other Christian peoples, underwent a process of great expansion and modernization, they acquired the intellectua…
What Unites Us — Part 4: Midyat, Under the Protection of Tribe and Sheikh
By Musa Ergin On 2 July 1915, Hacı Başar Bey gathered the Kurdish and Arab tribal leaders of Midyat, seeking their support for attacks against Christians. Ali Batte’s response was…
Syriac Union Party signs memorandum of understanding with Syrian Democratic Alliance
DARAMSUQ — The Syriac Union Party (Gabo d’Ḥuyodo Suryoyo, SUP) in Syria signed a memorandum of understanding with the Syrian Democratic Alliance on Thursday at the SUP headquarter…
Al-Sharaa meets Erdoğan and Trump on sidelines of NATO summit, Trump announces move to remove Syria from State Sponsors of Terrorism List
ANKARA — On the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa held separate meetings with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and US President Donald…