Under the auspices of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, the General Union of Syriac Writers and Authors held a celebration on the occasion of Syriac Journalism Day, the 174th anniversary of the birth of the first Syriac newspaper “Zahire d-Bahra,” on Wednesday 1 November 2023, at the Hyksos Hotel’s hall in Ankawa, in the presence of a number of bishops, priests, former and current parliamentarians, administrative officials, and an elite group of our people’s intellectuals.
After holding a minute of silence to mourn the souls of the martyrs of free speech and Syriac journalism, the ceremony, the program of which was moderated by media personality Nina Hormuz, began with a speech by the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts, delivered by Director General Kaldo Ramzi Oghanna, in which he indicated that, “We are meeting today to celebrate the 174th anniversary of the publication of the first newspaper in the Syriac language. This day has great meaning and connotations for us. Our gathering every year is not only to remember and celebrate, but also for us to stand, contemplate, and commemorate those heroes who sacrificed what was precious for the sake of the free word, and did not even withhold their pure blood, so that our people’s word could be heard today in the entire world.”
He recalled those who fought for the free word: Ashur Youssuf in Kharput, Youkhanna Moshe in Urmi, Bashar Hilmi al-Boruji in Diyarbakir, and Freidun Aturaya, who was executed in the Soviet Union. He called for combating ignorance among our people through journalistic work, and recalled the Baghdeda wedding tragedy, as well as the media coverage that accompanied it.
He stressed the role of the Kurdistan Regional Government, especially the role of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, in allowing freedom of journalistic work. He reiterated that the doors of his directorate are open to everyone for joint, collective work for our people’s benefit.
This was followed by a speech by Azad Hama Amin, head of the Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate, at the beginning of which he congratulated Syriac journalists on this occasion, and pointed to the historicity of the event and the publication of “Zahrire d-Bahra” in the mother tongue, as the predecessor to the “Zawraa” newspaper in Baghdad. Expressing his regret at the isolation of the Syriac press regarding the Syriac side only, he pointed out the importance of freedom of the press for the development of its work.
It was followed by a speech from the Union of Syriac Writers and Authors, delivered by President Rand Paulus, in which he touched on the historical connection of the Syriac language with churches and monasteries, as well as its adoption of a religious character, pointing out its need for modernisation and keeping pace with the requirements of the times, as well as translation to reach a wider audience. Recalling a number of Syriac newspapers and magazines published throughout history, he called for the advancement of our Syriac press and the development of its tools.
Two congratulatory messages were then read on this occasion, sent by the head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate, Muayad Al-Lami, and the Secretary-General of the Union of Writers and Authors in Iraq, Umar Al-Saray.
A dialogue session then began, moderated by journalist Georgina Behnam Hababa, with the participation of Bishop Dr. Yousif Toma, pastor of the Chaldean Catholic Diocese of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah, speaking about “My experience with the Christian Thought Magazine in Iraq,” as well as journalist Nassim Sadiq, who spoke about “Where Syriac media stands regarding our current issues.” The floor was then given to the audience’s questions and interventions, which the speakers answered at length and with open arms.
The celebration also witnessed the opening of a Syriac publications exhibit, held in cooperation between the Syriac Writers Union and the Syriac Cultural Library of the General Directorate of Syriac Culture and Arts. It included a variety of Syriac books and publications by the Union and General Directorate.
