Arameans in Syria Face
Renewed Threats to Their
Survival and Heritage
Syria’s oldest indigenous people — with a 3,000-year documented presence — are being excluded from the new constitutional process while facing violence, displacement, and the erasure of their Aramaic language. The international community must act before it is too late.
What Is Happening
On 23 March 2026, Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa issued issued Decree No. 13, recognizing the Kurdish people as an integral part of the Syrian nation — restoring citizenship, elevating Kurdish to national-language status, and rejecting ethnic superiority. WCA welcomed this overdue step.
However, the Arameans — Syria’s oldest documented indigenous people — have been completely excluded from this and all other constitutional reform processes. While recognition efforts focus exclusively on the Kurds, the Aramean people, their ancient Aramaic language, and their threatened communities remain invisible in the new Syria.
Paradox: Syria’s new leadership declared that “a land of ancient civilization deserves to be a state of law” — yet the very people who gave Syria its civilization, its ancient language, and its name remain unrecognized.
The Arabic script itself developed from Aramaic. Aramean scholars were decisive in transmitting Greek, Persian, and Mesopotamian knowledge into Arabic — fueling the Islamic Golden Age.
The Situation on the Ground
Maaloula Under Siege
In Maaloula, 56 km from Damascus — one of the last places where Aramaic is still spoken — Islamists are intensifying efforts to seize Christian-owned farmland and homes, pushing the remaining population to the brink. The population has dwindled to fewer than 1,000.
Targeted Killings Continue
Aramean Christians continue to face targeted violence. Johnny Al Sayegh, an Aramean from Al Kharab, was shot and killed by a sniper near Baniyas. His fiancée remains in critical condition. A Christian family was murdered, a Christmas tree burned, and numerous threats from foreign jihadists have sparked protests.
Escalating Intimidation and Stigmatization
An alcohol ban in Damascus has led to the stigmatization of Christian communities, reinforcing a climate of exclusion and hostility. Scattered incidents of harassment and intimidation against Christians continue, culminating on 27 March 2026 when armed groups attacked the predominantly Christian city of Al-Suqaylabiyah in Hama province — destroying a Marian monument, looting shops, and injuring civilians while security forces failed to intervene for hours.
Exclusion from Political Process
Despite Decree No. 13 recognizing Kurds, Arameans remain unmentioned in any agreement or document. No Aramean has been included in reform discussions. The endangered Aramaic language receives no national or international protection efforts.
What WCA Is Doing
WCA is the only Aramaic-speaking NGO with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations. We are actively working on multiple fronts:
On 9 February 2026, a WCA delegation presented a landmark letter titled “From Aramaic to Arabic: Syria’s Civilization, Law, and Future” to Syria’s Ambassador to the EU in Brussels. The letter calls on President al-Sharaa for constitutional recognition of the Aramean people and protection of the Aramaic language. Preparations are underway for a meeting in Damascus in April.
In a separate letter to President Erdoğan, WCA welcomed Türkiye’s peace efforts and urged the inclusion of Arameans in Türkiye’s reform process, while asking him to use his regional influence to support Aramean recognition in Syria.
In response to the U.S. “Save the Kurds Act,” WCA published a position paper asking: who truly needs protection in Syria? While supporting Kurdish rights, WCA argues that all of Syria’s vulnerable indigenous peoples deserve equal protection — not just those with powerful state sponsors.
WCA’s 7 Key Demands
Constitutional Recognition
Include the Aramean people and their Aramaic language in Syria’s new constitution, affirming their 3,000-year place in the nation’s history and future.
Minority Protection
Establish robust mechanisms to protect minorities from violence, discrimination, and marginalization — backed by enforceable legal safeguards.
Inclusive Governance
Build a non-sectarian government that ensures fair representation and participation of all ethno-religious groups, including Arameans.
Language Preservation
Aramaic — the language of Jesus and for 2,000 years Syria’s main language before Arabic — must receive national protection before it disappears forever.
Community Safety
Immediate protection for Aramean communities facing violence, land seizures, and intimidation — particularly in Maaloula, the Homs region, and northeast Syria.
Diaspora Engagement
Include Aramean diaspora professionals — entrepreneurs, physicians, engineers, and academics — in Syria’s reconstruction and economic development.
When you recently stood before the United Nations, you inspired many by declaring that “a land of ancient civilization and culture deserves to be a state of law.” It is in this spirit that I draw attention to the Aramean people, who have formed a continuous and well-documented part of Syria’s civilization for over 3,000 years.
How You Can Help
The Aramean people have no state sponsor, no patron, and no powerful lobby. Their survival depends on individuals and communities who refuse to look away. Here is how you can make a direct impact:
Advocate
Engage your elected representatives and bring WCA’s proposals directly to decision-makers.
Amplify
Share our work with media and institutions. Post, tag, and help expand our reach on social media.
Mobilize
Organize or support awareness events in your community. WCA provides materials and guidance to get you started.
Strengthen Capacity
Help us secure funding, partnerships, and strategic connections to expand our advocacy and activities.
Join the Movement
Become a member, apply for an internship, or join the Youth Academy. Long-term engagement creates lasting change.
Every voice counts. Every action matters — and yours can make the difference.
Together, we protect a people, a language, and a civilization at risk of disappearing.
Ready to Act?
Select how you would like to contribute and briefly introduce yourself, your ideas, and your motivation. We will follow up with concrete next steps.
Stand With the Aramean People
Your support enables WCA to continue its direct engagement with governments in Syria and Turkey, as well as with the UN, the EU, and the US.
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