- Created on 29 August 2018
Kurdish YPG Unlawfully Closes Aramean and Armenian Schools
On 28 August 2018, the YPG proxy Sutoro/Syriac Military Council closed four schools in Qamishli, Derik and Darbasiyah (Al-Malikiyah). This comes after the YPG had announced the closure of minority schools earlier this month. However, the people are marching the streets of Qamishli to raise up against the unrecognized YPG government and its cronies.
- Created on 27 June 2018
Aramean People Stand in Solidarity with Sweden Midfielder Jimmy Durmaz After Racial Abuse
Sweden’s Jimmy Durmaz was racially abused on social media for conceding the free-kick that led to Germany’s last minute winner in the World Cup in Sochi on Saturday 23 June 2018. The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) strongly condemns racism and supports the midfielder, who stated that he was born to Aramean parents from Turkey and Lebanon.
- Created on 30 May 2018
WCA holds extra-ordinary meeting with Turkey's Foreign Minister
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) had an extra-ordinary meeting with H.E. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey, on 29 May 2018 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The high-level delegation consisted of the WCA President Johny Messo, the WCA Vice-President Shleimun Ego, the WCA Director for UN Affairs Sarah Bakir and the Chairman of the Aramean Federation of Switzerland Melki Toprak.
- Created on 29 May 2018
Kurdish YPG/Asayish Forces Once Again Kidnap Christians in Northeast Syria
In the last two weeks, the Kurdish YPG and security (Asayesh) forces kidnapped several young Arameans in Northeast Syria. The armed forces of the Democratic Union Party (PYD) continue to conscript them against their will, sending them to battle fields to fight and risk their lives in the frontline in Syria – not for peace, but for an envisioned ‘West Kurdistan’.
- Created on 25 May 2018
WCA President speaks at 3rd International Conference on Victims of Religious and Ethnic Violence in the Middle East
On Monday 14 May 2018, the Belgian and Lebanese Ministers for Foreign Affairs organised the 3rd International Ministerial Conference on the Victims of Religious and Ethnic Violence in the Middle East. The WCA was requested to speak on the situation of the native Aramean Christians in the Middle East.
- Created on 23 May 2018
Turkish Bill Sees Return of 55 Aramean Christian Properties in Mardin
The St. Gabriel Foundation, which manages a good deal of at least 110 confiscated Aramean Christian properties in 2017, received today 50 of the 55 returned title deeds from the Turkish Government. Recently, parliament voted in favor of a bill dealing with the return of these assets after the expansion of the municipality of Mardin, a city in Southeast Turkey.
- Created on 27 April 2018
WCA Meets with UNESCO to Preserve the Endangered Aramaic Language
Following a recent request, WCA met with UNESCO at its headquarters in Paris on 26 April 2018 to discuss the endangered Aramean cultural heritage, especially the Aramaic language.
- Created on 13 February 2018
Invite to mark fifth anniversary of Mor Gregorius Yohanna Ibrahim's Abduction
22 April 2013 – 22 April 2018
On behalf of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”), we cordially invite you to participate in a symposium to mark the lapse of five years since the abduction of the Metropolitans of Aleppo, Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Paul Yazigi, who were kidnapped on 22 April 2013.
- Created on 09 February 2018
New Turkish bill and European Parliament Resolution on Christian property issues
The European Parliament has expressed its concerns over the more than 50 seized Aramean churches, monasteries and other assets in Turkey. Yesterday’s adopted resolution calls on the European Commission to raise this issue with Turkey. Meanwhile, the state’s officials and Aramean representatives are negotiating a bill to return the confiscated properties.
