Save Maaloula: Urgent Action Needed to Protect the Survival of Aramean Christians in Syria
We urgently sound the alarm over the critical situation in Maaloula, 56 km from Damascus, and the escalating threats to Christians across Syria. Recent events, including the murder of a Christian family, the burning of a Christmas tree, and numerous threats from largely foreign Jihadists, have sparked protests by Syria’s indigenous, unarmed Christians. Courageously, they have taken to the streets in large numbers in ancient Aramean cities such as Damascus, where Saint Paul once walked, to demand protection and justice.
When al-Nusra Front fiercely attacked it in 2013 and kidnapped 12 nuns, Maaloula was home to 3,000 Arameans. Its population has since dropped from 1,000 just two weeks ago to fewer than 200 today, as ongoing violence, intimidation, and property confiscations force families to flee. Since 8 December, armed men have terrorized the remaining residents on a daily basis, firing shots into the air and shouting “Allahu Akbar.” Despite appeals to HTS leaders in Damascus, no action has been taken, and victims are being told to negotiate directly with their perpetrators.
Maaloula is one of Syria’s last three villages preserving the Aramaic language that was once spoken across the country. This unique legacy should be a source of pride and a powerful symbol for showcasing a new Syria under HTS – not a target for renewed violence and displacement.
We call for immediate and decisive measures to restore security and law in Maaloula by deploying a representative police force that includes the town’s majority Aramean population. This is essential to prevent further violence and halt the demographic transformation of this historic village. Swift action is also needed to facilitate the return of 800 displaced residents who, in recent weeks, have been burdened with renting accommodation in Damascus.
We implore the media and politicians to break their silence regarding the reality on the ground. We urge patriarchs and beatitudes to heed the cries of the faithful who have taken to the streets. We call on Muslim leaders to raise their voices. HTS must act immediately to ensure law and order in Syria before more innocent blood is shed and the situation spirals out of control.
Johny Messo, president of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs), asserts: “The UN, the EU, the Arab League, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation must act now to protect this vulnerable people and safeguard an irreplaceable part of Syria’s heritage before it’s too late. Each day without action risks the end of Maaloula’s millennia-long Aramean presence. We urgently call upon them all to stand with us in preventing this looming tragedy.”
In addition to restoring security, we demand a fair political process that establishes a new Syrian constitution guaranteeing equality, justice, and protection for all citizens under the law. This constitution ought also to recognize and support Syria’s endangered indigenous Aramean population and their Aramaic language, which prevailed in this region until the 12th century. The Greek name Syria is recorded in the Bible by its original ancient Semitic name, Aram.
The Arameans, native to Southeast Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, remain a testament to resilience and faith in their ancestral homeland. Their documented history in Syria spans over 3,000 years. In 2011, the predominantly Arabicized Christians comprised 8–10% of Syria’s 21 million population. Today, however, fewer than 400,000 Christians may remain in the country.
Each day without action brings Maaloula closer to losing its people, and its unique cultural and spiritual legacy. We call on the international community to act now, before it is too late. Failing to halt this ethnic cleansing leaves a stain on humanity and the credibility of the United Nations.
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WCA is Hiring: Two Project Coordinators Needed in Syria and Turabdin
The WCA is intensifying its commitment to the Aramean communities in the home countries, and we are seeking two dedicated individuals to join our mission. Eager to make a difference? Apply Now and be part of our journey to uplift Aramean communities around the world.
10 Years of Injustice: Remembering Abduction Archbishops of Aleppo and A Call for International Day for Prayer
On Saturday, 22 April 2023, the world will remember the 10th anniversary of the abduction of Archbishops Mor Gregorios Yohanna Ibrahim and Boulos Yazigi from Aleppo, Syria. The kidnapping occurred near the Turkish-Syrian border, in the northern province of Aleppo, and the fate of the two Archbishops remains unknown to this day.
Assad Falls: Syria’s Christians Face Uncertain Future Amid Rapid Power Shifts
The Assad dynasty has collapsed swiftly, marking a historic turning point for Syria. Statues of Bashar al-Assad and his father have been taken down across the country. Jihadist forces from Idlib advanced rapidly through Aleppo, Hama, Homs, and Damascus. The Druze secured control of the south, while YPG Kurds now rule the northeast. As Syria undergoes a profound transformation, Christians find themselves in a precarious position.
Will the new rulers fight among themselves for total dominance, or will they come together to share power? Will they respect the country’s diverse groups, or will they subject Christians to renewed persecution, oppression, and restrictions on their liberties, triggering yet another exodus? The indigenous Arameans, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, have already suffered tremendous loss in recent decades and now live in fear of what lies ahead.
During President Trump’s first administration, the Middle East experienced a period of relative peace, enabling them to begin recovering from the devastating impacts of war. We now place our hopes in the incoming Trump administration to restore peace and stability to the region, safeguarding decimated and vulnerable communities such as the Arameans.
For over 3,000 years, the Arameans and their endangered Aramaic language — the first world language and the language of Jesus and the Bible — have endured countless rulers, wars, and upheavals. Johny Messo, president of the World Council of Arameans (Syriacs), asserts:
“We must, and we will, adapt to this new geopolitical reality and endure this political transition as well. But endurance alone is not enough. It is critical that the international community recognizes and values the Arameans, and works to ensure that this power shift leads to a stable and inclusive Syria where all citizens, regardless of religion, ethnicity or language, are protected and empowered to thrive.”
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) calls on all UN Member States, international leaders, and regional powers to prioritize a fair, UN-led political process that establishes a new Syrian constitution, guaranteeing equality, justice, and protection for all citizens under the law.
Our commitment to reconciliation, unity, and prosperity in Syria is unwavering. We envision a homeland where all ethnic and religious groups coexist respectfully, work together for a more perfect Syria, and build a shared future where the nation’s rich heritage and its people thrive.
The Arameans, native to Southeast Türkiye, Syria, Iraq, and Lebanon, remain a testament to resilience and faith in their ancestral homeland. The documented history of this forgotten Semitic people and their Aramaic language in Syria goes back to more than 3,000 years. In 2011, the country’s Christians still numbered 8 to 10% of the 21 million total population. Today, however, there may be less than 500,000 Christians in Syria.
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Arameans Condemn Quran Burning Protest in Stockholm, and Call for Restraint and Respect
The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”) condemns the appalling act carried out yesterday by an individual with Christian roots from Iraq, who burned a Quran in front of a mosque in Stockholm during the Feast of Sacrifice, one of the most important festivals in Islam. We implore all to uphold restraint and respect among ethno-religious groups.
Earthquake Victim Fikri Töre from Turabdin in Adiyaman: Türkiye’s First Aramean Tour Guide
On 6 February 2023, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Türkiye and Syria, causing tens of thousands of dead victims. After a long and desperate search, Fikri Töre (27) from Midin, a beloved WCA Representative in the Turabdin region in Southeast Türkiye, was finally found lifeless on Wednesday night under the debris of the Isias hotel in Adiyaman.
Elderly Aramean Killed in Southeast Türkiye, WCA demands justice and security
The WCA strongly condemns this evening’s killing of Gevriye Ego, the 91-year-old father of Shleimun from Sweden, the famous host of our Aramaic TV Channel Suryoyo Sat and also the WCA Vice President! It appears that Mr. Ego was ambushed in front of his house in Enhil, an ancient Aramean village in Southeastern Türkiye, and was shot multiple times in the head, resulting in his tragic death. The perpetrator(s) and the motives for this murder are being verified and not certain yet.
Innocent Elderly Arameans Brutally Attacked By Kurdish Nomads in Southeast Türkiye
In the early hours of this morning, a shocking act of violence took place in the village of Sederi (Üçyol), Southeast Türkiye. Two elderly Arameans were brutally assaulted by a group of Kurdish nomads, resulting in severe injuries. This assault not only disrupts the peace and stability of the region but also poses a threat to the way of life and presence of the Aramean community, which has flourished in these lands for over 3,000 years.
Fikri Töre from Midin is Still Missing After the Earthquake in Adiyaman: This is the Story
This Sunday night, Fikri Töre (27) from Midin in the Turabdin region stayed at the Isias hotel in Adiyaman that collapsed because of the earthquake. In the morning, his family and friends drove to Adiyaman and are still desperately searching one hospital after another in the region. The World Council of Arameans (Syriacs) (“WCA”), with whom Fikri works, has been in close contact with them and until last night and today we requested help from officials in Ankara to locate and find him, but nobody has found him yet.
