Seminar Held on Assyrian Rights in Syrian Constitution

Coinciding with the issuance of Decree No. 13 by President of the Syrian Arab Republic Ahmad al-Sharaa recognizing the rights of the Kurdish people in Syria, the Syriac Union Party in Syria (Gabo d’?uyodo Suryoyo, SUP) held a dialogue seminar on 17 January 2026.

The seminar discussed ways to secure the rights of the Assyrian people in the new constitution and was attended by representatives of the Assyrian people from political parties, church representatives, civil society, as well as independent thinkers.

The session began with a historical reading of Syrian constitutions and a critical reading of the 2025 constitutional declaration issued by the newly formed government at the time. Concepts such as decentralization, pluralism, and equal citizenship were discussed, in addition to the question what role political parties, social organizations, and churches can play in securing the rights of the Assyrian people within the new Syrian constitution. There was active participation from the attendees, who put forward a wide range of opinions and proposals. The seminar concluded with a set of recommendations and proposals that could be added to the articles of the new Syrian constitution.

On the sidelines of the seminar, SUP member Sabah Shabo told our reporter that the resulting recommendations are of great importance to the Assyrian people, who have faced religious and national marginalization under all previous Syrian constitutions. That is why, she added, the seminar focused on the high necessity to secure the religious and national rights of the Assyrian people within the new constitution. The invitation to a broad representation of the Assyrian people to participate in the seminar aimed to gather all the different opinions and to come to a definitive formulation of articles and recommendations that cover the voice of the Assyrian people, and which protect their survival in their historical territory.

Shabo emphasized that the vast majority of Syrians in general objected to the 2025 constitutional declaration due to its inclusion of a singular ideology and character that excluded and marginalized many Syrian components. Shabo pointed out the demand of various communities for a decentralized system, stressing that the inclusion of equitable articles for the peoples of Syria in the constitution must be accompanied with a practical implementation mechanism and a commitment by the Syrian government.

By Syriac Press