Syriac Women's Voice Newspaper was launched in EN Syria last year November 25. “We decided to launch a newspaper to make the voices of Syriac women heard,” said Şam Qirme, the editor of the newspaper.

SORGUL ŞÊXO

Hesekê – Like Kurdish, Arab, and all women, Syriac women also suffer from the patriarchal mentality and are subjected to all forms of violence. Oppressed by the state and society, women rise up and resist violence against them using various methods. Syriac women couldn’t report what they faced because they didn’t have newspapers, radio, channels, and websites; they could tell what they faced but couldn’t prove because they didn’t have any footage or pictures.

In the 21st century, the situation has completely changed for them. After they began to take part in decision-making positions in the institutions of NE Syria, their lives have completely changed. Like Kurdish and Arab women, they also led the revolution in Rojava and began to take part in the establishment of the Democratic Autonomous Administration. Nine years have passed since the revolution and women have taken steps on the issues they have been struggling against for thousands of years and they are now in a position to govern their country.

Last year, Syriac women took a historic step by launching Syriac Women's Voice Newspaper (Enxidwana). We spoke to Şam Qirme, the editor of the newspaper about the journey of the newspaper.

Syriac women play important role in every part of life

Indicating that before the crisis in Syria broke out, Syriac women couldn’t take part in many spaces, such as social, economic, and political spaces, Şam Qirme said, “The women working for the regime institutions were treated as a robot. Although Syriac women were doctors, teachers, lawyers, and judges, they were deprived of politics.  After the revolution, they began to take part in many areas in NE Syria. They have taken part in decision-making positions now. At the same time, Syriac women are active in the issues that concern their society. They also try to build a democratic society and to ensure peace and justice.” Stating that there is no article in the Syrian constitution that will make the rights of Syriac women permanent, Şam Qirme said that Syriac women are now involved in every part of life and all areas, including political and economic areas, of the Autonomous Administration.

Eştarut Magazine

Talking about their aim to launch the Syriac Women's Voice Newspaper, Şam Qirme said, “As Syriac Women's Union, we wanted to launch our own newspaper. We wanted to make our voices heard by other nations and make an impact. I loved reading newspapers and journalism. My brother Yaqup Qiryo published Eştarut in 2001 without government support. This magazine was distributed to countries. At that time, I worked for the magazine. The magazine was published continuously for 13 years. After the death of my brother, the magazine hasn’t been published.”

The newspaper launched on November 25

“The newspaper is the voice of Syriac women,” Şam Qirme said, “We wanted to publish a newspaper to report about us. We began to publish the newspaper on November 25, 2020, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The first issue was an experience for us. The first issue was about forms of violence against women and we received positive criticism from the readers.”

It is distributed in NE Syria

Şam Qirme is the only editor of the newspaper. “I have faced many challenges,” she told us. The newspaper has been published every three months and until now 300 issues have been published. “I am happy for the interest shown by women,” she said, adding, “The writers of the newspaper are not only Syriac but also Arab and Shishani women.” After the spread of the internet, the number of readers has decreased. “As a result, many newspapers and magazines were closed. I call on young people to read newspapers. Our newspaper is distributed in NE Syria and we try to be the voice of Syriac women. Everybody should do something to make our voice heard.”