Damascus, Syria -- Gabriel Mushe, member of Syria's People's Assembly and political official of the Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO), has called for legislation recognizing the Assyrian language and safeguarding the cultural and linguistic rights of Syriacs (Arameans-Assyrians-Chaldeans) in Syria. Speaking to Suroyo TV, Mushe said such rights should be secured through legal and constitutional mechanisms, citing recent legislation concerning Kurdish cultural and linguistic rights and Article 7 of Syria's Constitutional Declaration.

"It is not possible to obtain cultural rights, including recognition of the Assyrian language as a national language and guaranteeing the right to education and learning in this ancient language, except through legal and constitutional means."

He referred to Decree No. 13, which granted cultural and linguistic rights to Kurds, as a precedent for similar measures benefiting Assyrian and other communities. Mushe said Assyrian political parties and institutions began advocating for such measures following the issuance of the decree.

"The Assyrian and Assyrian parties and institutions have worked, both collectively and individually, to issue statements calling for the guarantee of the linguistic and cultural rights of Assyrian in Syria, on an equal footing with our Kurdish brothers."

The ADO, he added, has submitted several memoranda and held meetings with Syrian officials and advisers to advocate either for a decree similar to the one concerning Kurdish rights or for specific legislation addressing the rights of Assyrian and other communities, including Turkmen. Mushe said the demand for recognition also reflects the historical role of the Assyrian language in Syria.

"The Assyrian are one of the indigenous components of Syria and its history," he said, noting that the Assyrian language had been used in the region for centuries and had influenced local place names and spoken dialects. "The influences of the Assyrian language appear even in the names of cities, towns and villages spread across Syria."

Mushe described formal recognition of Assyrian as both a cultural and political step that would acknowledge part of Syria's historical heritage.

"We believe that issuing such a decree would be a necessary and courageous step for the Syrian state to reconcile itself with its cultural and civilizational heritage."

Push for Legislation in Parliament

MP Gabriel Mushe said he raised the issue during a joint session held at the People's Palace on 4 April between President Ahmed al-Sharaa and members of the People's Assembly. "As a member of the People's Assembly, I took the floor and called for the recognition of the Assyrian language and culture." He also called on the presidency and Parliament to introduce legislation that could eventually pave the way for constitutional recognition of the rights of Assyrian people. The proposed legislation would address recognition of the community's presence as well as its cultural and linguistic rights, including recognition of Assyrian as a national language and culture.

Mushe said his recent selection to a newly established parliamentary committee on cultural diversity and heritage provides another avenue for advancing the issue.

"Through this committee, we can submit draft laws to the People's Assembly, particularly since they are fully consistent with the Constitutional Declaration and its Article 7."

Article 7 of the Constitutional Declaration states that the Syrian state guarantees the protection of cultural and linguistic diversity among the country's communities. Mushe said the parliamentary committee could also address the cultural and linguistic rights of other communities, including Turkmen. "For me, as a member of the People's Assembly, this represents an absolute priority."

Work in Parliament would be coordinated with Assyrian political organizations, institutions and churches in Syria. "These institutions and churches agree on the need to secure such a demand in Syria," Mushe said.

The call comes as Syria's transitional political framework continues to address questions of constitutional rights and the status of the country's diverse ethnic, linguistic and religious communities. For the Assyrian people and their political and cultural organizations, the recognition of Assyrian language rights has emerged as a central demand in discussions over Syria's future constitutional and legal framework.