Mandaic Language: From Historical Roots to Educational Curricula

01-09-2025

Manda'en Language: From Historical Roots to Educational Curricula
Under the patronage of the Office of the Prime Minister – The National Permanent Committee for Community Awareness and Guidance, and in a new scientific and cultural collaboration, Bayt Al- Hikma (House of Wisdom ) hosted a scientific symposium organized by the Board of Endowments for the Christian, Iazidi, and Manda'en Religions. The symposium, titled "The Manda'en Language: From Historical Roots to Educational Curricula," was held on the evening of Thursday, August 28, 2025, in the "Hunayn ibn Ishaq" Hall at Bayt Al-Hikma .
The symposium highlighted a rich linguistic heritage, wich is the Manda'en language, and ways to enhance its presence in the cultural and educational development process. It celebrated the language as a universal human heritage, not merely a ritual tool, but a witness to the cultural diversity of the Iraqi social fabric , and the preservation of this language is  national and humanitarian  responsibility.
The symposium began with a speech by Dr. Qahtan Ni'ma Al-Khafaji, Head of the Board of Trustees of Bayt Al-Hikma. He stressed the importance of preserving Iraq's historical heritage, highlighted the need to teach ancient languages to the new generation ,  praised the significant  role of the Board of Endowments for Religions in protecting linguistic and religious heritage as a fundamental component of our national identity , and expressed aspire to produce practical recommendations and constructive proposals that could be transformed into programs and policies serving  Iraqi  people , through  the symposium 
Dr. Rami yousif Aghajan, Head of the Board of Endowments for the Christian, Iazidi, and Manda'en Religions, affirmed in his speech that  the symposium's importance in delivering a clear national message: the Iraqi state, through its institutions, especially the Board of Endowments for Religions, pays great attention to the genuine components of the Iraqi people. He called for the integration of the Manda'en language into educational curricula, as it represents an authentic cornerstone of Iraq's identity.
Rish Ama( Leader of the Nation)  Sattar Jabbar Al-Helo, head of the Manda'en community in Iraq and the world, also gave a speech, in which he  shed light on the origin of the Manda'en language and its intersection with other languages, forming a fabric with religious and cultural significance deep . He stated that preserving the Manda'en  is akin to preserving a unique human heritage.
The symposium included a research session chaired by Father Martin Hurmuz, the official spokesman for the Board, and rapporteured  by Dr. Hadia Ibrahim Zidan from the Department of Linguistic and Translation Studies. Sheikh Anmar Auda Mahawi, Secretary of the Manda'en Spiritual Council, presented a research paper on "The Origins of the Manda'en Language and the Rules of Its Writing." While  Professor Ashwaq Nasrat Jasim from the College of Languages presented a study that reviewed "Manda'en Words in the Iraqi Dialect." 
Dr. Qais Magashgash Al-Saadi, Director of the Manda'en Studies Center in Germany, also participated with a research paper on "The Manda'en Language: Between Reality and Ways to Preserve and Develop." The researchers concluded with a set of recommendations that were read along with the final statement.
At the end of the symposium , Dr. Rami Yousif  Aghajan, honored the Bayt  Al-Hikma institution, represented by Al-Khafaji, with the Board's shield, in appreciation of the deep relations between the two institutions. The researchers and participants were also honored with certificates of appreciation.
The symposium was attended by a large cultural and scientific audience of professors, specialists, and intellectuals from all religions and sects, as well as various media channels  and social media platforms.

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