Professional Aramaic Translation for Assyrian and Chaldean Communities
The Assyrian and Chaldean Christian communities of Iraq and Syria have faced devastating persecution, from the Simele massacre of 1933 through to the ISIS genocide of 2014-2017, when thousands were killed, kidnapped, or displaced from their ancestral homelands in the Nineveh Plains and Khabour Valley. Many have sought refuge in the UK, joining existing diaspora communities in London (particularly Ealing and Greenford), Birmingham, and Manchester.
For these communities, accurate Aramaic translation is not just a language service, it is often essential to proving identity, establishing persecution claims, and rebuilding lives disrupted by conflict. We provide specialist Aramaic translation and interpreting services for:
- Asylum applications, Translation of witness statements, persecution evidence, and supporting documents for Assyrian and Chaldean asylum seekers
- Church records, Translation of baptism certificates, marriage blessings, and death records from Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, and Syriac Orthodox Church
- Identity documentation, Translation of Iraqi and Syrian identity papers, civil status records, and nationality certificates
- Community attestations, Translation of letters from church leaders, community elders, and Assyrian organisations attesting to identity and community membership
- Legal proceedings, Translation and interpreting for court hearings, immigration tribunals, and legal consultations
Our Aramaic translators are native speakers from Assyrian and Chaldean communities who understand the profound cultural and historical context behind every document they translate.
Understanding Aramaic for Specialist Translation
Aramaic translation requires specialist knowledge that goes far beyond typical language skills. The language presents unique challenges that only native-speaker experts can navigate:
- Multiple scripts, Eastern Syriac (Madnḥāyā) script is used by the Assyrian Church of the East and Chaldean Catholic communities; Western Syriac (Serṭā) script by Syriac Orthodox communities. Classical Syriac (Esṭrangelā) appears in older church documents. Our translators work with all three scripts
- Dialect variation, Eastern Neo-Aramaic (Sureth) spoken by Assyrians and Chaldeans from Iraq differs significantly from Western Neo-Aramaic (Turoyo) spoken by Syriac Orthodox from Turkey's Tur Abdin region. These are not mutually intelligible varieties
- Church document expertise, For many Assyrian and Chaldean Christians, church records are the primary, sometimes only, proof of identity and family relationships. Translating these documents requires knowledge of ecclesiastical Syriac terminology and church administrative conventions
- Arabic-Syriac bilingual documents, Iraqi and Syrian identity documents may contain both Arabic and Syriac text, or Arabic documents with Syriac names. Our translators handle both languages accurately
- Historical context, Documents may reference Assyrian place names, historical events, and community structures that are unfamiliar to non-specialists. Accurate translation requires this cultural knowledge
We are one of the few UK translation providers with verified native Aramaic translators across both Eastern and Western Syriac traditions.
Aramaic Translation for Asylum and Immigration
Assyrian and Chaldean Christians are recognised as a persecuted minority by the UK Home Office, the UN, and international human rights organisations. For asylum seekers from these communities, accurate translation of their documents and testimony is critical to establishing their claims:
- Persecution evidence, Translation of personal accounts, threat letters, and documentation of persecution by ISIS, militias, or state actors in Iraq and Syria
- Religious identity proof, Church baptism records, confirmation certificates, and ecclesiastical letters proving Christian identity, particularly important for Assyrian and Chaldean asylum claims where religious persecution is the basis of the case
- Community and family evidence, Translation of attestation letters from Assyrian community organisations, church leaders, and family members supporting the asylum application
- Country of origin information, Translation of local-source reports and documents about conditions facing Assyrian and Chaldean Christians in Iraq and Syria
- UNHCR documentation, Translation of UN refugee agency records, resettlement referrals, and protection documents
We work closely with immigration solicitors, refugee organisations, and Assyrian community groups to ensure our translations accurately convey the reality of our clients' experiences. All translations are certified and accepted by the Home Office and immigration tribunals. See our UKVI translation requirements page for guidance on what is needed for your case.
