The International Colloquium on “Türkiye-Syria Relations from Past to Present,” coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nuri Salık, a faculty member of the Department of History at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, with contributions from Dr. Mehmet Sadık Gür, Deputy Head of our Department, as a researcher, was held in Damascus on 24 October 2026. The event was organized by the Turkish Writers’ Union (TYB) and Ankara Social Sciences University, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, and hosted by Damascus University.
On 22 October 2026, a delegation including ASBU Rector Prof. Dr. Musa Kazım Arıcan and TYB President Prof. Dr. Muhammet Enes Kala met with Türkiye’s Ambassador to Damascus, Dr. Nuh Yılmaz, at the Embassy of the Republic of Türkiye in Damascus. On 23 October, the delegation also met with Üzeyir Göksun, Damascus Coordinator of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA).
Bringing together academics, writers, and cultural figures from Türkiye and Syria, the programme explored the shared memory and historical relations of the two societies through contributions from various disciplines. The sessions addressed intellectual history, relations between cities, migration, family ties, the press, art, and language education.
Dr. Mehmet Sadık Gür chaired the session titled “Philosophy and Cultural Structure.”
During the programme, ASBU Rector and TYB Honorary President Prof. Dr. Musa Kazım Arıcan examined Damascus-Anatolia relations through the intellectual legacies of Al-Farabi and Ibn al-Arabi. TYB President Prof. Dr. Muhammet Enes Kala discussed the contemporary significance of Kınalızâde Ali Efendi’s work Ahlâk-ı Alâî. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Orçan, a faculty member of AYBU’s Department of Sociology, assessed the impact of Syrian migration on relations between the two societies and cultures. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nuri Salık presented his paper titled “Common Resistance Against Imperialism: Turkish-Arab Cooperation during the Turkish War of Independence and the Historical Foundations of Türkiye-Syria Relations (1919–1921).” On the Syrian side, Prof. Dr. Bekri Alâeddin examined a work by Ibn al-Arabi within the framework of shared memory, while Prof. Dr. Ammar al-Nehar discussed the historical ties between Damascus and Istanbul through the historical accounts of Ibn Tulun al-Salihi.
Damascus University Professor of History Semer Behlevan discussed social interactions between Aleppo and Gaziantep, while Rami El-Daleli addressed customs and traditions in Deir ez-Zor during the Ottoman period. Muhammed El-Hacci highlighted the historical significance of the Ottoman Syrian press as a source of historical research. Sociology Professor Abdülhamid El-Süveys evaluated the role of education, working life, and neighbourhood relations in strengthening social ties. Mehmet Sıddık Yıldırım also presented examples of family relations maintained between the two countries across generations.
The colloquium emphasized the documentation of accounts relating to migration and settlement experiences, the preservation of shared cultural heritage, and the development of mutual understanding through language education. The programme concluded with discussions on strengthening joint research initiatives and academic cooperation.
