In a significant milestone for the country’s youth, Syria recently made its first-ever appearance at the 7th International Schools Debating Championship in Arabic (ISDC). Held in Doha on Jan. 11, the prestigious event was organized by the Qatar Debates Center and hosted by Texas A&M University at Qatar as part of a strategic effort to foster debating skills among Syrian students.
Performance and Training Milestones
The Syrian delegation finished its tournament run on Saturday. After participating in five rounds and sustaining two defeats, the team exited the competition ahead of the semifinals. However, officials view this initial foray as a critical foundational achievement for the nation on the global stage.
Reflecting on the achievement, Hamza AlSioufy Head of Syria’s Debates, told SANA: “This participation marks Syria’s first at this level.” He highlighted that the team’s journey involved a stringent selection phase followed by eight months of dedicated preparation.
Path to the Doha Finals
The team earned its place in the Doha finals following a strong showing in the summer of 2025 during the international online qualifying rounds. In that phase, Syria secured second place among 40 competing teams from across the globe, earning their spot in the championship.
The rise of formal debating in the country traces back to April 1, 2025. This date marked the launch of the first national online schools debating championship, an initiative organized under the guidance of “Syria Debates”.
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