Kurds Block Assyrians, Shabaks From
Police Force in North Iraq

Courtesy of the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA)
24 June 2006

Earlier this year, at the request of the local Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and Syriac) and Shabak communities of the Nineveh Plain, and the local police force of the Hamdaniya and Telkaif districts, the Ministry of Interior gave the order to assign approximately 800 new policemen from the local communities in the two Nineveh Plain Districts. This was long overdue as these two districts have a substantially low number of policemen to maintain security in the region. In addition, over fifty percent of the anemic police force in this region is made up of Kurds from outside the area who are loyal to the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

The first order from the ministry was handed down on March 14th, 2006. With a second official order dated April 6th, 2006, the approved applicants were asked to report for duty immediately. However, the Provincial Council of Nineveh, headed by Police Chief Wathiq Muhammad Abd Al-Qadir, has continually delayed the implementation of the ministry's order in the hopes of maintaining KDP control over the region. The Provincial Council of Nineveh is dominated by the Kurdish KDP even though the majority inhabitants of the area are Sunni Arabs, Shiite Shabaks, and ChaldoAssyrian Christians,

After several complaints from the locals, the order was finally implemented on June 14th, 2006, but with the modification that the Nineveh Plain approved applicants report for duty not in their Nineveh Plain hometowns but instead in the most troublesome neighborhoods in the city of Mosul.

The revised order gives the 800 Assyrian Christian and Shabak applicants two weeks to report for duty or their already approved applications will be revoked and rendered invalid. The Mosul city police stations where the new recruits are to report for duty already have assigned to them over 3,000 policemen from the Gayyara district. So far, none of the newly approved applicants have reported to Mosul in protest to the unjust alteration of the order to serve in Mosul rather than in their own towns and villages. Security personnel in the two Nineveh districts number a small fraction as compared to the 3,000 strong Police Force in the Mosul neighborhoods where the new recruits are to be deployed.

A complaint letter (English, Arabic) was formally filed with the Nineveh Provincial Council by the Assyrian and Shabak applicants, objecting to the revision to the order which only serves the political ambitions of the KDP and ensures its control over ever increasing parts of Nineveh and of its native inhabitants. No other region in Iraq has been subjected to such unreasonable demands. In all other urban centers and rural towns and villages the police forces are comprised mainly of local residents who man the local police stations and protect their hometowns.

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With its usual aggression and political maneuvering, the KDP is betting that it can continue its dominance over the Nineveh Plain by infiltrating and controlling the police force. The KDP's excuse, which is rejected by the locals, continues to be that the locals are too afraid to police the area, and so they are forced to bring in KDP militia personnel from the outside. Such blatant suppression of the rights of Assyrians along with notorious KDP aggression have become the trademark of tribal warlord Masoud Barzani in the relentless pursuit of his dream of an independent Kurdistan. To be sure, Barzani has been listening to those who have been advising him that an independent Kurdistan is not viable without the oil-rich areas of Kirkuk and the Nineveh Plain.

Kurdish Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani further demonstrates the KDP's plan to annex Assyrian and Shabak towns when he publicly labels them as "Kurdish towns". In his interview on June 3rd, 2006, Asharq Al-Awsat writes "He emphasized that democracy is part of everyday life in Arbil, Dahuk, Al-Sulaymaniyah, Ba'shiqah, Al-Qosh, Barzan, Bartalah, Zakho, and the remaining Kurdish cities and villages."

The head of the Political Bureau of the KDP and the Provincial Deputy Governor of the Nineveh Governorate, Khisro Goran, has set up KDP offices in even the smallest villages in the Nineveh Plain. He says of the blue-uniformed Iraqi police "They are not much good at finding terrorists...because they are terrorists themselves." In the December 15th General Election, in the Assyrian town of Bartilla, approximately 500 non-resident Kurds had entered the polling center at 11:30 a.m. and demanded to vote. When the director refused, Mr. Khisro Goran, ordered the director to allow the illegal vote. Over 200 voted by the time Coalition forces intervened to stop further illegal voting.

Thousands of Assyrians Moving to North Iraq

(ZNDA: Baghdad) Statistics released on 22 June by the Assyrian Aid Society estimate that 1331 ChaldoAssyrian Christian families ( 5561 persons) have already fled Baghdad, Mosul, Basra, Ramadi, and Kirkuk and relocated in towns and villages in northern Iraq.  The Christians are fleeing because of the lack of security or forced migration. The statistics are as follows:

Other AAS statistics show that in the last six months some 700 ChaldoAssyrian families have moved to the Nineveh Plain, an area tucked between the Kurdish-dominated north and the Sunni center.  These families were distributed as follows:

Assyrian children playing in the cemetery of Ankawa near Arbil where more than 3,500 Christian families have fled to from Baghdad, based to Kurdish statistics.  According to sources to Zinda in Arbil, a $3 million building project is underway for the Patriarchate of the Assyrian Church of the East in the same area, a gift of the Kurdish Regional Government to His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV.  (AFP/Safin Hamed)

The number of families leaving their homes, added the AAS, would increase as schools come to a close for the summer break.

The AAS has requested assistance from the governmental and humanitarian institutions and from the ChaldoAssyrian Syriac people to accommodate and help the migrant families.

The AAS stated that it could accommodate some families, but its resources are limited and there are lodging problems, high rent, in addition to food ration supply problems, as more people relocate or move around, in addition to the arrival of the hot summer season.

Continuing Persecution Renews Calls for
Assyrian Safe-Haven in Iraq

Courtesy of the Assyrian International News Agency (AINA)
9 June 2006

Assyrian Christians (also known as Chaldeans and Syriacs) continue to be targeted within Iraq. Recent attacks have highlighted the varied groups perpetrating the attacks. On March 17, 2006, Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) paramilitaries broke into Mr. Slewo David Simon's home in Batnaya, a Christian town in Northern Iraq. Mr. Simon had recently emigrated to the US after a series of altercations and incidents with KDP militants. As the armed assailants broke into the home, Mr. Simon's neighbors Mr. Nabil Jaro and his brother Mr. Faris Jaro interceded to prevent the break-in and looting.

Later that afternoon at 5 pm, KDP personnel dressed as Iraqi National Guards forcibly entered Mr. Nabil Jaro's home. The KDP paramilitaries ransacked Mr. Jaro's home, broke his furniture, and confiscated his gun. Mr. Jaro was then roughed up and arrested as his terrorized family looked on. Mr. Jaro was then taken to the KDP occupation center in Tel-Kaif in the Nineveh Plain on trumped up charges of terrorism. KDP officers then served Mr. Faris Jaro with an arrest warrant and indicated that his brother, Mr. Nabil Jaro, would not be released until he turned himself in as well. The next day, Mr. Faris Jaro turned himself in, accompanied by his terrified elderly mother and another brother. Two KDP officers along with two other KDP personnel proceeded to severely beat both brothers for several hours while shouting derogatory anti-Christian and anti-Assyrian insults.

Fearing that her sons may be killed, the mother pleaded with her sons to apologize to their attackers in order to be released. Following an apology under duress, the brothers were released. Their neighbor's home has since been expropriated as the new KDP party office in Batnaya in the Nineveh Plain. The establishment of a KDP party office in an area without any Kurds is widely believed to be intended to "bring Christians in line" and dampen enthusiasm for any independent political expression.

Assyrians in other parts of Iraq have not fared much better due to a steadily deteriorating security situation (AINA 4-28-2006).

According to Voices of Iraq, the director of operations for the Nineveh governorate police stated during his briefing on June 5th, 2006, that another Assyrian has been murdered by armed gunmen in the city of Mosul. According to nearby shop owners, the director said, the unidentified gunmen entered Ms. Rahima Elias' shop, one of many in the commercial part of town, and opened fire immediately killing her. Mr. Elias owned a beauty supplies store in the Drakzliya District located west of the city of Mosul. The 33 year old was a native of Karimles, a ChaldoAssyrian town approximately 18 miles east of Mosul.

On April 6, Mr. Samson Awisha was walking home in Baghdad when five men came out of a car and shot him dead. Earlier, presumably the same group of assailants had kidnapped Mr. Awisha's two children for ransom. After paying the ransom, Mr. Oisha's children were released and then quietly sent out of Iraq to Syria along with their mother for safety. The kidnappers had demanded that Mr. Awisha not take his children out of the country. After the murder, Mr. Awisha's family was threatened not to hold a funeral service lest the entire family be targeted. Mr. Awisha was laid to rest secretly and quietly, without a funeral.

On May 30th, 2006, Ankawa.com and Nirgalgate.com reported that Ra'ad Joseph, born in 1976, was found murdered in the Industrial quarters of Mosul. Mr. Joseph was from Bartella in Northern Iraq. Mr. Joseph was married with one child and was an owner of a bodybuilding gym. Reports from Mosul indicate that the murder is suspected to be an act of revenge as the decision of ownership of the gym was awarded him after public bidding for the gym. He was threatened by the Kurds to withdraw his bid but he refused.

On June 2nd, 2006, Ankawa.com and Nirgalgate.com also reported that the Evangelical Church of Ascension was attacked by a rocket bomb the night before. The bomb caused damage to the church building and caused a gaping hole in the church dome. No injuries were reported because the attack happened during the night.

On June 3, 2006, Ankawa.com and Iraq4allnews.dk reported that armed men murdered a Christian engineer in front of his home in Basra the previous night. The Christian engineer, whose name has not yet been released, worked at the al-Najeebiyya Electrical Circuit Station in al-Ma'aqal. The murder seems to be due to religious reasons since the engineer was a Christian and there have been many killings against Christians in Basra and much effort made to force them to leave the city.
Assyrians are now in an untenable position, being targeted by many sides of an increasingly violent conflict in Iraq. Assyrians are targeted in northern Iraq as well as other areas. As one activist noted, "Christians are now targets of Islamic groups, gangs who accuse them (Assyrians) of links to the West, and the Ba'athists and nationalists who view them as traitors."

In their October 2005 report, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) noted what Assyrians had already known, namely, "While much of the hardship and harassment they (Assyrians) report that they face is symptomatic of the situation of general insecurity faced by all Iraqis in present-day Iraq, members of the Christian minority nevertheless appear to be particularly targeted. Iraqi Christians feel especially apprehensive about the overwhelming presence of extremist Islamic groups and armed militias, whose display of intolerance towards non-Muslims has become a nearly daily feature in Iraq."

Another report by Refugees International (RI) dated November 5th, 2005 noted that over 500,000 Iraqi refugees had left Iraq by November 2005. According to RI, the UNHCR is unable to register all refugees, but that of the Iraqi refugees registered in Syria "Nearly half... are Christians, although Christians comprise only about 5% of the population in Iraq."

In an earlier statement, the World Evangelical Alliance Religious Liberty Commission labeled Assyrians "endangered," stating "As people, groups, and whole communities start to identify by religious affiliations other than their common Iraqi nationality, the Christian minority find themselves increasingly despised, marginalized, and exposed. They are endangered, without equality before the (Islamic) law, having no clan networks and retaliation ideology, and lacking security in a lawless Islamic society." (AINA 2-7-2006)

While Assyrians recognize the general insecurity afflicting most Iraqis in and around Baghdad, the continued harassment and attacks in their homes in the north have been doubly taxing. Although some Assyrian families have fled from Mosul, Baghdad, and Basra back to their ancestral villages in the north, most -- as the UNHCR reports have documented -- have instead chosen to leave Iraq entirely. What had been designated a destination point for internally displaced Assyrians has instead been hijacked by KDP militants.

The example of the Jaro brothers illustrates difficulties faced by Assyrians living under a brutal tribal KDP occupation. As one analyst noted, "The confiscation of the Jaro home shows a double tragedy for the community. On the one hand, yet another family has forcibly and violently lost their home to KDP thugs with no recourse to the authorities. On another level, the entire community of Batnaya is now subjected to an armed KDP occupation."

The continued KDP hegemony into still more historically Assyrian areas has further increased tension between Assyrians and the tribal Behdanani Kurds of the KDP. According to the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) and the Iraqi Constitution, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) administration and occupation would only extend to areas occupied by Kurds prior to the war. The steady encroachment of KDP paramilitary militants beyond the KRG occupied areas is viewed as illegal and provocative. One Assyrian leader recently asked, "There are no Kurds here; why do they need an armed presence to terrorize our people here?"

With the growing conflict following the Samarra mosque bombing on February 22nd, the already disproportionate impact on Assyrians has only intensified. The increasing insecurity and subsequent exodus of Assyrians has reinvigorated calls for an Assyrian Administered area. As one analyst summarized, "Only an Assyrian Administered Area, a safe zone in the Nineveh Plain that is secured by Assyrian police, will ensure the confidence of the populace to stay."

3000 Chaldeans Seek Better Life in Lebanon

Courtesy of ADN Kronos International
6 June 2006

(ZNDA: Beirut) Impoverished and living in Lebanon illegally - many of the 3,000 Iraqi Chaldean Christians who have fled their homeland now dream of a better future abroad with Australia the most desired destination. Most of the refugees left Iraq in the wake of the US invasion of the country and while the bloody sectarian stuggle that followed has mostly pitted Shiite and Sunni Muslims against each other, the small Christian minority has not been spared the bloodshed.

But some Christians abandoned the country in the 1990s when it was still ruled by Saddam Hussein.

"I come from the northern Zakho region, and in 1996 together with my wife and children I fled because we were feeling threatened by an environment that was becoming more and more hostile," Sacharia Chamun,38, a father of seven, tells Adnkronos International (AKI).

The family of nine share two small rooms in Beirut's Sidd al-Bawshriyye suburb in a building that overlooks an open drain used by a nearby print works shop to dump acid and chemicals.

The stench in the house is overwhelming and Sacharia's wife, Nada, 34, says the acid fumes are to blame for her respiratory troubles.

"We will never return to Iraq, because we wouldn't have a future there," she says. "We are waiting for a visa for Sydney where we will all be able to join our relatives."

In 1996 the family crossed the border from south-western Iraq into Jordan, but after frequent harassment from the authorities they moved to Syria. Having failed to find work in Damascus, Chamun then decided to move to Lebanon where he hoped to count on the support from other Iraqi Christians living there.

"Here in Lebanon, even if you're illegal you can still find work and survive," Sacharia tells AKI.

Upon arriving in Beirut in 1998, the family was issued documents vouching for their refugee status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but the papers were not renewed in 2000.

The next year the furniture factory where he was employed went bankrupt and since then the family has had to rely from donations by Beirut's Chaldean Diocese.

"Three of our children go to a school run by nuns twice a week, while another attends courses run by [Catholic relief agency] Caritas. But being illegal, we don't have any right to medical of legal aid," he says.

Unlike the Chimuns, Hala Ibrahim and her husband Rad only arrived in Lebanon in 2003.

Rad, 30, says they are "lucky" compared to many compatriots because he works as a carpenter 11 hours a day for a monthly wage of 240 dollars. The couple also dream of a brighter future in Australia.

For the pregnant Nidal, 39, her husband and her three children the waiting might be over. "The Australian embassy phoned to tell us that our immigration request has been accepted. My son will be born in Sydney," she says.

But before the move, the family still has to pay a 1,300 dollar fine for entering Lebanon illegally in 2003. Then they have to find the 700 dollars need to pay for their plane ticket to Australia.

The UNHCR estimates that some 6,000 Iraq Christians - over a half of them Chaldeans - have sought refuge in Lebanon.

The Chaldean Church is an Eastern rite church which recognises the authority of the Roman Catholic Pope. Former Iraqi foreign minister and Saddam aide, Tariq Aziz, a Chaldean, was the most prominent Christian in the dictator's Sunni dominated regime.

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Shabaks of Mosul Under Attack, Move to Nineveh Plain

For Immediate Release

29 June 2006

Dr. Hunain M.al-qaddo.
Member of the Iraqi Parliament
Member of the Human Rights Committee of the Parliament
Chairman of the Iraqi Minorities Council
General Secretary of the Democratic Shabak Assembly

Baghdad, Iraq

Since the beginning of June 2006 Shabak people living in the city of Mosul, increasingly, have become target for the terrorist groups operating in the city. Therefore hundreds of Shabak families have begun leaving the city towards Shabak villages in the Nineveh Plain.

Shabaks have been targeted for sectarian reasons, since the majority of them are Shi'ai, living in a dominant Sunni city. 

The following are the names of individuals who have been killed by the terrorists since the beginning of March 2006:

There are other Shabak individuals have been targeted by terrorists in Mosul in the first quarter of the year 2006.

Assyrian Intellectuals Organize Writers League in Baghdad

Courtesy of the Assyrian Writers and Authors League
Baghdad, Iraq
Translated from Arabic by Nineb Lamassu

(ZNDA: Baghdad)  On 2 June a group of Assyrian intellectuals and authors gathered in Baghdad to found the Assyrian Writers and Authors League as a non-political institution aimed at serving "the Assyrian literature and thought" and to elevate the modern Assyrian language and its literature by publishing original and translated works.  The group plans to establish branches in all Iraqi governorates and in the Diaspora.

The charter members of this group include: Dr. Donny George, Edmond Shlemon Laso, Paulos Shalita Malko, Suzan Yousip Khoshaba, Shamiram Marokil Odisho, Odisho Malko Gewargis Ashitha, Fuat Odisho Ganje, Martin Kurish Tamraz, Hurmis Khamis Matti, Younadam Benyamin Khobyar,
Aprim Eshu Benyamin, Goriel Shimon Enwiya,  and Shmoel Noel Sarkis.

Due to security reasons, and difficulty in traveling between the different governorates, only eight of the founding members were present whilst the remaining had send their written full support for the idea of establishing the league, and agreement with its objectives and constitution.

In this meeting the following resolutions were reached:

• Approval of a proposed constitution after astute study and debate.
• Empowering Dr. Donny George to act as a temporary chairman of the League until a general meeting is held to elect an executive committee in accordance to the League’s constitution.
• Empowering Mr. Odisho Malko to act as a temporary deputy chairman of the League.
• Empowering Mr. Paulos Shalita to look after the administrative affairs and communications of the league.
• Empowering all the founding members to propagate the aims and objectives of the league in accordance with the constitution.

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I Say, To Hell With Unity

Unity is an unlikely thing for the Assyrian nation. Assyrians have allowed themselves to be infiltrated by external powers, corrupted by greed for power and position, and fooled by churches and political entities. They have been thrust into the political arena, unprepared to answer questions about their common identity, as the world ignored the Middle East and its people until oil was discovered over a century ago. Now that Assyrians are cognizant of each other and the idea of “ethnicity” beyond the definition of what was always understood to be true of themselves, the world is asking them for a name, and they are not ready to answer. For the time being, at least, unity amongst Assyrians is dead.

But nationalism isn’t – and that’s really all that’s needed. I believe that all Assyrians have a shared vision – an independent Assyria, allowing Assyrians self-determination and ethnic, political and cultural freedom. There are many different groups who claim they represent the Assyrian cause – from religious figures to political and civic entities. I say to hell with making them all agree on everything – even on a name. Disagree on everything, form a million little splinter groups from this and that group, give yourselves fancy titles and positions – but one thing should be established for all to agree on: Assyrians need Assyria.

The most frightening image for the KRG in Iraq will not be Mr. Yonadam Kanna receiving tens of thousands of votes, or Assyrians protesting around the world for their rights in Iraq.

The most frightening image will be that of Mar Dinkha, Patriarch of the Church of the East, and Younadam Kanna, General Secretary of the Assyrian Democratic Movement, shaking hands – agreeing to disagree, but working toward the same goal – doing what is best within their sphere of influence and power to help Assyrians, and agreeing to work together, shedding any dependency on non-Assyrian groups in Iraq.

All Assyrian bodies – the Assyrian Universal Alliance, AANF, Assyrian Aid Society, ADO, BNDP, ADM, Chaldean, Church of the East, and Jacobite churches, etc. etc. – can all look at each other squarely and say, simply, “I just don’t like you. But I’ll work with you for Assyrians”.

This isn’t unity. This is putting your money where your mouth is and humbling yourself enough to know that you don’t have to agree with someone, or even like them very much, to sit at a table and agree to start projects, build coalitions, invest money, and do what’s necessary to help the people you claim to love so much. This is simply coalition building. Not friendship.

The Patriarchs are terrible at this, as it threatens their authority. The political parties are no better. And the Assyrian public is so busy defending and attacking these institutions, starting new organizations to counter another in the name of “unity”, that they are unraveling and frankly, wasting time. So, I say, to hell with unity.

Do Assyrians need some help to get things started, without moving toward a “united goal” with a “united, single voice”? Here it is:

1.  Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa) – Must admit its mistakes. All fingers are generally pointed at the ADM for everything not being accomplished for Assyrians in Iraq, whether they are completely at fault or are completely innocent. But, to put it bluntly, they must deal with it – the ADM is a prominent political party and subject to criticism. Even if the criticism is unwarranted. The ADM must apologize for mistakes made, make their political platform known, and be transparent about their motives. Most of all, decide – Zowaa either is a “Movement”, or it isn’t. But don’t underestimate the Assyrian public.

2.  Assyrian civic organizations – All have established their positions. Focus focus focus: Assyrians are the constituents these institutions serve, not the churches, not political parties. These organizations exist to help educate, organize, promote, and aid Assyrians around the world. That’s all. If the leaders of these organizations aspire to political prominence, then they should run for office in one of (many) Assyrian political parties.

3.  Assyrian public – Agree to disagree and shake hands as Assyrian brothers, wherever you come from; Eastern Assyria, Western Assyria, whether you are Chaldean, Jacobite or Church of the East, in the homeland or in the Diaspora. Hold your points of view, but learn that to disagree with someone is not to hate them. The Assyrians can begin their quest for freedom in the Middle East the day that two opposing political leaders shake hands and agree they may not love each other, but they love their people. Everything else is just details.

4.  Assyrian public (yes, that’s right, the Assyrian public requires two) – Do not be so careless as to follow men instead of ideas. Patriarchs will come and go (indeed each seems to differ from the last), but you are Assyrian forever. If your priority is the survival of the church, rather than the nation, then you are a Christian, not a nationalist. If your priority is the survival of the nation – with the recognition that our church has a place in civil society without burdening it – then you are a nationalist. It doesn’t matter which side you choose – that is your priority. But you can’t choose both.

5.  Patriarchs – Touchy subject. They are choosing their loyalties, but their legacies will outlive them, and whatever those loyalties are, one thing is necessary: the Patriarchs of the various Assyrian churches (Chaldean, Jacobite, Church of the East, etc.), stay OUT of the sphere of politics. It is within the realm of religious authorities to discuss religious identity – it is out of their realm to discuss ethnic identity, even if it is meant to be inclusive. Patriarchs should tend to the religious needs of Assyrians, and openly display support for all those involved in saving Assyria – but counsel and advice regarding politics is best left to politicians.

6.  Learn Assyrian history – Unity may not be necessary, but knowing what mistakes Assyrians have made in the past is imperative. Only less than 100 years ago everyone called himself an Assyrian, whether Catholic, Church of the East, Western or Eastern. Less than 100 years ago Assyrians were asking autonomy from the British, who left them to the mercy of Iraqis who, in turn, massacred them at Semele. Less than 100 years ago, the Iraqis and League of Nations decided to divide Assyrians by religious affiliation to make their population numbers small so they can claim Assyrians made no majority anywhere. Sound familiar? It should. All of it is happening again. But we can change events this time around – but only by learning from the past.

7.  Assyrian civic AND political institutions – They must go to the source. The Kurds have no political or economic interest or need for Assyrians, and ultimately this is what drives their motives. Kurds do not have incentive to protect Assyrian culture and identity. To the contrary, their claims over Assyrian land give them every incentive to ultimately “Kurdify” or destroy us. At this point, the American and coalition presence in Iraq have begun to figure out policies best for rebuilding Iraq – they are the ones with the money and influence – even over the Kurds. The Kurds are busying themselves, going to the primary source for economic sustenance (mostly U.S. and U.N.) while we go to them for whatever’s left over. Wrong approach. It is the responsibility of these Assyrian institutions to lay claim to lost villages by appealing to the Iraqi government, and to being attention to serious misappropriation of funds by Kurds, using U.S. dollars and U.N. aid to support a “Kurdification process” and some Ba’athist like policies toward the Assyrians. Placing trust in the Kurds is tantamount to signing a death warrant for the future of the Assyrian nation.

8.  Assyrian Youth – In the words of Ashur Bet-Sargis, “Roosh, Qum!” * Young Assyrians must learn the Assyrian nationalism of the past, learn from the struggles of their fathers and mothers, and most importantly – learn from history’s mistakes. The future of Assyria and Assyrians lies with the young generation, and it is vital that young Assyrians learn the idea of “coalition building”, without bias or hatred, for a successful nationalist movement. It is the job of the older generation to foster and cultivate the youth, and prepare them for leadership one day.

9.  Assyrian Academics – Preserve Assyrian history. Assyrians are at the mercy of their oppressors who are rewriting their history, and have been told by Kurds quite bluntly: “The history of Assyrians is underground – ours is above it”. Preserving Assyrian history and sharing it with the world brings everything that is buried to the surface – and Assyrians can have a future – not only a past – in Iraq.

None of this is impossible; all take a little effort, time, humility, and a real, honest nationalist spirit. While Assyrians in Diaspora bicker and fight, there are people - Assyrian people - waiting in the Homeland for our help and aid. These Assyrians stayed, when the rest of us fled – we owe them more loyalty than any political entity, and more attention than any religious figure. I’ll leave you with a quote from Dr. David Perley, an Assyrian nationalist from the Jacobite Church:

“One’s being Assyrian is a synthesis of heritage, religion and culture, and emotional consciousness that transcends all diversities, theological demographic, and otherwise. To be Assyrian is to feel: The past is my heritage I shall forget it not; the present, my responsibility; the future, my challenge.”

* In the Assyrian language: “Awaken, Rise!”

Assyrian Universal Alliance Meeting in Canberra

For Immediate Release
22 June 2006

Hermiz Shahen
Secretary
Assyrian Universal Alliance- Australia Chapter

On Wednesday, 21 June 2006, a delegation representing the Assyrian Universal Alliance headed to Canberra to meet with Australian parliamentary Assyrian friendship group, chaired by Mr. Bruce Baird MP, Liberal Party and Mr. Chris Bowen MP, Labor Party. This Parliamentary group was established by Mr Bowen to lobby the Assyrian case in the Australian Federal Parliament. The group is formed of three senators and five members of Parliament from both leading political parties the Liberal and Labor.

During the meeting which lasted an hour and a half a submission was presented to the Australian government calling on the Australian Government to support the plight of the Assyrians in Iraq and immediately take the necessary steps to secure this indigenous people, from further harm coming to them, in their ancestral homeland in North Iraq by the immediate establishment of an Assyrian Region as promulgated under Article 121 of the Iraqi Constitution in Northern Iraq, the ancestral homeland of the indigenous Assyrians.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) is pleased to announce that the meeting was very fruitful and that recommendations were made to proceed with this matter to the higher authorities. In the meantime we were honoured to have few more new friends from both senators and members of the parliament joining the lobby group.

Later in the day the Hon. Senator Marise Payne, when speaking in the Senate about Iraq, gave the statement below about the meeting.

The Assyrian Universal Alliance would like to thank Mr Chris Bowen MP and Mr Paul Azzo, active Assyrian in the Liberal, for organising this important meeting upon request from the AUA, we also would like to thank the Australian parliamentary Assyrian friendship group for their attendance and the commitment showed at the meeting.

Australian Senator Cites Assyrian in Her Speech to Parliament

(ZNDA: Melbourne)  On 21 June, Senator Marise Payne, Senator for New South Wales in Australia and a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, cited the harassment and the violence perpetrated against the Assyrian population of Iraq due to their ethnic and religious differences from mainstream Iraqi Moslem groups.  The following is an extract from a speech delivered by Sen. Payne in the Australian Parliament:

Sen. Marise Payne

I will now turn briefly to the question of Iraq. Operation Catalyst, which began in 2003, involves around 1,400 Australian personnel in Iraq, helping to ensure as smooth as possible a road to freedom and democracy. Aside from forces that protect Australian government personnel in Baghdad, Operation Catalyst provides protection for Japanese field engineers engaged in the reconstruction of infrastructure—and we hear recent discussion about changes to that. It also provides both airborne and seaborne maritime patrol capabilities to deter illegal fishing and defend offshore oil platforms, for disarmament and analysis of explosive devices and for logistical and training support for not only the Iraqi army but also all foreign forces in Iraq.

Australia has to date pledged over $173 million for reconstruction and humanitarian assistance to Iraq. We focus on the agriculture sector and on governance and we make what are described as ‘niche contributions’ in other areas, such as trade reform, human rights and police training. The Iraqi people are actively involved in the reconstruction of their country in supporting Iraq’s economic and social stabilisation programs to minimise local support for the insurgency. But, as we know, every day seems to bring new and tragic news about insurgent activities. In Iraq, as one of the most important components of international activities, I think we need to ensure we are urging authorities to ensure the security of all ethnic and religious groups. This is a part of the world which is an area of complex history and ethnology, and that adds to the challenges of reconstruction enormously. The Iraqi constitution states:

Iraq is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-sect country ... Iraqis are free in their adherence to their personal status according to their own religion, sect, belief and choice, and that will be organised by law.

Furthermore it says:

Entities or trends that advocate, instigate, justify or propagate racism, terrorism ... sectarian cleansing, are banned ... Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination because of sex, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief, opinion or social or economic status.

But, nevertheless, sectarian and racist violence is still a daily occurrence. Today’s Australian reports on the situation of Luma George, a 20-year-old teaching student. Ms George is a Christian in Iraq. She now wears a hijab—the Muslim headscarf—as she is driven to and from university. She says that that is because gunmen have said that if she did not wear it she would be killed. That, in terms of exploring concepts of religious freedom in a developing democracy, is a matter of some concern.

The Al-Tub al-Adli morgue in Baghdad processes at least 20 to 30 bodies a day; last month, 1,384 corpses passed through its doors. Many of those Iraqis died in sectarian violence. Iraq has a significant Christian Assyrian minority, who should, with similar peoples, be protected from discrimination in accordance with that country’s international and constitutional obligations. I welcome the convening today, by the Hon. Bruce Baird MP and Chris Bowen MP, a meeting of the Australian parliamentary Assyrian friendship group to discuss many of these issues.

Forces, both Iraqi and international, need to operate with a restraint that fosters an environment of mutual respect and provides people like the Assyrians with a sense of security in their homeland. By and large, I think they do that. I think the problem is much broader than that. The Assyrians are committed to trying to find themselves a voice in the reconstruction administration of their lands in northern Iraq and elsewhere in the region to ensure they can preserve their cultural identity. Assyrians were estimated at around one million people before their recent exodus from Iraq, seeking refuge in Syria, Turkey Greece, Jordan and further abroad. These are fundamental human rights issues, and issues that are worthy of note by this chamber.

Assyrian Participation at UN Indigenous Forum

By Shamiran Mako of the Council for Assyrian Research and Development (CARD), reporting from Canada

The Fifth Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues commenced this year on May 15th 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The fourteen-day conference was attended by over 1200 individuals representing various indigenous peoples organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), affiliate United Nations offices and country representatives. Assyrians were represented by Mr. Michael Youash of the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project (ISDP) and Ms. Shamiran Mako on behalf of the Assyrian Academic Society and the Council for Assyrian Research and Development.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) is an advisory to the Economic and Social Council with a mandate to discuss indigenous issues concerning economic and social development, the environment, healthcare, education and human rights. The first meeting of the Forum took place in 2002 for two weeks, and as a result of unprecedented success, has been holding annual meetings since with the following mandate:

• Provide expert advice and recommendations on indigenous issues to the Economic and Social Council, as well as to programs, funds and agencies of the United Nations, through the Council;
• To raise awareness and promote integration and cooperation related to indigenous peoples within the UN system;
• And lastly, to prepare and disseminate information on indigenous issues.*

The UN Building in New York

The agenda of the annual sessions varies each year and is determined at the end of each session. The structure, however, remains the same. The meetings begin with an opening ceremony and the following days are dedicated to covering statements submitted by non-governmental organizations, permanent experts of the Forum (there are 15 of them covering various geographical areas of interest) and affiliate UN organizations and offices. At the end of the session, reports are made based on the issues raised by indigenous peoples worldwide and official statements are posted online through a contracted NGO, DOCIP.  To view the statements presented on behalf of the Assyrians in their homeland click here.

Our primary focus as first time participants was to familiarize the Forum, the Permanent Experts and fellow indigenous peoples about Assyrians and their plight in their respective homeland (Southeast Turkey, Northern Iraq, North-Western Iran and North-Eastern Syria). The key focus of our official statement was Kurdish oppression and terror toward the indigenous inhabitants (the Assyrians) residing within the boundaries of this geographical location. This has become more ubiquitous as the efforts for the creation of Kurdish homeland through secessionist Kurdish movements, illustrating a pattern of sustained efforts at homogenizing the region by colonizing and obliterating its indigenous inhabitants.

It is commonly assumed that the United Nations has the capacity to officially designate and recognize the indigeneity of a people or community. This is based an erroneous postulation that the UN has the aptitude and influence to formally attribute such status. The United Nations, in conjunction with various offices such as the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, can provide the forum whereby minority and indigenous groups have the ability to present their individual cases and build their profile through a consistent and active participation. Thus, indigenous status is an informally recognized right of a people that promote and advocate their plight through the institutional structures of the United Nations system and offices.

A key factor is the dialogue that is created between the indigenous peoples organizations, their country-representative and various NGOs worldwide that advocate indigenous rights. The recommendations of the permanent experts of such forums and the UN as an advisory body have a tremendous impact and weigh heavily on the countries involved which often force countries to seek proactive solutions for their indigenous inhabitants.

Recognition is through consistent participation. Raising awareness of the plight of Assyrians in their homeland as an indigenous and ethno-religious minority will reinforce their indigeneity and will demonstrate to the respective governments of each country that violence against Assyrians will not go unreported. We hope with regular participation, Assyrians will become an integral part of both the UN system and the international arena as a whole.

* For further information on the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, please visit the official web site at: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/about_us.html

UK Assyrians Honour British MP, Stephen Pound

Andrew Michael of Firodil Institute, reporting from United Kingdom

For some time now, the Rt. Hon. Stephen Pound MP has been a friend of the UK Assyrians community.

He has worked tirelessly and diligently for the Assyrian cause and time and time again, has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Assyrians and fought for our cause.

Rt. Hon. Stephen Pound

It is no surprise then that the Assyrian community held a dinner in his honour, as well as paying tribute to the hard work of Councilor Michael Elliot, who was also in attendance. The night’s proceedings were organised by the Firodil Institute and ASUK. The Firodil Institute has been working towards the recognition of ‘Seyfo’, the Assyrian genocide of 1915. In our attempts to achieve this aim, our paths have crossed with Mr. Pound, who has shown great willingness to help out and support our demand for an apology from Turkey. Only last month, he held an adjournment debate at the House of Commons, where he outlined and lobbied the government to accept that the appalling events of 1915 were in fact genocide.

Although the response from the government was less than pleasing, he made his intentions clear, he wouldn’t stop working and fighting until the government acknowledge the genocide of 1915.

The night began with a speech from Nineb Lamassu, who addressed the community and the presence of the night’s special guests. He went on to raise the need for a lobbying group to be created that would raise the pertinent issues for the Assyrians to the British government. In addition, he also made the MP and the Councilor aware of Firodil’s plan to erect a monument for the genocide of 1915, and that Ealing Council also officially recognize the genocide.

We were now privileged to have Mr. Pound stand up on stage and address the Assyrian community. He began in his amazement at the age of Ninos Warda, an Assyrian from London, who has written the book titled ‘Seyfo; The Assyrian Genocide in International Law’. He had assumed that the writer of this book must have been over 50 years of age, but said it was a joy to realise that someone this young should be able to write a book that is respected and quoted from all around the world.

If there was any uncertainty as to his passion and loyalty to the Assyrians, he left the audience in no doubt as to where he stood. He said it was “not your honour to have me here today, but it is mine, that I should stand here in front of you, the Assyrians. For you have given this world so much, with all your inventions and the cradle of civilisation.” Furthermore, he asked for forgiveness for the way that the Assyrians have been treated by the British government over the last century, and made a point of the special relationship they had with the Assyrian Levies during the world wars. It was a passionate and brotherly speech, which heartened those present. This man was on our side, there was a beacon of light shining for our rights in the British government. He rightly pointed out that the Assyrians were a forgotten nation, that they were a quiet people, their rights ignored and their voices not heard. But not anymore, he was going to change this, he was going to speak on our behalf and make sure that this minority had some weight behind it.

Mr. Pound then agreed that a lobby group should be set up in the UK, and offered his help in doing so. He also supported the need to erect a monument for the Assyrians to visit each year and pay their respects to those that died in 1915. He would work along side Councilor Michael Elliot in order to achieve this.

Mr. Elliot also spoke shortly about his relationship with the Assyrians, and he too would fight for our rights, and would petition to Ealing Council to officially recognize the genocide and to have a monument erected somewhere in Ealing.

At this point, we were honoured again to have in our presence Prof. Ashur Yousouf’s great grandson, Mr. Tigran Hovsepyan. Mr. Hovsepyan talked a little about his great grandfather, and the struggles he lived through. It was also an opportunity to publicise the books written by Prof. Ashur Yousouf and the attempts by the Firodil Institute to publish these and make them available to the Assyrian community.

At this point the guests of honour were presented with plaques from the community for their support of this nation, a small gesture of thanks for the work that they have both done, and will continue to do.
As the night progressed the Assyrian Human Rights Project ‘Marem Reshakh’ now presented us with a play, beautifully written and directed by Mrs. Shoshan Lamassu. This play highlighted the pain and suffering our people have experienced during those atrocious times. It particularly emphasized the relationship of a mother and its child, and how much suffering must have been bestowed upon us in 1915.

It was moving and thought provoking, and hit home the reality faced by our brothers and sisters under the Ottoman Empire. Much credit and appreciation must go to ‘Marem Reshakh’ for the hard work and dedication for putting this play together, and for the actors involved.

Our guests were now invited to sample a selection of our delicious Assyrian food, which had been prepared by members of the community.

And so the night ended and the community was left with a positive frame of mind. It had seen and heard from a man who genuinely wanted to help the Assyrians, and felt proud to be called a friend of our nation. It was a pleasure to see a member of the British government greet and hug many members of the community, to pound his chest at the brotherly relations, and to show a willingness to do even more for our nation. It is due to people like him and the unshakable resolve of our people, that one day we will have recognition of the genocide of 1915, and that Turkey will be asked to apologise. Let us hope that one day the Assyrian plight will be over.

We encourage the Assyrian community worldwide to write and thank Mr. Stephen Pound at PoundS@parliament.uk .

"Speaking with One Voice":
1915 Genocide Commemoration in Germany

By Abdulmesih BarAbraham reporting from Germany

(ZNDA: Munich)  Under the motto “Speaking with One Voice” the Assyrian Democratic Organisation, the Association of Pontos-Greeks in Munich and the Armenian Council in Germany invited to a commemoration of the anniversary of the genocide of Christians in Turkey. The event took place on 20 May 2006 in Munich.

Meeting organizers and their special guest standing in between, from left to right:  Ms. Anastasia Dick, Ms. Erika Steinbach and Ms. Janet Abraham.

An ecumenical divine service, jointly conducted by priests of three native eastern Orthodox Churches along with the Greek Orthodox Bishop of Munich, commemorating the victims of the genocide served as the opening. Representatives of the two German Churches held speeches and underlined the importance of remembrance of the past to prevent similar incidents in the future. The representative of the Evangelical Church stressed also the political aspect of the commemoration that should be considered as an appeal towards both Turkey and Germany; while Turkey must recognize the historical fact of the genocide, Germany needs to acknowledge and discuss its historical role. The Catholic Church representative pointed to the fact, that the genocide of 1915 ended a two thousands year existence of Christianity in Asia Minor. Even though nobody can undo the events, they must not be forgotten and it should be never again allowed that people are killed because of their religious affiliation or race.

The symposium part was opened by Tuma Abraham, MD, who underlined the importance of the event as the 90th anniversary for the Greek from Pontos, Asia Minor and Thrakia while for the Assyrians and Armenians it stands for the 91st anniversary. He briefly outlined some related initiatives from last year. Mr. Abraham elaborated on the submission of the Christian Democratic Parties to the German Parliament regarding the treatment of the genocide question (being main topic of the panel discussion of last year’s commemoration event in Munich) which was accepted unanimously by all fractions, though avoiding the term genocide. With regards to the negotiations about a possible accession of Turkey into the EU, Mr. Abraham stressed the importance of the proceedings for both the negotiating parties and the afflicted Christian victims of the genocide. He pointed to the slow process in Turkey characterizing the efforts to implement reforms and the Turkish influence to impact political decisions in Europe through economical pressure.

A Divine Representation, Left to right:  Syrian Orthodox Rev. Bitris Ögünc, an Armenian priest, A Catholic church representative, a Greek priest, and a Greek bishop.

The Assyrian organizer of the symposium and vice-chairlady of the Society for Threatened People, Ms. Janet Abraham, read a message from Dr. Hans Zehetmair, former Bavarian Minister of State, sending respects and emphasizing the necessity of a confession by Turkey as a sign for granting equal rights to the remaining minorities in the country.

In her brief message, the Greek consul in Munich, Ms. Anna Korka, gave an overview about the historical events concerning the Greek community in the Ottoman Empire during the World War I. She closed with a call for solidarity among the European nations.

Ms. Erika Steinbach, Member of the German Parliament and President of the Federation of the Dispelled People, held the first lecture of the evening. She described the basic idea of the Centre for Dispelled People which is dialog between afflicted nations and warned of a “hierarchy among different genocides”. She underlined her commitment to work for reconciliation between the victims and Turkey, while she expects that Turkey confess the fact of the genocide.

Dr. Gabriele Yonan, philologist and author of "The Forgotten Holocaust"

Ms. Gabriele Yonan, philologist and author, elaborated on the term the three nations use to refer to the genocide (e.g. Seyfo as an adaptation from “Seyf ul Islam” – Sword of Islam) and touched principal source materials for the genocide and historical research – The documentary of Dr. Johannes Lepsius, the Blue Book by Bryce/Toynbee, and Ambassador Henry Morgenthau’s collections. She pointed out to the fact that all three nations, Assyrians, Armenians and Greeks are mentioned in the documents as being victims of the genocide. With reference to the current political discussions about the Armenian genocide she said, that history of Asia Minor does not need to be rewritten but has to be regarded in its completeness.

The following discussion panel led by Dr. Klaus Below, special correspondent of the Bavarian Radio, featured members of the European parliament and the State government, Dr. Markus Ferber and Mr. Joachim Unterländer, both emphasizing the necessity to pressure Turkey to ensure human and political rights for the ethnic minorities. As representatives of the Turkish community, Mr. Ali Ertem, chairman of the Association of Genocide Opponents, and the journalist Ms. Yeldag Özcan underlined their solidarity with the victims of the genocide. Ms. Özcan said that she is ashamed “that the genocide is [even] denied by Turks in Germany”. Armenian author Dr. Raffi Kantian and Ms. Gabriele Yonan emphasized the ethnical aspects of the genocide being launched by the Young Turks who’s objective was to get rid of the non-Turkish elements of the population. Dr. Klaus Below criticized the resolution passed last year in the German parliament for not using the term ‘genocide’.

The evening closed with some final words by Ms. Anastasia Dick, co-organizer of the symposium and chairlady of the Association of Pontos-Greek in Munich.

Meeting of the AACF & Fr. Yusuf Sag in France

By Antoni Yalap, reporting from France

"Be Dogs Among the Wolves!"

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Work of East (Oeuvre d’Orient), which for more than 150 years has helped the Middle Eastern Christians, several patriarchs of these same Churches who live difficult days in their countries, were received in France. The Patriarchs, bishops and their priests were received by the highest political personalities: the President of the French Republic, the President of the National Assembly, and the French Foreign Secretary.

From Turkey, only a few priests were present, two of whom are well known by the Assyro-Chaldean community of France. It was very difficult to meet Father François Yakan, the Chaldean priest of Istanbul, who quickly returned to his country, where he notably takes charge of the Assyro-Chaldean refugees from Iraq. Indeed, more than 6000 refugees from Iraq await to obtain papers and to leave as quickly as possible. The Catholic Syriac patriarch asked France, in the person of Jacques Chirac, to welcome these poor Christians or to grant them temporary visas.

The other priest from Istanbul was Father Yusuf Sag, the patriarchal vicar of the Catholic Syriac Church of Turkey. Native of Idil, a village in Tur Abdin, he settled down in Istanbul, following in the path of the exile of the children of his people. It is in Paris at the Foreign Missions that he received, under a radiant sun the representatives of the Assyro-Chaldeans Association of France: Naman and Joseph Adlun - whose father was replaced by Father Yusuf Sag when he had to leave the region; Zayya Yabas, Stéphane Yakan and Antoine Yalap. He asked the delegation to greet two patriarchs: Mar Abdel Ahad, patriarch of the Catholic Syriac Church, and Mgr. Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Father Sag talked for a very long time about his history and the fate of his people. The Poor lambs among wolves. Without subtlety and in all honesty, he even described how he had quit smoking. He spoke about his new responsibilities and about his new fame in Turkey as the president of the Committee for Dialogue between Christians and Moslems.

After a small break, he looked at the president of the AACF and began to speak about his people: "We are finished in Turkey. The Turks tell us that we are all Missionaries. This is so absurd that I asked them: Where are all these new Christians so actively proselytizing"? Then he chained onto the Assyro-Chaldean values, the identity, the conservation of our culture for the past several millennia: "We used to be called Chemoun, Lahdo, Giwargis. Today in Turkey our children are called Fuat, Özkan or Tarkan. Why"?

Mr. Naman Adlun told Father Sag that the AACF exists to fight this type of challenges. "Do not lose your values, protect them, do not lose your language, it is your unique chance of survival there", answered straightaway Father Yusuf Sag, before illustrating his comments by a small anecdote: "A modest family possessed a hen, one tackle, a cow and a horse. One day, the hen disappeared. The mother burst into sobs and asked her two children to fetch the hen which gave them eggs. The children did not pay attention to her tears, saying that it was only a hen. Some days passed. The mother asked her children again to fetch the cow which gave them some milk. Contrary to all expectations, the father asked them to fetch the hen instead. His sons laughed at him by saying: “He asks us to fetch a hen while the cow has much more value'. They did not find the cow".

The mother burst into sobs and ran everywhere in search of the cow. Her children were amazed to hear their father telling them to fetch the hen. Believing that he had became crazy, they beat him and locked him in the cellar. They searched to no avail. Finally the horse was stolen also. The mother lost consciousness and the children left, again, in search of the horse. The father shouted from the cellar: “My children fetch the hen. He who stole the stole the hen is the one responsible for all other thefts".

And so Father Yusuf Sag explained that if we in the West lose our language, we would lose our identity. He said: "On our ancestral lands, to be a lamb among wolves presented no concern. Because as lambs we can only bear losses. It is necessary then, sooner or later, to become dogs among the wolves. To show that we are not weak, that we know how to defend ourselves ".

The meeting with Father Yusuf Sag, who lasted approximately one hour, ended with a photo opportunity. The president of the AACF handed the book "Göçten Önce" (Before the Exile) written by Father Aziz Yalap to the representative of the Catholic Syriacs of Turkey. The delegation left this visit with these words: "Do all that it is necessary to protect your identity!”

Assyrians of Las Vegas Raising Funds to Build First Church

Courtesy of the Las Vegas News
By Ashtar Analeed Marcus
8 June 2006

Persecuted for their faith in their homelands, Assyrians — Christians from Iran and Iraq — held a fundraising picnic at Mountain Crest Park in Northwest Las Vegas with the hopes of establishing their first church in Nevada.

“We need at least half a million dollars to buy a church,” said Manuel Babaian, deacon of the Assyrian Church of the East. “We feel all good about it, and we’re doing our best to make it happen.”

The group exists only as a congregation, with no church building, renting facilities and other churches to hold their monthly service. And for the last five years, since the inception of the Nevada church body, the Assyrians have hosted fundraising efforts at least twice a year, the deacon said.

About 80 picnickers attended the May 21 event, eating seasoned kabob sandwiches while traditional Assyrian dance music played.

“Assyrians are very patriotic Americans,” said Marlin Ghassomians, a resident of The Willows. “They value education and they work very hard. They love music and dance, and their food is the best food in the world.”

The event was organized by Deacon Philip Marcus — one of the Nevada church’s original founders — and included volunteers who barbecued, sold food-and-drink tickets, set up their nation’s flag, and dressed in traditional golden-fringed gowns.

“This is our way: Whoever has faith goes to church, prays, and helps people,” said Dinkha Polus Adam, 71. He said he is planning on moving to property he owns in Summmerlin in Las Vegas. “All we want for the time being is to have a church like other people. Then maybe our community will grow more and more.”

Teenagers, parents, infants and senior citizens gathered for games of backgammon and drank hot tea from a “samovar,” or metal urn for boiling water.

Suad Dawood, Johny Kako and Shimeran Anwya perform an Assyrian dance in traditional costumes.

“We want to get together, to be with our people and touch base with our culture,” said Ghassomians, who attended with her husband, Nick. “We want a place for our young people to get together, to have a place to meet, to grow, to learn their culture and religion, which is a very important part of our culture.”

“We have lots of programs for children, college students, to provide scholarships for them,” said Nick Ghassomians, 67. “And it’s a good, healthy way of socializing.”

The 2,000-year-old denomination dates back to the time of Christ, with its ancient capital of Nineveh located in modern day Iraq. The peak of the Assyrian Empire was in 650 B.C. and reached from Egypt to Turkey. Descendants of the ancient empire, modern-day Assyrians now live in predominantly Muslim Iraq and Iran.

Recognizing the growth of the Las Vegas church community, the Patriarchate appointed a priest to conduct monthly services in the Summerlin Library beginning in June.

The Assyrian population in the Summerlin area has reached about 100 members in the last five years and is part of a nationwide population of between 83,000, the official Census Bureau figure, and 400,000, the estimate of the Assyrian International News Agency.

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“I was the first Assyrian to come here,” said David Warda, of Sun City Summerlin. He said he moved to Las Vegas more than 20 years ago to work for the Tropicana as a public relations representative.
“I’m almost 7,000 years old,” 87-year-old Warda said, referring to his ancient ethnic heritage and its calendar year of 6756.

Reflective of the Southern Nevada growth rate, the community continues to draw more members to the area from around the country.

“I moved here March 16,” said Suzy Soleimani, originally from Iran. “I feel at home because of all my friends and cousins, and my native language.”

She moved from Columbus, Ohio, to The Trails in Summerlin.

Soleimani attended the picnic with her husband, Parviz, whom she met in Iran, where they were neighbors.

“It’s important to support the Assyrian church because we are all Assyrians,” Parviz said. He came to support the fundraiser despite belonging to the Presbyterian Church. “That’s our primary goal, to be together, support each other. That’s our nationality.”

The church’s liturgy is held in Aramaic, which historians believe Jesus spoke. Its congregation speaks Assyrian, or modern Aramaic. Among the first to accept Christianity, the Assyrians have a legend that its church began when St. Thomas the Apostle evangelized to them in the first century.

“The belief of it is more Protestant than Orthodox,” said church member Madline Ellyin, 59. “Actually, they say if Martin Luther knew about the Eastern Assyrian Church, he would’ve just taken that church and elaborated on it, because it’s exactly [the thesis] he put on the door of his church.”

AAS in Central Valley California Honors URMI Creators

By Tony Khoshaba, reporting from California

(ZNDA: Modesto)  On 24 June the volunteers and friends of Assyrian Aid Society Central Valley Chapter gathered in Modesto, California to honor the contribution of Ms. Helen Saint Vincent and Raabi Hannibal Alkhas to our culture and art by their recent production of the Urmi CD.

The president of AAS chapter thanked the two artists for their generous donation of the proceeds of the CD to AAS.  At the same time Mr. Tony Khoshaba announced that the new team of AAS in Central Valley is committed to serving the Assyrian community in Central Valley by providing quality educational and cultural programs.

Ms. Helen Vincent also thanked AAS for their support to publicize and sell the CD in various Assyrian communities in the US. Then she briefly described her motivation to produce this CD and her plans for future projects.

She entertained the audience by several beautiful songs. One of the songs based on a poem by late Raabi Addai Alkhas brought tears to the eyes of many participants.

The evening also included poem recitals by several individuals.

At the end the audience expressed great interest in Ms. Helen’s songs and asked her to come back again to US with a concert.  AAS chapter president announced that AAS committee is already working with Ms. Helen for possible future concert tours in the US.

U R M I E  CD

T h e   H a l l u c i n a t i o n s   o f   a n   A r t i s t

Assyrian Civilization on Display at Shanghai Museum

Courtesy of Shanghai Daily
By Wang Jie
30 June 2006

(ZNDA: Shanghai)  Travel back in time with the Shanghai Museum's "Art and Empire" exhibition of artifacts from the ancient and historically important Assyrian Civilization, writes Wang Jie.

The Assyrian Civilization is one of the most famous ancient civilizations. It existed in what is modern day Iraq 3,000 years ago.

"Art and Empire," an exhibition featuring treasures from the ancient civilization provides Shanghainese with an opportunity to learn more about Assyria.

On loan from the British Museum, some of the 251 relics showcased in the Shanghai Museum have never traveled outside of the British Museum except when they were displayed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York a decade ago.

"It is a rare chance to appreciate them in Shanghai, many representative works have been selected to present a comprehensive picture of this important ancient civilization," says Chen Xiejun, curator at Shanghai Museum.

The objects on view include major stone reliefs and sculptures, daily ornaments and vessels, cuneiform records in clay and historical materials about the discovery of Assyria.

Surrounded by a series of bygone images like the gallant king engaged a war or a lion shot by an arrow, visitors seem to be led into a time tunnel where a past historical chapter is revealed.

Iraq, the cradle of ancient civilization, has always been a place contested by many military campaigns. The fertile land between the two renowned rivers, the Tigris and the Euphrates, has experienced continual epic struggles for thousands of years.

Assyria was originally a small state in northern Mesopotamia, and it later had developed into an immense empire by the 8th century BC. Its borders reached the Mediterranean in the west and Iran in the east. Influenced by Sumerian and Babylonian culture, it rapidly spread the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia to its surrounding territory through its military power.

Assyrian Civilization reached its climax before the 7th century BC. It had established a huge empire, the Assyrian Empire, but it was later destroyed by the Babylon men in 612 BC.

"The highlight of the show are the 30 stone reliefs," says Li Feng, a spokesman at the museum.

The biggest stone relief weighs 4.3 tons. According to Li, the artistic achievement of the Assyrian Empire was well reflected through these sculptures and reliefs featuring realistic scenes of royal expeditions, hunting and other activities.

However, the Assyrians were sometimes perceived as cruel and tyrannical, partly due to the disparaging references to them in the Bible and partly due to their harsh treatment of prisoners as shown on those stone reliefs.

"It is clear now that they merely followed the normal standards of the day," Li explains.

The contents of the cuneiform texts, the sophisticated art and the quality of craftsmanship all manifest a highly developed civilization. In particular, the stone wall reliefs with their intricately carved narrative scenes were directly copied in the later reliefs of Persia and Greece.

In 1999, the Shanghai Museum held an Egyptian relics show also on loan from the British Museum. The exhibition attracted nearly 630,000 visitors during two months.

"We are looking forward to the same fever from the public this summer," Li says with a smile.

July 1-October 7, 9am-5pm
Address: 201 People's Ave, Shanghai, China
Admission: 20 yuan
Tel: 6372-3500

Susan Nisan Creates Latin Program in Turlock

Courtesy of the Modesto Bee
By Merrill Balassone
16 May 2006

(ZNDA: Turlock)  Susan Nisan's daughter Sabrina graduated from high school at age 16. Nisan's 15-year-old son Ashur, still in high school, has a semester's worth of college credits under his belt.
Nisan said her children learned self-reliance and are prepared for college thanks to a mix of homeschooling and classes at the KTL Charter School in Keyes. The charter school serves families who home-school their children, with most students attending classes at KTL one or two times a week.

Nisan, now a Latin teacher at KTL, took Latin every semester as a student at Coe College in Iowa. After earning a master's degree in developmental psychology from Cornell University and her teaching credential from California State University, Stanislaus, in 1999, Nisan spent five years helping to create KTL's "core knowledge program."

Susan Nisan of Turlock teaches Latin for 2nd through 12th-grade students and program coordinator for KTL Charter School in Keyes (near Turlock).  Her family:  husband Bellos Nisan, daughter Sabrina, 19, and sons, Ashur, 15, Evin, 14, and Michael, 12.

The program's goal is to expose children to ancient history, classical music and great artists at a young age.

"I've seen my own children do things I would've loved to have done when I was growing up," Nisan said.

Since creating the Latin program two years ago, Nisan now teaches 70 elementary, middle and high school students. This year, many of her students earned awards for high marks on the National Latin Exam. About 130,000 junior high and high school students around the world take the test each year.

Principal Lee Ann Stangl, who nominated Nisan for "Class Acts," said Nisan single-handedly created a thriving Latin program at the school.

"She's a workaholic, she's really creative and she's done it all on her own," Stangl said.

Nisan shared her thoughts on these topics:

Summer plans: "I'm going to the American Classical League Convention in Philadelphia to meet with Latin and Greek teachers from throughout the nation and the world. If we were in class five days a week, I wouldn't have the time to spend creating the curriculum and the materials for the kids."

Most challenging part of teaching: "It is many, many hours of work. The motto of the National Latin Exam is labor omnia vincet, 'work conquers all.' I feel that I'm doing this for my children as well as the children of our school."

Favorite tool in the classroom: "We love playing games. A student will call out a word in English and we'll have two students at the whiteboard with fly swatters. The first to swat the corresponding word in Latin wins. The kids will also act out stories from the ancient world."

Advice for parents interested in homeschooling: "You don't have to have a teaching background; lots of people are willing to share their expertise with you. You just have to be willing to put in the time."