In Commemoration of the Assyrian New Year 6766: Reflections on the Assyrian Plight and the Continuous State of the Assyrian Genocide

As we reflect upon the senseless tragedies in Brussels, San Bernardino, Boston, Paris, Istanbul, Beirut, Baghdad, Ankara, and countless other areas repeatedly inflicted with extremist terrorism; we must remember the most vulnerable.  In times of heightened instability, it is the most beleaguered ethnic and religious minorities that suffer the most.  The plight of the Assyrian people is a catastrophe that has endured a continuous state of genocide.  Raphael Lemkin, responsible for coining the word “genocide,” was prompted to do so after the heinous massacres against Assyrians in Simele, Iraq in 1933.  Hence, the historic decision reached by the U.S. State Department is not a surprise to Assyrians: it is their everyday reality across their ancestral homelands.

While Assyrians were among the first to accept Christianity; they have maintained a distinct ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and overall unique identity. After the Assyrians converted to Christianity, they were successful in peacefully spreading Christianity to many remote areas of the world including India, China, etc.  Christian Assyrians preserved their ethnic Assyrian identity through endogamy, the Assyrian language, etc.  Their religious activities throughout history were not intermingled or associated with the “Crusaders” of the West.  The concept of the "Crusades" is a Western notion.  Assyrians, who are indigenous to the Near East, did not participate in such endeavors.  Nevertheless, the Assyrians have suffered tremendously and continue to suffer because of related misconceptions regarding their historical and ethnic identity.

More importantly, Assyrians face an existential threat as much as an identity crisis.  There are remnant deep-rooted manifestations of Saddam’s nefarious legacy that resonate across the Middle East.  While Saddam claimed to be a descendant of the ancient King Nebuchadnezzar, he did not hesitate to enforce a separate Arab identity on all the people under his control.  The waves of Arabization were followed by subsequent Kurdification.  Similar to the relatively recent coordinated incidents in the Nineveh Plains, Assyrians have been systematically and psychologically disarmed then abandoned through highly sophisticated and calculated mechanisms, spanning many decades.  Thus, Assyrians in Iraq require overwhelming support and educational programs, as majority have not transcended above the wrath of Saddam and other successive authoritative regimes, which have efficaciously fragmented the Assyrian identity to the brink of extinction.

This is also demonstrated by ethnic Assyrian people who are simply affiliated with distinctive churches.  Tragically, ethnic Assyrians who are part of different churches (e.g., Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, etc.) mistakenly claim a 7,000 year old separate and ethnic “Chaldean” or “Syriac” identity, in rigid denial of historical facts, research, and plethora of evidence.  These are the deep fractures that are in dire need of repair.  When people are unified and strengthened as one common entity, it is much more difficult for them to fall victim to genocide.  Consequently, it is critical to conduct more comprehensive ethnographic studies of Assyrian communities throughout the Middle East.  Such anthropological studies and other scholarly research is crucial in helping misguided and misled people to comprehend the truth of their collective identity.

The successful strategies utilized by Saddam have been encompassed by other ensuing authoritarian regimes.  The value in their effectiveness has proven to be vital in dividing people with the longest thread of continuity.  It is distressing that people with indigenous rights have faced an overwhelming degree of stigma, racism, isolation, disintegration, marginalization, disenfranchisement and many other subversive forms of intolerance.  Such strategies are mainly confined to Assyrians, whereas, multitude of academics and “experts” do not struggle in formulating the most inconceivable connections with respect to the theoretical origins and identities of other groups.  Perhaps, there is a direct correlation to the sources funding such “academics,” who harbor implicit bias, therefore, distorting the integrity of the data to fit a particular narrative.  Nonetheless, true professionals have an ethical and moral duty to express findings that are most aligned with historical reality, not misaligned to hypothetical associations that are conjured in the most abstract circumstances.

Rewriting or revising history is perilous, especially, when written history is all that remains amid the destruction, looting, vandalism, desecration, and ultimate demise of the world’s cultural heritage.  It is noteworthy to mention that the Assyrians have indigenous rights and rightful claims to their ancestral homelands.  Professor Geoffrey Khan of Cambridge University has stated that the Assyrian dialect is the closest it can get to the language spoken in Assyria during the Neo-Assyrian period.  The modern Assyrian language that is spoken everyday in Assyrian homes across the world has an immense amount of Akkadian, which is reflective of the ancient language.  There are influences of Aramaic, as language is not rigid and is shaped through interactions with others.  In contrast, the liturgical language spoken across churches is a dialect of Aramaic (i.e., Syriac).  There are distinct ancient traditions and customs still celebrated by Assyrians today.  Moreover, the ancestral homelands, for thousands of years, has been Assyria.  Unlike other communities in modern-day Iraq, Assyrians did not migrate to the ancestral homelands.  They are indigenous to those lands.  On the basis of language and geographical location, the thread of continuity is certainly as clear as it is dense.

The tragedy of the Assyrian plight continues to be diminished to a constricted assessment that does not incorporate the full extent of the suffering.  Steadfast optimism, liberal realism, groupthink, apologist theories, or a perspective that is beguiled by the Middle East, is a flagrant disregard of the truth.  Iraq was broken since its very conception.  Imperialist strategies spearheaded the hasty establishment of Iraq to maximally exploit resources.  People were forced together without regard to conflicting backgrounds, cultures, faiths, languages, etc.  Ethnic and religious minorities were grouped together in high concentrations in the northern parts of Iraq to serve as a buffer to extremism and to sustain pluralism.  This resulted in further commotion, dependence, and vicious cycles of perpetual turmoil.  The volatile foundations of Iraq led to appalling violence, genocides, and mass atrocities.  Many people in Iraq will not accept the Iraq identity, because Iraq was not created for them.  It was enforced upon them by imperialists, without remorse or consent.  The main benefactors of Iraq continue to be external factors that repeatedly reap the benefits of pandemonium, while concurrently masquerading as peaceful agents of change.  Sadly, Iraq will always be shattered as it was built upon cracked foundations of calamity and disarray.

The word “Iraq” has a displeasing and unnatural tone.  The new "Iraq" label was forced upon many ancient people.  And this is precisely why many people in Iraq will never identify as “Iraqi.”  It is a wonder why it was chosen as the name of the British mandate.  The realities of discrimination and racism can be traced back to the origins and foundations of Iraq.  It was the colonists’ perceived advantage of “superiority” through fair skin that facilitated the conquest and command of the local populations.  In addition, the locals were complicit in the looting of priceless cultural heritage.  Perhaps, the locals involved in looting, perceived such treasures as not representative of their true cultural heritage, thereby, making it relatively easy to haphazardly excavate for profit.

It is evident that the very same underlying advantages still play a big role today in trade and investments for those initial colonial powers.  This is compounded with the new modern colonists in the form of a growing network of global radical Jihadists, most of which are not from the Middle East.  Dreadfully, the word “Iraq” is so distressing that in many ISIL-affiliated world maps, the various terror groups seek to retain the same exact “Iraq” region under regressive plans of a nascent global caliphate, where Islamic expansion was dominant centuries ago.

A logical assessment of a state or a society may be substantially based upon the way ethnic and religious minorities are treated.  Iraq’s fallacies and track record with respect to human rights is abysmal.  The indigenous native people have been historically considered second class citizens since the very formation of Iraq.  Even today, the Assyrian language is not an official language of Iraq, while Arabic and Kurdish are indeed official languages.  The financial burden of teaching the Assyrian language falls upon charitable donations, as there is no government funding provided.  Language is critical as it is an essential component in preserving a cultural identity.  When cultural diversity is not promoted or valued, society will fragment and fall further into despair.  Furthermore, there has never been a minority to serve as the president of Iraq.  Whereas, there is a current Kurdish president in Baghdad, and another Kurdish president in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.  Both Kurdish presidents in Iraq are simultaneously in power.

The current constitution of Iraq stipulates: “No law may contradict the established provisions of Islam.”  Likewise, Iraq’s National Card law (Article 26) states: “Children shall follow the religion of a parent converted to Islam.”  It is apparent that Article 26 is derived from a clause in the 1972 Constitution of Iraq.  In essence, intolerance of ethnic and religious minorities is inherently cemented into law.  In Iraq, corruption is a way of life that many have grown accustomed to.  It is understandable that many navigate their way to leadership positions by any means necessary.  In an unforgiving landscape where hostilities and distrust run rampant, survival is considered a form of success.  Circumventing an antagonistic environment beyond the point of mere survival requires an assortment of skills, forged alliances, and relentless compromises.

Such uncertainty is widespread throughout all aspects of society in Iraq.  In the recent past, the census only included “Arab” or “Kurd” as “ethnic” identities.  Although many ethnic Assyrians would fill in “Assyrian” in the census forms, it is indeterminate that these forms were taken into consideration by the regime.  What’s certain is why many ethnic Assyrians resorted to claiming an Arab or Kurdish identity.  Many leadership positions were primarily reserved for such ethnic affiliations, irrespective or natural talents, merits, or accomplishments.  Many continue to adhere to this ideology as a strategy.  It is undoubtedly clear why many pledge allegiances to the “Iraq” identity in hopes this would serve as a shield against the everyday reality of discrimination encountered throughout Iraq.

It is indisputable that the birth and history of Iraq has been marked by a constant state of atrocities, genocides, and everlasting disorder.  The main discrepancy is the affected ethnic group(s) at a particular point in time.  The 1933 Simele massacre against Assyrians was perceived as a collective exercise in Iraq’s national sovereignty.  There were no sophisticated weapons readily available in the 1930’s.  Heartbreakingly, one can imagine the shear brutality in the inhumane bloodshed and mass murder of over three thousand innocent civilians.  There was no attempt at documentation of mass graves and war crimes endured by these these victims.  They simply perished without further investigations or eventual reconciliation or reparations.

In retrospect, one may appreciate the urgency of fleeing one massacre to catastrophically be caught in the middle of yet another state of unyielding chaos.  The escape routes are scarcely limited when groups are pitted against one another in increasingly adverse environments.  Once again, this is one example of the harsh reality of the unremitting state of the Assyrian genocide.  Additionally, it is significant to remember that the grip of “Iraq” (on passports and other legal documents) never leaves as it mars people who have escaped as potential “terrorists” and thereby floods them with other waves of multifaceted bias: isolation, marginalization, lack of social cohesion, racial profiling, alienation, lack of integration, xenophobia, and other unfair treatment attributable to associations or ties with Iraq.  Although certain groups are more resilient in the face of adversity, this does not necessarily warrant diminishing their pain and suffering.

Throughout the Middle East, there are diverse cultures with a few pervasive themes in common.  There is a sense of deep-rooted patriarchy and aversion to women, such that females are not allowed at the same table, let alone to be present in the same room.  They are routinely excluded from numerous panels, negotiations, peace talks, etc.  Such narrow-minded methodologies are not limited to women.  To witness the continuation of the harsh realities of prejudice, one needs to look no further than the “Black Iraqis” minority group.  What’s more disconcerting is the common stereotype of people of African origins and how such people can never be accepted as “true Muslims” because they are not comprised of Arab descent.  The ceaseless bigotry of radical extremist terror groups does not prevent them from attempting to recruit “Black Lives Matter” African-American activists or Africans across the globe.

Regrettably, these people are still depicted as outcastes and “abed” (meaning “slave” in Arabic).  Also, many may still have the recollection of stories from various people throughout Iraq who are esteemed professionals with family members and relatives in the utmost ranks of Iraq’s military and government.  This does not exclude such highly acclaimed individuals from romanticizing the concept of “abed” in endearing terms; portrayed as another family member, inherited through multiple generations of indentured servitude.

Discrimination is the breach of the gateway to perpetual animosity, which nests and ultimately culminates to give rise to genocidal forces of conglomerates, such as ISIL.  Subtle and overt acts of bigotry, and outright vitriol are comparable to the oxygen that continues to give life and resuscitate terror groups such as ISIL from ever being fully extinguished.

Assyrians have generally survived throughout Iraq as second class citizens.  They have been recurrently marginalized throughout history; under “dhimmi” status as justification.  It is vital to consider that in an extremist ideology, one branch is intent on annihilating the other branches of the same religion in order to “purify” it as a whole.  Henceforth, is it even reasonable to assume that other different ethnic and religious minorities stand a chance for long-term survival?  Genocidal forces do not operate under strict rules and regulations, nor adhere to stringent methodologies with respect to conduct.  For instance, the concept of the modern-day “Jizya” is merely a glorified notion of extortion that leads to lucrative kidnappings for ransom and inevitably, death.

Kidnappings, bombings, human trafficking, assassinations, looting, rapes, murder, disappearances, unlawful confiscations of lands and properties, and general instability were proliferating throughout Iraq; prior to ISIL or Al-Qaeda or any derivatives of other terror groups that have metastasized throughout this region.  The key distinguishable factor is the primary target of such attacks.  When the Assyrians were the principal targets, there were no effective initiatives undertaken to ensure the security and safety of such civilians.  In Iraq, the culture of disconnect and looking away when your group is not affected must change.  When there is a devastating impact on one component of society, it is only a matter of time before all aspects are equally affected.  Every group is diligent at displaying the victim card and trumpeting their group’s respective suffering above all the others.  Accordingly, empathy or consideration beyond the scope of one’s group, is very limited.  When governments cannot protect civilians, what options do innocent people have but to seek refuge through a perilous journey across the Aegean Sea.  When the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Defense must negotiate his own way out of attempted kidnappings, is there hope for the safety and security of the average civilian?

The overall mistrust and fear of “others” is pervasive throughout various communities across Iraq.  The reality is far from the limited concepts idealized by the Western media.  This is simply because we are truly fortunate to be experiencing life in the United States.  Our realities are largely shaped and molded by our individual perspectives and unique experiences.  Such experiences eventually form our degree, depth, and sense of empathy and understanding towards others’ collective suffering.  Needless to say, it is limited.  A false sense of reality is no panacea. It is a convenient fictional narrative designed to appease larger groups with greater interests.  As Americans, we are shielded from others’ ruthless everyday realities, to the point where we cannot imagine or examine them to the fullest extent as they are experienced in real-time.

The continued existence of ethnic and religious minorities is indeed nothing short of a miracle.  These are the most arduous questions of our time that must be addressed throughout our homes, schools, churches, mosques, synagogues, etc.  When the concept of “religious liberty” or “religious freedom” is highly contingent upon the revival of a Muslim treaty from the year 622 (i.e., “Charter of Medina” and “Marrakesh Declaration”), it is clearly a time for serious reflection and internal reform.  Lasting change must come from within.  Radical ideologies cannot be eliminated with superior technologies or military force.  When one extremist factor is contained somewhere, another source will spruce up elsewhere.  Extremist factors must be addressed within homes, schools, mosques, refugee camps, social media, etc.  Radicalization through religious and criminal elements can happen anywhere, henceforward, it must be addressed everywhere possible.

In regards to the genocide recognition, words truly matter and saying the correct words is what matters most.  This is why many Assyrians are unquestionably disappointed with Secretary Kerry’s genocide designation that did not mention the word “Assyrian.”  Assyrians were once again excluded; whether it was in reference to the Assyrian people directly or with respect to the numerous ancient and relatively modern Assyrian archaeological, cultural, historical, and religious sites destroyed.  Such deplorable atrocities must be appropriately acknowledged.  And Assyrians must be properly addressed by their name as well, without diminishing and discarding them to a religious affiliation.  Assyrians are further dehumanized by being categorized under one generic umbrella of an all encompassing religious group.  The Western veneer of thoughtfulness for dissimilar cultures is not extended to the most vulnerable groups.  There is a clear dichotomy between the simplistic Western outlook and the convoluted reality on the ground.

Secretary of State John Kerry did not fail to reference ISIL propaganda with respect to “conquer your Rome.”  However, the truth is that the Vatican’s wealth, walls, and multitude of resources make it virtually impenetrable and insurmountable to an attack of significant magnitude.  Whereas, an Assyrian monastery of over 1400 years of existence, was blown up by sophisticated weapons seized from the fleeing armies or illegitimately captured from the many nations responsible for arming the multiple militia groups throughout the Middle East.  This particular Assyrian monastery was older than Islam.  Saint Elijah’s monastery was the bearer of unspeakable cruelty and was upheld through centuries of sacrifice.  Moreover, it was the majestic Assyrian Lamassu that underwent the grueling hammers and pneumatic drills to the face, consequently, suffering irreparable damage.  Not to mention the innumerable other archaeological sites, manuscripts, churches, artifacts, cultural and world heritage that is forever eradicated.

It is imperative to call the heinous atrocities by their rightful name, just as it is important to directly mention the victims by their correct name.  Perhaps, this was a strategy implemented by Secretary Kerry to urge the Assyrians (“Christians” or “others”) to awaken and realize the crucial need for reform and reflection within their own community.  The American people or the U.S. government does not steer the narrative of others.  This leads to the assertion of accountability and transparency among the assortment of groups and organizations who claim to be representatives of Assyrians.

The American government is confined by the terminology erroneously utilized by Assyrian leaders; e.g., “Iraqi Christians,” “Christians minorities,” etc.  In many cultures, it is considered disrespectful to question authority, even in a manner of civil discourse.  This is clearly a culturally sensitive issue that must addressed and reevaluated by all individuals interested in progressive reform within their community.  It is up to the Assyrians themselves to reclaim the narrative.

As I reflect on my family’s journey to the United States, I contemplate why my parents were compelled to stay.  Going back is not an option.  For most Assyrians, the journey out of the Middle East is a one-way trip.  Forget about who you knew, what you had; the only option is an exit strategy that is equivalent to pressing the reset button and starting over completely.  And I could not be happier to be an American or to be living in the greatest nation on Earth.  We live in an increasingly inter-connected global community, where we can no longer turn a blind eye to genocide.  Alas, there are certain cultural barriers we cannot transcend as Americans.  We may sentimentalize the intricacies of the Middle East to appear as a misunderstood place with a misconstrued history.  The facade of everlasting peace, reconciliation, and co-existence is a stark shift from reality.  Even during times of relative peace and stability, diverse ethnic communities still remained segregated to a large extent.  This is analogous to the segregation of different communities across the United States.

The exceptional men and women of the U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate, U.S. State Department, European Parliament, United Nations, and many others will be remembered as being on the right side of history.  Unfortunately, even when armed with the best intentions, we are "no more than witnesses at a funeral" of living history.  The “legal implications” and subsequent obligations of the genocide designation are indubitably far greater than eradicating genocidal forces such as ISIL.  The word “genocide” carries significantly greater weight in terms of future pursuits of justice throughout international courts of law and other measures.  As we reflect upon the genocide designation with somber hearts, we may emphatically strive to learn from all the affected victims, continue to support them directly, and integrate them into respective local security forces.

Reintegration of the affected groups into a cohesive society is an essential aspect of rebuilding the social fabric that is fundamental in maintaining peace.  People must be educated and empowered to resist the primitive reactionary reflexes such as “revenge attacks,” and not succumb to the darkest angels of human nature.  It is critical for all affected groups to be strengthened through inclusion, equal respect, recognition, and protection under the law.  Sadly, the meticulous documentation and forensic analysis of mass graves in Iraq is inevitably futile without Iraq’s membership or participation in the International Criminal Court.  Conceivably, the inclusionary nature of the genocide designation and incorporation of Shia Muslims as victims of genocide may also motivate the Shia ruling class in taking the right steps in moving the country forward.

All individuals, irrespective of the degree or severity in which they are affected, must recognize the roles they have in assuming responsibilities and fulfilling obligations to the future stability of the Middle East.  ISIL or “Daesh” or another prospective stochastic group of genocidal radicals, is not the first and certainly will not be last terror group in the long list of apocalyptic genocidal forces to plague this region.  Through direct humanitarian aid, intensification of training and equipping the local security forces directly, continued active engagement in dialogue, educational programs, and implementation of other precautionary measures in overcoming local challenges, we may strive to “never again” bear witness to genocide.