GENOCIDE OF SIMELE 1933 AND NINIVEH PLAIN 2014

On this day of August 7, Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people around the world remember darkest days in their long history of genocide, persecution and harassment. While we honor martyrs of Simele massacre which perpetrated by Iraqi forces of the time in the town of Simele in 1933 which left five thousand of innocent souls, we also recall the recent genocide and exodus caused by ISIS in the year of 2014 by the occupation of large parts of Iraq including Nineveh Plains towns and villages.

While the political, social, economic and cultural turmoil continue to affect of segments of the Iraqi society, especially minorities and vulnerably groups are affected drastically. A decade on the later on the ISIS genocide in the Nineveh Plains, Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrians continue to face several challenges, threats, intimidation, harassment and attempts of demographical change. Recent attacks and harassment of Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako Patriarch of Chaldean Catholic Church is an attempt to seize the power and occupying the place of our people. To note, the demonstration which took place in Baghdede this week is clear example of the dissatisfaction of our people in Iraq.

On this day, we remember and honor martyrs of our people in Simele and Nineveh Plains. We also welcome “Athra Alliance” and we support this initiative. The political unity among political parties of our people is a right decision in the right direction.