On March 15, 2002 a letter signed by nineteen U.S. Congressional members was sent to President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell. The letter presents the case for Assyrian political and human rights in any future Iraqi political equation. The letter asserts that "The Assyrian community, including Chaldeans and Syriacs, are the indigenous Christian people of Mesopotamia" and firmly presses for "official constitutional recognition for the Assyrian community as a distinct, indigenous people in any future Iraqi reforms." The Congressional letter also notes that "The approximately 1.5-2 million Assyrians residing in Iraq constitute the third largest demographic population in the country..." and yet the "Constitution (of Iraq) only recognizes Arabs and Kurds, referring to Assyrians as Christian Arabs.'"

The unprecedented signing of the letter by nineteen US lawmakers follows ever increasing attention by U.S. government officials focusing on the possible expansion of the War on Terror to Iraq (AINA, 12-14-2001). The timeliness of the letter appears especially appropriate as the U.S. is reportedly reexamining its policy towards Iraq. The Congressional support of the Assyrian case signals the beginning of a campaign by Assyrians in the Diaspora to push for greater rights for Assyrians in Iraq. With awareness of the potential for substantive change in the Middle East, the letter demonstrates the renewed efforts of Assyrian grass roots political activists, combined with official Assyrian political organizational involvement at the U.S. Congressional and State Department levels. The letter to President Bush was spearheaded by Congressman Rod Blagojevich from Illinois and was primarily signed by other Congressmen from Illinois, California, Michigan, and Massachusetts, which have the largest Assyrian populations. A similar campaign is expected to follow in European capitals. The letter campaign was also supported by a general appeal released by the Armenian National Committee of America, asking each of its members to support the campaign, stating "your support, as an Armenian American, for this worthwhile initiative will help protect Assyrian lives and will further strengthen the ancient and enduring bonds between our two nations."

Many in the Assyrian Diaspora have long argued that the Assyrians of Iraq and the region as a whole are the only inherently trustworthy and reliable group, especially in light of the frequent and clandestinely shifting alliances and occasional double dealings between the Behdanani Kurdish tribal leadership as well as some other elements in the Iraqi opposition and the Iraqi government. Possibly reflecting this sentiment, the Congressional letter added that "The current War on Terrorism should serve as a reminder of the need for strategic allies worldwide. The United States will benefit by maintaining a supportive relationship with the Assyrian community in Iraq, as well as the Assyrian Coalition, who have made great sacrifices to oppose the regime of Saddam Hussein and will continue to work for a unified, democratic, and secular government." The Assyrian Coalition represents the collaborative efforts of five major Assyrian political organizations including the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO), Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), Bet Nahrain Democratic Party (BNDP), and Assyrian National Organization (ANO).

The Congressional appeal on behalf of Assyrians added that even the Iraqi opposition has not been particularly fair or representative. Referring to the ongoing persecution by the government as well as the tribal savagery inflicted upon Assyrians by predominantly Behdanani paramilitary organizations in northern Iraq, the Congressional letter asserts that "The Assyrian community has faced systematic terror campaigns in Iraq and Assyrian leaders have been assassinated." Furthermore, "Since the Gulf War, Kurdish tribes tied to the ruling parliamentary parties have illegally occupied most of the Assyrian villages razed by the government." The Congressmen conclude "We believe that the United States Government must send a clear and forceful message that it will not tolerate such abuses. Official constitutional recognition for the Assyrian community would be an important catalyst for an improvement in human rights."

For Assyrians, constitutional recognition is merely the first step in redressing a tragic history of persecution. Having suffered persecution and disenfranchisement by both the government and Iraqi opposition, Assyrians have also determined that a carefully delineated Assyrian Safe Haven established in the environs of historically Assyrian areas is absolutely necessary to the security and survival of the Assyrians in Iraq. The establishment of an Assyrian area would allow greater local Assyrian administration within the context of an integrated, sovereign Iraqi state. An Assyrian area would entail greater Assyrian political, educational, linguistic, religious, and cultural expression while serving to safeguard Assyrians from continued terror campaigns aimed at cleansing the region of Assyrians.

Throughout the last two decades of war and turmoil in Iraq, Assyrians in Iraq have remained steadfastly loyal to the people of Iraq. Yet, ironically, during this same time, the Assyrians among all of the other peoples in Iraq have suffered perhaps the greatest persecution¹ and oppression -- most dramatically highlighted by the lack of constitutional recognition. Till now, Assyrians wish to live in peace with their neighbors in an atmosphere of mutual respect. Assyrians wish to contribute to the nurturing of greater tolerance and diversity in a sovereign, democratic and secular Iraq. The litmus test for the realization of a genuinely free, democratic, and pluralistic Iraq deserving of international support remains a simple one: the fair constitutional recognition of Assyrians, including Chaldeans and Syriacs, as a distinct indigenous ethnic people in Iraq.

¹ Click here for information on the persecution of Assyrians: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. See also the following reports:

AINA Report on Assyrian Human Rights

Amnesty International report on Assyrian Human Rights.

U.S. State Department, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, Iraq, 2001.