Assyrians
want to return home to live within their
own-bordered region outside the influence and interference of the
so-called Kurdish Administrative Region. Assyrians are entirely different
from the Kurds in every aspect of life. The Kurds do not have anything in
common with the Assyrians. Assyrian land, history, language, religion, and
culture are entirely different from that of the Kurds. The Kurds have
encroached on Assyrian land. Calling it "Kurdistan" is no more than a
whitewash. Where would the Kurds accommodate the rest of the remaining
twenty (20) million gypsy Kurds? It is no surprise that the Kurds have an
eye, on areas, beyond the arrogated Assyria.
Assyrians are historically an integral part of
the Middle Eastern Region. And so are the Israelis and Arab Christians.
Calling the Assyrians by their religious name as Christians, and not by
their national identity, is a test case. If successful, it would become a
precedent for Arab and Islamic nations, to challenge the existence of
Assyria, Israel and even Lebanon in the not too distant future. Calling
them by such dubious terms is to deny them their traditional rights to
their homeland. Though their number in Iraq is presently small, since Post
World War I, the Assyrians, have been scattered all around the world.
Their ethnic population, made up of several Assyrian derivatives is
estimated at over three (3) million.
Including the Assyrian population in the total
estimate of three per cent (3%) Christians in Iraq, and calling them as
such, is a travesty. Assyrians, combined, make up over three percent (3%)
on their own. There is no need for the Assyrians to be described as merely
Christian, or for that matter be fused with other minorities as Christian
to deny their racial identity.
Why call the other groups in Iraq like the
Turkmen by their ethnic name, and not by their Moslem religion, yet keep
on calling the Assyrians by their faith as Christian and not by their
Assyrian National Identity. Is this not racial vilification? Why call the
Kurd as such, whose nationality is not recognized internationally, while
keep on calling the Assyrians, Christian, denying them their right to
their genuine Assyrian nationality?
Why does the UN tolerate such discriminatory and
abusive language? Or is it because the Assyrian is not included in the
political equation? They are free to call the Assyrian by any name they
wish except by his genuine national identity, just to keep the Assyrian
marginalized. Is this their new brand of democracy? If advocates of
democracy were concerned over the unsettled question of Assyria, they
would at least gather the Assyrians together; ensure their safety, in a
secure environment, under protection of the United Nations.
Is this tactic to confuse the world of the true identity and need of the
Assyrian people in order to disqualify them from demanding their natural
rights? The United Nations being aware of such constant provocations and
abuse of human rights has an essential role to play in addressing this
situation. Let us hope that in the end democracy will win.
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