Description

The Assyrians, Simele and its Aftermath: A Narrative of Resilience

ASU School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies

Sargon George Donabed holds a PhD in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations from the University of Toronto and a post-graduate degree in Anthrozoology/Animal Studies from Canisius College. Currently, he is a professor of history and cultural studies at Roger Williams University and his focus consists of indigenous and marginalized communities as well as cultural continuity, storytelling, wonder, and re-enchantment. He is the creator and editor for the book series Alternative Histories: Narratives from the Middle East and Mediterranean. Donabed is also published in a variety of journals from Folklore to National Identities and the International Journal of Middle East Studies and is the author of Reforging a Forgotten History: Iraq and the Assyrians in the 20th Century (Edinburgh University Press, 2015)"

"Sargon is also co-founder of the Assyrian Studies Association (assyrianstudiesassociation.org). He is an expert on Assyrian-Mesopotamian culture and currently penning two fantasy series; an epic fantasy entitled Of Beasts and Mischief: The Unremembered and a midgrade/YA tale Scion of the Ancients, an alternate reality/timeline based on the epic of Gilgamesh"

Sargon spoke at this year's Genocide Awareness Week. This week-long event seeks to address how we, as a global society, confront violent actions and current and ongoing threats of genocide throughout the world, while also looking to the past for guidance and to honor those affected by genocide"

" Simele massacre of 1933 not only targeted the Assyrian community but also had a profound impact on Iraqi society. According to scholar Kanan Makiya, this tragic event transcended various societal divisions, uniting diverse groups in their anti-Assyrian & anti-Christian sentiments. He notes that “Sunni Arabs, Shia Arabs, Sunni Kurds, Sunni Turkmen, Shia Turkmen, & Yazidis, as well as Monarchists, Islamists, nationalists, royalists, conservatives, Leftists, federalists, & tribalists, were all united in their anti-Assyrian & anti-Christian sentiments.”

"Makiya further describes the massacre as “the 1st genuine expression of national independence in a former Arab province of the Ottoman Empire,” suggesting that the killing of Assyrian Christians was perceived by many as a national duty. perspective highlights how the massacre served as a unifying event for various factions within Iraq, despite their differing ideologies and backgrounds"

"Kanan Makiya’s analysis in his book of the Simele massacre, highlighting its role in uniting various Iraqi factions in anti-Assyrian sentiment, is detailed in his seminal work, Republic of Fear: The Politics of Modern Iraq. In this book, Makiya delves into the complexities of Iraqi nationalism and the dynamics that led to such tragic events"

Iraq. The Assyrian Crisis', British Library: India Office Records and Private Papers, IOR/L/PS/12/2872, in Qatar Digital Library https://www.qdl.qa/en/archive/81055/vdc_100000000602.0x00019e

"The record is made up of 1 volume (514 folios). It was created in 17 Jun 1933-31 Aug 1933. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office Records & Private Papers ."

"The volume contains papers regarding the Assyrian Crisis in Iraq during 1933. It primarily consists of correspondence between HM Ambassador to Iraq (Sir Francis Humphrys), HM Chargé d’Affaires to Iraq (George Ogilvie-Forbes), & Foreign Office"

"The papers document the negotiations between Mar Shimun XXIII Eshai – the Patriarch of the Church of the East – and the Government of Iraq, regarding: the spiritual and temporal authority claimed by the Mar Shimun; the Assyrian Settlement Scheme; areas designated for settlement; and clashes between Assyrians, Iraqis Arabs & Kurds"

"Ogilvie-Forbes & Humphrys reported on the movement of Assyrians into Syria, requests to the Syrian & French authorities that they be allowed to remain, proposals to disarm the group, and clashes with Iraqi troops when numbers of Assyrians returned to Iraq. The papers also document the proposed arrest or exile of the Mar Shimun by the Government of Iraq, and the volume also contains copies of letters exchanged by the Mar Shimun, the Iraqi Interior Ministry, & King Faisal"

"The papers document the worsening crisis, including reports of looting and village burning at Dohuk [Dahūk], the murder of Assyrian prisoners by Iraqi armed forces led by Bakr Sidqi, and the Simele Massacre of August 1933. These papers include reports submitted by the Head of the British Military Mission in Iraq (Major General Rowan Robinson), the Administrative Inspector at Mosul (Colonel R S Stafford), and Major D B Thomson of the Assyrian Settlement Office"

"The file concludes with reports on the Simele Massacre, arrangements for the arrival of Mar Shimun and his family in Cyprus, the work of the Refugee Relief Commission in Mosul and Dohuk, and the establishment by the League of Nations of a Small Minorities Commission to investigate the crisis The volume includes a divider which gives a list of correspondence references contained in the volume by year. This is placed at the end of the correspondence "

"Iraqi army, which was still consolidating its power in the 1930s, used violence against Assyrians to establish its authority. The massacre at Simele was a key moment where the military asserted itself as the protector of the Iraqi nation, reinforcing a sense of national unity by defining the Assyrians as the “Other"

"an act of desperation, armed Assyrian men attempted to flee to Syria, but the French authorities refused them entry. On 11 August 1933, the Iraqi army, led by Bakr Sidqi, carried out the massacre at Simele, killing thousands of Assyrian men.

"At the same time, Arab and Kurdish militias attacked other Assyrian villages, engaging in looting, mass murder, and rape for nearly a month"

https://www.thediplomaticaffairs.com/2020/07/24/simele-massacre-and-the-birth-of-iraqi-nationalism/ Jannat argues that Iraqi nationalism—like all nationalisms—is artificially constructed. • The “Othering” of Assyrians The new Iraqi state needed a common enemy to unify its Sunni Arab and Kurdish populations, and the Assyrians were made into scapegoats. They were marked as foreigners, despite being indigenous to the region. Their religion✝️☦️ (Christianity) & ties to Britain made them easy targets. Nation-States Are Modern Constructs

"Many people assume that nations have existed since ancient times, but Jannat argues that nations are recent inventions. The Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916), which created Iraq, was an artificial division of the Middle East by British and French imperialists. Iraq, as an Arab Sunni-dominated state, was imagined into existence through violence and exclusion of minorities"

"British installed a foreign monarchy (King Faisal from the Arabian Peninsula) to rule Iraq. They used colonial tactics to create a Sunni Arab-dominated identity, sidelining Assyrians, Shi’a Arabs, and other minorities. Western Orientalism and the “East vs. West” Narrative

"Western scholars like Bernard Lewis and Samuel Huntington have framed Middle Eastern history as a clash between East and West, ignoring the impact of European colonialism. Orientalist perspective justified Western interventions in the Middle East, reinforcing sectarian divides that contributed to ethnic violence"

Jannat concludes by highlighting the lasting consequences of the massacre he Rise of the Iraqi Army. The Semele massacre cemented the military’s power in Iraqi politics.the army became the defining institution of Iraqi nationalism, suppressing any opposition whether from minorities or political rivals."

"A Model for Future Genocide-The massacre of Assyrians set a precedent for future ethnic cleansing in Iraq, including against the Kurds (Anfal Campaign, 1988) and Shi’a Arabs (1991 Uprisings). The Erasure of Assyrians from Iraqi National Identity Assyrians were systematically excluded from Iraqi history. The Iraqi state continued to view non-Arab minorities as threats, reinforcing their marginalization."

"Simele Massacre as a Defining Moment in Iraqi History Jannat’s analysis shows that the Simele Massacre was not just an attack on Assyrians it was foundational to Iraqi nationalism. It unified Arab Sunnis & Kurds by creating a common “enemy.”

It legitimized the power of the Iraqi army as the protector of the state. It set a precedent for state-sponsored violence against minorities in 🇮🇶 ultimately, the massacre was not an accident but a deliberate act of nation-building through ethnic cleansing. The lessons from Simele demonstrate that nationalism far from being a natural or inevitable force is a constructed identity that can be used to justify mass violence"

Chaldeans in the Library of Congress | Francis Boji, co-founder of the Chaldean Cultural Center

Chaldean Community Foundation

Jan 28 2025 #Chaldean #CN #CCF Over the past year, The Chaldean News has collected hours of interviews, documenting the unique experiences of Chaldeans in Michigan. These stories provide a deeper understanding of our community’s journey, culture, and contributions.

Francis Boji, one of the founders of the Chaldean Cultural Center, emphasizes the importance of preserving and sharing the Chaldean story—both with other communities and with Chaldean youth to instill cultural pride.

As we count down to our Portrait of a Community event, we’re excited to share the incredible stories we’ve captured for the Library of Congress! Full interviews will be released throughout the year and will be available to watch on The Chaldean News website & YouTube channel.

💻 To participate in our event register now: www.chaldeannews.com/portraitcommunity

📅 Date: Thursday, January 30, 2025 ⏰ Time: 6 - 8 PM 📍 Location: Chaldean Community Foundation 3601 15 Mile Road, Sterling Heights, MI

Experience an evening of: 🎶 Traditional music & dance 🍴 Samples of Chaldean cuisine 🎥 Exclusive video screenings featuring Johnny Karmo & Sons, Victor & Alex Saroki, Zeana Attisha, and more! 📜 Excerpts from interviews capturing the vibrant Chaldean community in metro Detroit

The Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, preserves invaluable national archives. This project, made possible by the Library of Congress and the Chaldean Community Foundation, celebrates the Chaldean community’s cultural heritage.

Supported by the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, this is an event you won’t want to miss. Bring your friends and family to enjoy an immersive Chaldean cultural experience!

#PortraitOfACommunity #Chaldean #Community #LibraryOfCongress #CCF #LOC #CN #ChaldeanNews #Assyrian

Description

Conférence du Pr. Dr. Sargon Donabed - Assyrian Studies: A Theoretical and Methodological Approach

BAHRA TV 2024 Conférence dans le cadre du 3ème Congrès International de la Chaire Académique de Ninive