1996, Volume 2, No.1(5) page 31
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1996, Volume 2, No.1(5) page 31 |
ASSYRIAN
UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE
SUBMISSION
ON ASSYRIANS
PRESENTED
AT THE MEETING OF THE WORKING GRO1JP ON MINORITIES
SECOND
SESSION COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
SUB. COMMISSION
ON PREVENTION OF DISCRIMINATION AND PROTECTION OF MINORITIES
GENEVA 30 APRIL, 1996.3 MAY 1996
CONCLUSION
The Assyrian nation (whether it be the Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic
Church, the Syrian Orthodox Church and others), taken together comprise in Iraq
more than 1,200,000 men and women. The absolute majority of them live in North
of Iraq, including the Nineveh Province. the historical territory of Assyrians.
Despite such a large number, many of the Assyrians particularly since 1932 have
been subjected to continuous persecution and destruction of all identity,
language, culture and religion.
The Assyrian predicament in Iraq or in any other middle eastern country does not
capture world or media attention even though they have been subjected to the
destruction of their cultural, racial and religious identity. These include more
significantly:
(a) Destruction of life and liberty of Assyrians including the language, race and religion
(b)
denying the free exercise of their religion
(c)
Denying the Assyrian equality in civil and political matters because of their
race, language and religion
(d) Denying any representation in the electoral system
(e)
discriminating against Assyrians in regards to their admission to public
employment. function
(f)
Denying the free use by the Assyrians of their language in private, commerce,
religion. the press or at public meetings
(g) Denying the Assyrians the facilities to use their own language;
(h)
denying the Assyrians the right to enjoy the same treatment and security in law
including the rights to maintain. manage and control even at their own expense
religious. social, educational and linguistic establishments.
The consequence of these situations has been the forced emigration and
displacement of the Assyrian people either to other neighboring countries, most
of whom are dominated by fundamental Islamic populations. or in some cases to
the western countries. As a result. they are then further separated from their
families and ethnic community. Even though such immigration is the only way that
at least some members of the Assyrian nation may be saved. in the long run. this
division has devastating ramifications on the maintenance and preservation of
the Assyrian identity. This is particularly the case if the country to which
they migrate implements policies towards the assimilation of minorities or does
not actively work towards the promotion and realization of the importance of
maintaining different cultural identities. Thus. the "endangered Assyrian
nation" will disappear completely if these circumstances persist and not
seriously addressed.
The Assyrians struggle has continued, although with no publicity and no active
role by any of the organizations, including the United Nations to carefully and
seriously address the whole