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No votes in Nineveh

Iraqi Assyrians are victims of Kurdish ethnic cleansing 

Odisho Malko
Wednesday February 23, 2005
The Guardian

Our people, the Assyrians, the original inhabitants of Iraq - whose empire preceded Babylon, many of whom still speak Aramaic, the language of Christ - have been robbed. Along with other minorities in the north of our country, the Turkmen, the Yezidis and the Shabak, we were promised democracy. But the ballot boxes never arrived. The recent elections simply passed us by, our complaints ignored, our rights trampled, by people who should know better, because we shared their experience of repression under Saddam Hussein. As a result, no Assyrian representatives will be taking their place in the new Iraqi parliament.

Since the fall of Saddam, systematic low-level ethnic cleansing has driven thousands of Assyrian Christians from their homes. Our churches have been firebombed and our women forced to wear the hijab. In northern Iraq much of this intimidation has come from the Kurdish militias. It reached a climax on election day, when ballot boxes were prevented from reaching between 200,000 and 400,000 people. On the Nineveh Plains, the last area in Iraq where our people live in sizeable numbers, six Assyrian towns, Baghdeda, Bartilla, Karemlesh, Shekhan, Ain Sifne and Bahzan w ere prevented from going to the polls. The western media have made much of people in the Sunni heartlands being intimidated into not voting, or refusing to vote. It does not report that the Assyrian people and other minorities wanted to vote, but were stopped from doing so.

Reluctantly, many of our people believe that Kurdish political leaders want to exclude minorities such as the Assyrians and the Turkmen. The treatment of the Turkmen has so enraged Turkey that the leader of the opposition, Bulent Ecevit, has called for action to protect them. But no one is speaking up for us. No one has reported that tens of thousands took to the streets to protest at the great vote robbery.

We want to live in peace with our Arab and Kurdish neighbours, in a democratic, secular Iraq, free to practise our ancient religion and traditions. We want an Iraq free of outside forces and an end to civil conflict. But the election was rigged, and the Assyrians and other minorities demand that it is re-run in the contested areas. During the 1990s, Britain helped create a safe haven for the Kurds, some of whom have clearly forgotten what it is like to be a repressed minority.

To Tony Blair - and to his special envoy to Iraq, Ann Clwyd, who has a great deal of influence over the Kurdish leaders, we say: honour your promises. In the early part of the last century, British politicians made many promises to the Assyrian people that were never kept. This time we hope it will be different.

Before our ancient community is driven from Iraq for ever, Britain and her friends in the international community must act.

· Dr Odisho Malko is president of the Assyrian National Assembly in Iraq.
apdarmoo@aol.com

 

Who are the Christians of Iraq? 

Assyrians a forgotten minority  Feb. 24, 05

Iraqi Assyrians are victims of Kurdish ethnic cleansing Feb, 23, 05

Amid the chaos of Iraq's war, the cradle of civilization is being looted Feb. 23, 05

Assyrians from the fall Nineveh to the Present Feb. 20, 05

Iraqi Prelate Confident Exiled Christians Will Return Feb. 20, 05

Fertile Crescent' treasures debut Gallery at university's Oriental Institute Feb. 18, 05

Iraqi exile voters put Chaldo-Assyrian Christian in Iraqi assembly Feb. 16, 05

Assyrian demonstrations protest Iraqi voting lock out Feb. 16, o5

Assyrians to Protest at the United Nations against Unfair Iraqi Elections Feb. 15, 05

ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS DAILY PERSECUTED IN IRAQ Feb. 14, 05

Assyrian Christians Here Say Iraq Vote Unfair Feb. 14, 05 

Iraqi Militant Group Claims Kidnapping of a Christian Feb. 13, 05

preliminary list of the Assyrians/chaldeans and syriac representatives elected   Feb. 13, 05

To Mr. Josep Borrell Fontelles President of the European Parliament Feb 14, 05

Protest in Europe to Bring Attention to the Iraqi voting Injustice  Feb. 12, 05

The Struggle for Survival of Iraq's Christian Assyrians Feb. 11, 05

AUA appeals to World Governments to restore voting rights to Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs and Yazidis Feb. 11, 05  

Iraqi Assyrian Christians Flee to Safer Ground  Feb. 10, 05

Iraq electoral commission admits ballot box irregularities In the Christian Assyrian Region Feb. 07, 05

Provisional Iraq election results from US show Assyrian strength Feb 06, 05

Possible Outcome of Iraq's Vote for the Assyrians Feb. 06, 05 

In Iraq, ancient minority flees atrocities Feb. 06, 05

Iraqi Turkmen Accuse Kurds of Voting of Fraud  Jan. 30, 05

KDP Statement about Kurds Preventing Assyrians From Voting in North Iraq  Jan. 06, 05

Assyrians Protest Iraqis Protest Voting Irregularities Feb. 06, 05

Losing the Language of Jesus  Feb. 3. 05 

Christian Assyrians Face Obstacles in Iraqi Elections Feb. 3, 05

US Dominicans Contacting UN, US Officials in Attempt to Restore Right to Vote for 150,000 Iraqis Feb. 02, o5

One dictatorship replaced with another!  Feb. 2, 05 

Iraqis Report a Variety of Complaints About Irregularities on Election Day Feb 2, 05

Iraqi Christians claim their votes blocked   Feb. 2, 05

Assyria: 150,000 Chaldo Assyrians Protest Their Exclusion From Voting  Feb. 2, 05

London's Assyrians: Babylon or Bust  Fen. 01, 05

ADM Press Release protesting the prevention of the Assyrians in northern Iraq from voting.    Jan. 31, 05

Chicagoan's 'so happy' to cast Iraqi ballot  Jan. 31, o5

Iraq's Christians Disenfranchised at Home and in U.S. Jan. 31, 05

Assyrians Prevented By Kurds From Voting in North Iraq  Jan. 30, 05 

Iraqi Christians Flourished Long Before Muslims Jan. 30, 05

Assyrians Prevented from Voting in Northern Iraq Jan 30, 05

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Arizona Assyrian Iraqis travel to California to vote Jan. 30, 05

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Assyrian Christians Protest Iraqi Election with Crucifixion/Fast in New York! Jan. 29, 05

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Artifacts Give the Ancient Assyrian Side of the Old Testament Story  Jan. 28, 05

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Campaign in London to Save Assyrian Christians Jan. 26, 05

Ex-archbishop in fight to save ancient Christians Jan. 24, 05

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Iraq Overseas Voter Registration Extended   Jan. 22, 05

Map and Driving Directions to the Iraqi Voter Regestration center 

To Vote in Iraq's Elections in California 

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Iraq Overseas Voter Registration Extended   Jan. 22, 05

Travels of the First Assyrian to the New World

Disenfranchising the Diaspora  Jan. 19, 05

Critics: Limited number of Iraqi po lling places in United State disenfranchises Christians Jan. 19, 05

CSI Founder Welcomes Release of Kidnapped Archbishop in Iraq Jan. 19, 05

Local Iraqis make long journey  Jan. 18, 05

Seyfo: The Unmentioned Genocide of the Assyrians during world war one Jan. 18, 05

I prayed and was ready for the worse, says the Bishop of Mosul Jan. 18. 05

Many Iraqis travel far to register to vote Jan. 30  Ja n 18, 05

Relief after kidnapped Iraqi archbishop is released Jan, 18, 05

Kurdish Attacks on Assyrians in Iraq Intensify As Election Nears  Jan. 17. 05

Christian Assyrian Heritage of Iraq Before Islam  Jan. 16, 05

Armed Kurdish Groups Terrorize Assyrian Town in Iraq Jan. 15, 05

Muslims Identify Christians as Western Enemies Jan. 14, 05

BABYLON TRASHED Jan. 15, 05 

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Petition to Protest Iraq Out-of-Country Voting Program's Discrimination of ChaldoAssyrians Jan. 11. 05

Locals face long trek for voice in Iraq vote Jan. 11, 05

To Vote in Iraq's Elections in California  Jan. 5, 05 

Who to Vote For?  Jan. 11, 205

Assyrian National Gathering (Assembly) Jan. 11, 05

Terrorism Strikes All Iraqis, Says Patriarch Jan. 11, 05

Pastor tells of his visit to Baghdad Jan 10, 05 

A Look At Iran's Christian Minority Jan. 1- 05

Assyriska rises to Sweden's promised land  Jan. 6, 05

Good News from Midyat Turkey Jan. 8, 05 

Christians flee genocide as fear sweeps Iraq  Jan. 8, 05

Will the indigenous Christians of Iraq surviv e? Jan. 6, 05

Members of ancient Turkish Christian community try to get back to normal  Jan, 6, 05

Paticipating in Iraq's Elections Jan. 2005 

Chaldean population in Sterling Heights to take part in shaping new Iraq  Jan. 4, 05

Minority Christian groups want more parliamentary clout  Jan. 4, 05

Egypt frees Christians detained over December unrest  Jan 4, 05

Bleeding of the Week  Jan. 3, 05 

World's Assyrians savour Swedish soccer saga Jan. 2, 05  

Christians provide their own security for Christmas  Dec. 25, 04

Wearing one seen as way to avoid violence Dec. 25, 04

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Iraq's Christmas Spirit: Fear Dec. 25, 04 

Christmas in Iraq  Dec. 25, 04   

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Is Iraq Another Yugoslavia? Dec. 23, 04

Kurds: Bombers are militant splinter group Dec.23, 04 

USCIRF Letter to President Bush about the Non-Moslems in Iraq Dec. 21, 04

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Christian Plight in Iraq Dec. 21, 04

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Despite Fear of Attacks Baghdad Christians celebrate birth of Christ Dec. 21 ,04 

Churches attacked in Mosul. Christians Kidnapped and Injured  Dec. 20 ,04

Christmas services canceled by fearful Iraqi Christians Dec. 20, 04

Turkey, the EU and the Assyrians  Dec. 20, 04

Voting ProceduresFor the Out Country Iraqi's  Dec. 16, 04

Iraqi Christians to Take Role in Elections DC. 15, 04 

Updated: Oppression and Murder of the Assyrians in Iraq Dec. 10, 04

Iraq's besieged Christians weigh taking up arms, fleeing into exile  Dec. 12, 04

Pope expresses concern about recent terror attacks against Iraqi Christians Dec. 8, 04

Iraq Churches Bombed; 1,000th American Killed  Dec. 7, 04

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Kurd's Tactics to Divide Assyrians into Insignificance Dec. 3, 04

The Advantages of a Governate Region Versus Safe Heaven  Dec. 1. 04

AINA: Appeal for a ChaldoAssyrian Safe Haven in Northern Iraq  Nov. 30, 04

Iraq's Christian Minority Under Threat Nov. 29, 04

More and more Christians Fear Life in Iraq Nov. 29, 04

Appeal for a ChaldoAssyrian Safe Haven in Iraq  Nov. 24, 04

Interview with Archbischop of Kerkuk - Louis Sakko Nov. 24, 04

US support seen as 'disaster' for Christian minority in Iraq Nov. 23, 04

Iraqi Christians seek U.S. support  Nov. 23, 04

A Conference for the Defense of Human rights for Minorities in Iraq  Nov. 18, 04

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The Ethnic Cleansing of christians In Iraq Continues  Nov. 13, 04

Northern Iraq's Mosul Tense After U.S. Air Strikes Nov. 12, 04

Bombs explode at Baghdad Orthodox churches Nov . 8, 04

Militants bomb Orthodox church in Baghdad  Nove. 8, 04

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Companions in suffering: An Interview with Thea Halo Nov. 6, 02

Iraqi Christians Face Escalating violence: Urgent Appeal For Help  Nov. 4, 04

Update of Opression and Murder of the Assyrians in Iraq Nov. 4, 04

Two Assyrians Killed in Syria  NOv. 3, 04

Assyrian Family Attacked in Baghdad, Two Killed  NOv. 2, 04

Restoring Sanity to Iraq  Oct. 25, 04

Apeal for an Administration region for the Christians of Iraq  Oct. 24, 04

Kurd's Confiscation of Assyrian Villages  Oct. 25, 04

Christians of Iraq under Siege Oct. 25, o4

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