Today, we mark the eleventh anniversary of the devastating attacks perpetrated by ISIS on 6 August 2014 against the historic Syriac–Chaldean–Assyrian towns and villages of the Nineveh Plains. This date remains one of the most tragic chapters in the modern history of the ancient peoples of Mesopotamia, symbolizing both the magnitude of our loss and the urgent need for justice. On this solemn occasion, we honor the memory of the victims and reaffirm our determination to safeguard our people’s future.
The Events of 6 August 2014
- In a series of coordinated assaults, ISIS targeted Syriac settlements including Qaraqosh, Bartella, Karamlesh, Tel Keppe, and neighboring communities.
- Overnight, hundreds of thousands of civilians were driven from their homes, abandoning centuries-old cultural, spiritual, and historical heritage.
- Churches, monasteries, and sacred sites were systematically bombed, looted, and desecrated in an attempt to erase our enduring presence.
- Entire families were scattered across the world, turning indigenous majorities into vulnerable minorities—even on their ancestral lands.
The Nineveh Plains – A Homeland Under Threat
The Nineveh Plains are not merely a geographic location—they are the living heart of the Syriac people’s historical memory and an irreplaceable part of the world’s cultural heritage. The atrocities of 2014 were not isolated acts of war; they constituted a deliberate and coordinated genocidal campaign to annihilate an entire people’s identity, faith, and existence. The destruction of these ancient communities represents a profound loss for all humanity.
Our Appeal to the International Community
The European Syriac Union calls upon governments, international organizations, and human rights bodies to take urgent and decisive action:
- Officially recognize the crimes committed by ISIS in the Nineveh Plains as genocide and crimes against humanity under international law.
- Ensure that all perpetrators are prosecuted before competent international courts.
- Guarantee the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of displaced Syriac communities to their ancestral lands.
- Support the restoration and preservation of destroyed churches, monasteries, and villages through coordinated international assistance.
- Establish effective mechanisms for self-governance, local security, and culturally appropriate education to safeguard the identity and future of the Syriac people.
“Without justice for Nineveh, there can be no lasting future for the indigenous peoples of Mesopotamia. The international community must act without delay to protect and preserve these ancient communities.”
