International day of genocide victims

On this day of December 9 as the International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of the Genocide and the Prevention of this Crime, it is our moral and historical duty to remember victims of the Genocides and the survivors of the Sayfo 1915, Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people face another genocide in the Middle East and existential threat.

Commemoration of Victims of Genocides and Crimes against Humanity is essential responsibility to the humanity and international community. Commemoration past atrocities around the world is strong sign of remembrance of the victims and solidarity with the current threatened groups, ethnic and religious communities.

“The prevention of genocide is a specific obligation under international law. Governments must act on this imperative by investing in prevention and taking preventive action. On this new international observance, let us recognize the need to work together more concertedly to protect individuals from gross human rights violations and uphold our common humanity.” United Nations General Secretary Ban Ki-moon highlighted the necessity and gravity of the Genocide Crimes.

Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Christian people as the victims of “first genocide of 20th century” face once again a genocide in their historical lands in Iraq and Syria. Last two decades, international community, civil society and human rights organisations witnessed tragic and deteriorated situation of minorities, ethnic and religious groups and especially the fate of Christian Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in the Bethnahrin, Mesopotamia. Following 2003, in Iraq, Christians had been target of killings, ransom, displacement, attacks and killing of religious leaders. Their population decreased in an incessant way. On the other hand, since last year the fall of Mosul and later the occupation of Nineveh Plains, the heartland of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people the fate of Christians aggravated and led to the mass exodus. Since one year, Christian Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people and other vulnerable ethnic and religious groups and to mention Ezidis of Shingal region face annihilation and destruction under the ISIS. As many of the international human rights organisations stressed out, ISIS is committing genocide against millennial peoples of the region. Beside, the genocide practices against Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people, ISIS is destroying all archaeological, religious monuments which belong to the humanity.

European Syriac Union, ESU calls International community with the United Nations, US administration, European Union, Iraqi government and regional countries and human rights organisations have moral and human responsibility to acknowledge the genocide of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian Christians in the Middle East region and take necessary steps to avoid further damage inflicted on the people and support them for their survival and existence in their historical lands.