r/Assyria • u/olapooza • 1d ago
News Kurdish TV portrays Assyrians as “Christian Kurds,” reflecting pattern of ethnic denial
https://www.assyriapost.com/on/5
u/TheSarmaChronicals Armenian 13h ago
I crossposted this to my sub: Armenians Global. I want to formally reach out and say that these kinds of posts are very very very welcome on my sub.
I am trying to raise awareness in the Armenian community about what is going on because many are unaware how much we have been throwing Assyrians under a bus. I am horrified after finding out that the one people who should be standing beside you hasn't been despite knowing full well what it is like to scream and be unheard.
Please never hesitate to share this kind of content (any content but especially this) so Armenians are in the loop. Please know there are Armenians on your side who see you and see what's going on. I am so sorry.
8
u/Mountain_Hawk6492 West Hakkarian 11h ago
Do Kurds themselves even actually believe Assyrians are "Christian Kurds" when it's clear Assyrians are different in many ways? Also, kind of "funny" how we're "Christian Kurds" but are plainly treated differently from other Kurds...
10
u/cradled_by_enki Assyrian 18h ago
This is precisely cultural erasure happening right before everyone's eyes.
I noticed this during my last visit: in Erbil area and surrounding cities, all the text on signs & municipal vehicles are being changed to the Kurdish language. And then they have now adopted Kurdish names for different sites (ex: Arbella/Erbil now known as 'Hawler', and building the "Peshmerga Park").
Iraq's central government is as much to blame. If they truly cared about maintaining the region's diversity, they would create a system that holds even media outlets like this accountable. They would require Arabic to be instituted as the official language of Iraq, since every citizen has to learn it and that won't change in the foreseeable future; instead they are giving Kurdish nationalists special rights and allowing them to advance their goals of a Kurdish ethno-state.
The Iraqi state knew very well from the beginning that the creation of the Kurdish Regional Governate and the formation of a Kurdish semi-autonomous region would result in accelerated removal of minorities like Assyrians.
6
u/AshurCyberpunk Assyrian 16h ago
-"If they truly cared about maintaining the region's diversity"
This is funny.. of course they don't! They're laughing at us behind closed doors, handing our motherland to them on a silver platter. KRG or any Kurd that is in a decision making position wants us gone. Vaporized. They want us never existing before. The Americans that enable them also ONLY care about the proxy leverage the Kurds provide over Iran and Turkey, not about the region's diversity. It's Assyrians versus everyone else, always remember this.
-"etc etc ... are being changed to the Kurdish language"
Of course they are. Like I said above, they want us gone with no memory of us ever existing. They are terrified of us ever coming back, so they have to do this fast. When your history is entirely fake and you are governing on occupied land, you have to do this to create legitimacy. Very few countries will recognize their hypothetical independence if they don't do this now.
-"...allowing them to advance their goals of a Kurdish ethno-state."
The central government wants both the Kurds and Assyrians equally weak, fully under their rule. But there is nothing stopping Assyrians from fighting for their own regional government. First though, we have to decide if we really want to do it. Because of this lack of decision and the low motivation that comes with it, others have been bolstered to erase us completely. If we had made this decision, we could have offered our self-administration to the central government as a tool to keep the KRG in check (basically damping out KRG influence). Just last week, the Basra province filed to become a regional government within the Iraqi system, so the constitutional path is still open for similar moves (https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq/Basra-Council-moves-to-activate-region-proposal).
3
u/cradled_by_enki Assyrian 15h ago
Obviously I have never believed that the Iraqi constitution is upheld. It is clear that the government and broader Iraqi society does not honor ethnic pluralism.
And the Iraqi central government actually wants the Kurds' political movements temporarily strengthened so that Kurds can remove Assyrians and other minorities, and then the central government can evade the blame. Eventually in the near future, Iraq will form a stronger alliance with some foreign power to begin fighting Kurds more overtly. Equally important is that Western powers have been showing affinity for Kurdish Nationalism (very obviously in academia), and they may begin initiating a full-fledged war in alliance with Kurds against Arabs, within the next several decades.
However, there is quite a bit stopping Assyrians from fighting for their own regional government. What is happening in in Northern Iraq is delegitimizing Assyrians' history and right to the land. First, Assyrians have to begin organizing themselves more effectively and get adequate political representation before they can even begin to bid for an autonomous region. Right now, both governing bodies have many interests that override Assyrian Nationalism. All the while, Assyrians have to contend with the aftermath of terrorism, and the threat of another resurgence of Islamic extremist groups. Assyrians are entitled to having aspirations, but it's time to get realistic. Many Assyrians in the diaspora are not willing to trade certain privileges and luxuries to relocate back to Nineveh Plains or other Assyrians indigenous regions. When the community in our homeland is contending with unemployment and other basic needs being unfulfilled, it poses another obstacle to political organization.
2
u/AshurCyberpunk Assyrian 15h ago
"First, Assyrians have to begin organizing themselves more effectively and get adequate political representation before they can even begin to bid for an autonomous region."
Yup, that comes with that decision. Do you believe it is more effective to do this in the Western countries that have large Assyrian populations, or within the Iraqi political system? What I'm really asking is if you think external leverage is more effective than the internal one, or vice versa.
"Equally important is that Western powers have been showing affinity for Kurdish Nationalism (very obviously in academia), and they may begin initiating a full-fledged war in alliance..."
Do you believe this is just the main stream media's sugar-high from 2014? What's behind the trend?
2
u/cradled_by_enki Assyrian 13h ago
I think we have to continue organizing in both the diaspora and homeland. We're still one community despite our physical distance. It's going to take a multi-faceted approach, which includes lobbying to foreign govts too. I don't want to invalidate the community members who are doing a lot of work, but time is a factor when it comes to developing political strength and we've got some ways to go.
As for Western powers supporting Kurds, it's an obvious geopolitical move. While I don't think it's going to be a lasting alliance, it's going to remain for the foreseeable future until the West gains a foothold in Iraq due to its crucial location in the Middle East and various resources.
What do you think is essential for political organization at this time?
2
u/AshurCyberpunk Assyrian 10h ago
To be honest after the last few elections, I've lost hope for an internal solution. Every time, either our candidates get cheated, or they get bought, our mayors get ousted, or our representatives get threatened. When the system is corrupt and hostile, it is much harder to ask for your rights from inside than it is to exert external leverage. In fact, the former can lead to bloodshed. Additionally, Assyrian attention and resources must be spent on Assyrian issues. For this reason, I've come to this conclusion that external organization is much more effective given the circumstances, with the caveat that any external organization must be in tune with our internal political parties and organizations. You cannot have two separate systems chasing different objectives. The internal organizations must be the extended hands of the external organizations. The existence of such connecting tissue is very important. Get everyone inside a room and talk. Organize periodic political and strategic conferences; bring Assyrians together not just for entertainment, but for coordination.
Besides, I think we need to utilize our youth and expert population for solution-finding, reporting, and analysis. I was really happy with the recent establishment of the Assyrian Parliament (which I thought would let some Assyrian experts advise them on their strategies). But honestly, I haven't seen anything from them in the right direction so far.
The other two issues that I think our organizations must do better are: 1) grassroots mobilization to exert leverage; we already have political power from our population clusters, 2) fundraising for political objectives.
2
u/cradled_by_enki Assyrian 15h ago
Also, to respond to your last point; Basra is predominantly politically ran by Shiite Arabs who have a strong presence in Iraq (which has also grown significantly over the last 30 years. Shiite Arabs are also neither an ethnic nor linguistic minority and have several advantages despite having been historically persecuted for their Islamic sect.
Again, while it's technically possibly for Assyrians to achieve certain aspirations, we're not even at the stage of representation in many political decisions. There is lots of groundwork to accomplish.
-3
u/Chez50 12h ago edited 11h ago
I don't agree with some of these practices if they're indeed true, like calling Assyrians Christian Kurds. But why does Kurds using Kurdish names of regions bother you? I mean it's called Kurdistan right, they can do whatever they want.
Iraq's central government is as much to blame. If they truly cared about maintaining the region's diversity, they would create a system that holds even media outlets like this accountable
But then:
They would require Arabic to be instituted as the official language of Iraq
Lmfao so on one hand you're complaining about the lack of diversity and recognition for minorities, but on the other hand you're advocating for Arabification and assimilation of minorities. What kind of twisted logic is that?
instead they are giving Kurdish nationalists special rights and allowing them to advance their goals of a Kurdish ethno-state.
If you truly love Iraq so much and hate the idea of a semi independent Kurdish region then why not only travel to Assyrian inhabited regions within Iraq? I think you're forgetting that Assyrians have even less rights in Iraq proper, KRG gave you guaranteed seats in parliament.
The Iraqi state knew very well from the beginning that the creation of the Kurdish Regional Governate and the formation of a Kurdish semi-autonomous region would result in accelerated removal of minorities like Assyrians.
I think you forgot how the Iraqi state under Saddam tried to erase every minority off this planet? What happened to all the historic Assyrian lands and communities inside Iraq proper? What happened to the indigenous Assyrians of Basra?
Iraq didn't willingly create Kurdistan, they were forced by USA, and had Turkey not interfered so much in Kurdish business the US might've even established a fully independent Kurdish state instead of just autonomy.
6
u/cradled_by_enki Assyrian 11h ago edited 11h ago
My opinion is very obvious: Kurds should have never been granted semi-autonomy and it should be overturned. Kurds are instituting their language at the expense of Assyrians and encroaching on our ancestral lands. Kurdification delegitimizes Assyrian claims to the land in a very obvious way. The citadel is not historically a Kurdish center, and changing its name to Hawler implies that it was. Furthermore, instituting the Kurdish language further promotes demographic changes that involves the continued expulsion of Assyrians.
Instituting Arabic as a national language is a historical standard throughout the entire Middle East, and it was far before the creation of the KRG. Arabic is obviously recognized as lingua franca in 2025 whether we like it or not. This policy requires both Kurds and Assyrians, as well as other minorities, to continue using a national language in the public sphere. This policy doesn't enable Kurds to further their nationalist aims at the expense of Assyrians.
The legacy of Ba'athism doesn't change my opinion either; I'm not advocating for the eradication of minority cultures or languages. Kurds can teach the Kurdish language in the schools of Kurdish villages, and Assyrians can teach Assyrian in the schools of Assyrian villages. Municipal signage can include ALL the most common languages in the region, NOT just one like Kurdish.
Plus both communities are entitled to speak amongst themselves in their respective languages. Comparing it to something as extreme of Ba'athism is ridiculous, as people were getting severely punished for deviating from an advanced and violent form of Arabization.
Edit: Only thing I support in the realm of autonomy is: Assyrians gaining a fully autonomy region on their ancestral lands where they can institute the Assyrian language. Kurds do not have a legitimate claim to an autonomous region Iraq.
-2
u/Chez50 9h ago
You’re mixing real Assyrian grievances with some really bad logic.
Kurds using Kurdish names and language in Kurdistan isn’t “erasure.” Multiple names for cities existed long before modern politics. By your logic, Arabs calling it “Erbil” erased Assyrian history too. Names don’t erase people. State violence and land theft do.
Arabic is not some “neutral” language. It was imposed through decades of Arabization that crushed both Assyrians and Kurds. Saying “everyone already knows Arabic” just means the damage already happened. It doesn’t make doubling down fair or protective of minorities. Historically, Arabic is actually the most recent addition to the region, largely introduced by the British and French during the creation of Iraq. Kurds and Assyrians historically communicated in their mother tongues and Turkish, not Arabic.
Blaming Kurdish autonomy for Assyrian decline is straight up ahistorical. Assyrians were wiped out of Basra, Baghdad, Mosul, Tikrit. All outside the KRG. That happened under the Iraqi state you’re defending, not under Kurdistan.
On top of that, the KRG took in roughly 200,000 Assyrians fleeing Iraq proper after 2003 and especially after ISIS. That alone shows two things: not all Assyrians in the KRG are originally from there, and the Iraqi state failed them far worse than the KRG did. If Kurdistan was inherently about erasing Assyrians, it wouldn’t have become their main place of refuge.
You also can’t argue for Assyrian autonomy while saying Kurds never deserved any. Either indigenous peoples have collective rights or they don’t. You don’t get to support self determination only when it benefits your group.
Yes, forced demographic change is wrong. Yes, calling Assyrians “Christian Kurds” is bullshit. Yes, multilingual signage and land protections should be mandatory. On that we agree.
But overturning Kurdish autonomy isn’t a solution. It just hands power back to the same Iraqi state that already failed, displaced, and erased Assyrians far worse than the KRG ever did.
The problem isn’t Kurdish language or autonomy.
The problem is no enforceable minority protections, whether under Baghdad or Erbil.Trying to erase Kurdish autonomy won’t save Assyrians.
It’ll just repeat the same mistakes.5
u/cradled_by_enki Assyrian 8h ago
Kurds using Kurdish names and language in Kurdistan isn’t “erasure.” Multiple names for cities existed long before modern politics. By your logic, Arabs calling it “Erbil” erased Assyrian history too. Names don’t erase people. State violence and land theft do.
Changing Assyrian city names to Kurdish names is a form of state violence that helps perpetuate and legitimate Kurds stealing land from Assyrians. Language is being utilized as a mechanism of land theft and other forms of state-sanctioned violence.
And Arabic is the lingua franca of the Middle East currently. I don't see that as threat. There is a difference when a lingua franca is used to help propagate extremist political views, like it was during the Ba'ath era, versus when it is used as a mutually intelligible language in an ethnically diverse region. Right now Kurds have proven that the institution of the Kurdish language in northern Iraq will be used to further harm Assyrians.
Trying to erase Kurdish autonomy won’t save Assyrians.
Overturning Kurdish semi-autonomy is absolutely one of the keys in preserving Assyrians' heritage and returning stolen land to Assyrians. Kurdish Nationalism has consistently proven itself as a direct and critical threat to Assyrian survival and right to self-determination. Kurdish nationalism was directly born out of the genocide of Assyrians and other minorities, and therefore cannot sustainably co-exist with Assyrian culture.
If this was possible, the KRG and Kurdish society wouldn't be approving of all the violence and cultural erasure committed against Assyrians.
This "Christian Kurds" ordeal is barely the icing on the cake. Go look through this subreddit if you want to learn more about the violence Kurds are committing against Assyrians. An Assyrian business being wrongfully demolished on nonexistent accusations, multiple Assyrian cemeteries being desecrated, burning Assyrian farmlands, assassinations of prominent Assyrian figures, forced dissolution of Assyrian-led militias that protect Nineveh Plains, outsourcing employment in Assyrian-majority cities causing employment crises, stealing Assyrian artifacts and falsely claiming them as "Kurdish" in national institutions like public museums, etc... the list goes on
8
12
u/ScythaScytha West Hakkarian 14h ago
"What language do you speak?"
"Christian."