Aramean indigenous nation of Iraq: Removal of article 50, exclusion, killings, persecutions, displacements and ethnic cleansing in Mosul erea

Paul Al-Khoury Al-Kfarnissy

3-3-2010: Exodus of the Arameans of Mosul continues undiminished: According to UN report already 720 Aramean families (4320 people) have left Mosul

1-3-2010: Peaceful demonstration on Sunday 28^th of February 2010 by the Aramean Orthodox and Catholics in Baghdeda (Qaraqosh), northern Iraq

27-2-2010: Council of Churches in Iraq appeals to the government to protect the Aramean people in Mosul, Iraq

26-2-2010: The Arameans of Mosul: A new Exodus and Ethnic cleansing is going on

18-2-2010: The Arameans of Iraq again victim of killings and bloodbaths:

24-12-2009: A Christmas “message” for the Arameans of Mosul: Four Aramean Churches attacked and one Aramean killed

26-10-2009: Exactly one month and one day after the dramatic appeal of Iraqi President to the United Nations, two car bombs were detonated in the neighborhood of the Green Zone in Baghdad, Iraq

1-9-2009: Arameans of Iraq: The East- Aramean Chaldean bishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk sounds the alarm bell

29-8-2009: Totally unfounded or has it a grain of truth in it? Greater- Israel and the ethnic cleansing of the Arameans of Mosul and surroundings in Iraq

14-7-2009: The Special UN envoy to Iraq, Mr. Ad Melkert, wants extra protection for the Aramean Christians in Iraq

13-7-2009: Seven Indigenous Aramean Churches in Baghdad (Iraq) attacked by car bombs

4-5-2009: Aramean blood continues to flow in Iraq…

15-11-2008: Iraq: The bloodshed of Aramean people and bombardment of churches continues undiminished

27-10-2008: Attempt of ethnic cleansing Mosul: The Aramean Srebrinica. Who is responsible and why?

14-10-2008: Aramean indigenous nation of Iraq: Removal of article 50, exclusion, killings, persecutions, displacements and ethnic cleansing in Mosul erea

2-9-2008: Again two Arameans killed in Iraq

Killing of Priest Yusuf Adel Abudi

4-5-2008: Again a Aramean spiritual leader is killed in Iraq. This time: The West- Aramean Syrian orthodox priest Yusuf Adel Abudi in Bagdad

11-4-2008: Through all the misery: Miracles happens in Iraq

6-4-2008: Funeral of the West- Aramean Syrian Orthodox Priest Yusuf Adel Abudi

Killing of Mgr. Faraj Raho

1-3-2008: East- Aramean Chaldean bishop of Mosul, Mgr. Paulus Faraj Raho was abducted on 29-2-2008 in Mosul.

13-3-2008: The East- Aramean Chaldean bishop Paulus Faraj Raho killed in Mosul

14-3-2008: Friday 14-3-2008: Funeral of Mgr. Faraj Raho in St. Addai Church in Karemlesh

16-3-2008: Mgr. Paulus Faraj Raho: A Great Spiritual Leader and a Worthy Sheppard in Charge of Jesus Christ

23-2-2008: Aramean centre for art and culture has been opened in Ankawa, northern Iraq

7-1-2008: Aramean Churches and institutions in Iraq under Attack

22-8-2007: AINA: The international lie- and hate machine and the cause of killing, persecution and decline of the Arameans of Iraq

Killing of Priest Ragied Aziz Gannie

3-6-2007: East- Aramean Chaldean priest Ragied Aziz Gannie brutally murdered in Mosul along with three deacons by Muslim extremists

25-5-2007: Terror against Arameans (including "Assyrians" and Chaldeans) of Iraq. Ethnic cleansing of the Indigenous people of Iraq

Killing of Isoh Majeed Hadaya

22-11-2006: The West- Aramean Isoh Majeed Hadaya killed by terrorists in Iraq

Killing of Priest Paulus Iskandar

12-10-2006: Aramean priest Iskandar beheaded in Mosul (Iraq)

Aramean people: Aramean people (not to be confused with ‘Armenians’) speak Aramaic, the language spoken by Abraham, Moses and Jesus. They are the indigenous people of what was called in ancient times Aram- Nahrin, in our days it is called ‘Mesopotamia’.

Some Arameans today identify themselves with “Assyrians”, because of the spiritual colonial hate generating activities of the Western missionaries and diplomats in the Middle-East in 16th and 19th centuries. Other Arameans became known as “Chaldeans”. However all of them are Arameans.In Turkey, the Arameans are called: Süryani. In Arabic they are called Al- Suryan.

Aramean indigenous nation of Iraq: Removal of article 50, exclusion, killings, persecutions, displacements and ethnic cleansing in Mosul erea.

Dutch Version

Iraq (Baghdad)- The continuing deterioration of the situation of the Aramean indigenous Christian nation of Iraq, who also became known as “Assyrinas” or “Chaldeans”, was quite well described by the East- Aramean Chaldean bishop Louis Sako who said on Friday 9-10-2008 “a campaign of cleansing, killing and threatening”

Indeed, there is a campaign going on against the peaceful minded Arameans of Iraq of killings, persecutions, threat, expelling out and ethnic cleansing. According the reports we receive, horrendous atrocities are being committed where the law of jungle, chaos and terror is prevailing. No support, no protection from central and local government, the situation for the Aramean nation is unbearable. The defenseless Arameans are at the mercy of those whose dictionary lacks words like “peace, respect”, not to speak of “living together” and “coexistence”.

East-Aramean Chaldean bishop Mgr. Louis Sako.

The special UN envoy to Iraq, Mr. Steffan de Mistura, has condemned the persecution and killings of Aramean indigenous and other minorities.

In the mean time already 20 Arameans and other Christians have been killed.

Because of chaos, it is unknown how many Arameans and other Christians exactly are expelled out of Mosul, yet figures of thousands are being mentioned. The coverage in various media speak volumes (see below for the articles):

*…. the number of Christian families who have fled their homes in Mosul has reached 1,094 [about 5,470 individuals]

*...Up to 20 Christians have been killed in just 10 days as fears o

*...New violence against Christians in the northern city of Mosul

*... More than 900 Christian families have fled Mosul in the past week,

*.. "violence against Christians in Iraq and India, whom I remember each day before the Lord."

*...Attacks in the Iraqi city of Mosul have forced nearly 1,000 Christians, including 500 families,

*...A wave of attacks religiously targeted killings have left at least 11 Christians dead since September 28.

*...Kashmoula described the last seven days as a period of "major displacement".

*...The governor of Iraq's northern Ninevah province says 500 Christian families have fled their homes in Mosul in the past last week.

*...Local Christian leaders have said the attacks amount to a "campaign of killings" and displacement.

*...At least 900 Christian families have fled Mosul in the past week, terrified by a series of killings and threats by Muslim extremists

*...Deputy Gov. Khasro Goran said 13 Christians have been slain in the past two weeks inMosul,

*..."Of course, al Qaeda elements are behind this campaign against Christians,"

*...leaflets were distributed in several predominantly Christian neighborhoods, threatening families to "either convert to Islam or pay the jizyah

*..."Where is the government and its security forces as these crimes take place every day?"

*...Hundreds of terrified Christian families have fled Mosul to escape Sunni extremist attacks

*...said some 3,000 Christians have fled Mosul over the past week alone in what he called a "major displacement."

*..."The Christians were subjected to abduction attempts and paid ransom, but now they are subjected to a killing campaign,"

*...finding the bullet-riddled bodies of seven Christians in separate attacks so far this month, the latest a day laborer found on Wednesday

*...Joseph Jacob, a professor at Mosul University, said there were nearly 20,000 Christians in the city before the 2003 U.S. invasion. But over half have since left for neighboring towns, or new countrie

*...At least 11 and perhaps as many as 14 Christians have been killed in Mosul

*...nine people have died because they were Christians.

*...A campaign is underway to drive the Christians out of the area,"

*...that the terrorists intend to wipe out the economic activity of Christians, forcing the population to leave.

*…. Etc.. etc.. and list goes on….

Reasons for these atrocities committed against the Aramean nation of Iraq…

1. Removal of article 50 and Aramean protest.

The reason for explosion of terror and atrocities against our nation has probably to do with the provincial election law which was adapted by the Iraqi Parliament and on 3^rd of October signed by the president of Iraq, Jalal Talabani. The adoption of this modified law, whereby article 50 was removed, has raised many questions within Christian and other communities in Iraq.

Article 50 was important, for it guaranteed in total 15 seats in provincial councils for minorities. Of these 15 seats, 13 were reserved for the Aramean and other Christians.

The UN envoy to Iraq, Mr. Steffan De Mistura as well as Aramean spiritual leaders and people spoke out against the removal of this important article in several demonstrations and statements. The reason for the removal of article 50 was dubious as well as suspicious, to say the least. The argumentation was that there were no accurate statistics of these minorities in the country.

With this, factually discriminations and exclusion is indirectly being constitutionalized.

More about removal of article 50 and Aramean protests, please click on this link: http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Removal_Article_50_Iraq.htm

The objection of Arameans and others in Iraq and abroad probably caused irritations with those who are eager to clean Iraq of its original Indigenous nation who are present in this part of the world since thousands of years; which also became known as “Cradle of Civilisation”.

Obviously, with these atrocities and ethnic cleansing being carried out, the finger is immediately being pointed to Al- Qaeda. However this certainly does not mean that Al-Qaeada can be held responsible for these acts, simple because everyone can claim to be Al-Qaeada, from thieves and ordinary criminals to organised terrorist or political groups who may hide behind the name "Al-Qaeada". Furthermore the area of Mosul is disputed by various groups who claim to be the rightful owners. The Aramean Indigenous nation may play a significant role in terms of numbers of inhabitants of Mosul.

Therefore if you as group succeed to expel the Arameans out of Mosul and to let your own people take their place, you would cause a demographic shift in terms of numbers of inhabitants. And with that you can tell the international community that you are in majority. All these crimes, killings and ethnic cleansing can be attributed to Al-Qaeada while in reality nobody will ever go after the real perpetrators of these crimes against humanity who may hide behind "Al- Qaeada".

However, before carrying out these atrocities, as a group you first will use your secret service to make hullabaloo in the streets of Mosul and reading texts from Koran, spreading leaflets threatening Christians and presenting themselves as “Al- Qaeada” to fool the outside world in this chaotic and cluttered situation. And with that you commit a prefect crime against humanity while nobody will ever held your responsible, because they will say “Al-Qaeada” has committed these acts of terror.

Most probably it was because of these plans of ethnic cleansing of Arameans of Mosul that three of four killed Aramean spiritual leaders were from Mosul, namely:

	1. West- Aramean Syrian Orthodox priest Paulus Iskandar killed in Mosul on 12-10-2006 by terrorists.
	2. East- Aramean Chaldean priest Ragied Aziz Gannie brutally murdered in Mosul along with three deacons by Muslim extremists on 3-6-2007.
	3. East- Aramean Chaldean bishop of Mosul, Mgr. Paulus Faraj Raho was abducted on 29-2-2008 in Mosul. His body was found on 13-3-2008 in Mosul and on 14-3-2008 he was buried in St. Addai Church in Karemlesh.

2. Aramean autonomous region.

Another very sensitive and important issue which may have played a significant role in the explosion of terror against our nation has to do with the apostate Arameans amongst our nation who call themselves “Assyrians”. This Aramean “Assyrians” are a product of the Western colonial activities in the Middle-East who invented the fake identity “Assyrian” to split and destroy the Aramean indigenous nation of Middle-East.

This apostate Arameans who call themselves “Assyrians” have caused our nation in Iraq huge problems. For a long time, since 2003, they have been screaming from the housetops and demanding a free autonomous area for Christians in Iraq. This kind of claims are not only irresponsible and objectionable, but they provide fanatics and terrorists in Iraq who are looking for excuses to exterminate our nation in Iraq by accusing our nation of “you want to split Iraq”. Making such claims is asking for troubles and massacres, yet the apostate Arameans who call themselves “Assyrians”- the remnants of colonialists-; seem not to bother about these repercussions, for they enjoy a safe and a luxury life in the West, far away from the hell of Iraq.

For this reason it was illuminating to read in a article published on the website of http://www.asianews.it/ (please scroll down) on 9-10-2008 entitled “"Islamic fundamentalists: "expel Christians from Mosul" that “"According to some witnesses, before shooting the terrorists accused the Christians of "wanting to create an enclave in Nineveh," and then proceeded with the execution in cold blood"

Indeed, for a long time we are aware of this. And this has been the reason that together with our bishops in Iraq and the Aramean Democratic Organisation on 29-8-2007 we sent a letter to the government of Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government in which we reject the creation of a “safe heaven” for Christians.

The apostate Arameans who call themselves “Assyrians” however, have been screaming from the housetops and claiming the creation of a autonomous region in Iraq resulting in devastating repercussions for our people. Furthermore, because of the diffused colonial fanaticism in their minds, they even made covenant with the PKK in order to promote and maintain colonial product “Assyrian”. In addition to this, they have a good access to some members of the European Parliament and certain parts of Media to promote their apostate anti-human and anti-Aramean ideology “Assyrianism” whereby a spiritual genocide being committed against our nation.

On 13-10-2008, the organisation of the apostate Arameans who call themselves “Assyrians”, “The Assyrian Universal Alliance Foundation”, sent a letter to the Secretary General of the United Nation in which they demand “"To urge the Iraqi government to agree to the critical demand of Assyrians for an Assyrian Autonomous Region in the historical and ancestral Assyrian lands in Northern Iraq as part of the modern day Federal Republic of Iraq. This newly formalized Assyrian region shall be administrated and protected by the Assyrians under the jurisdiction of the central government of Iraq. The establishment of such a region is most crucial to the security and survival of the Assyrians in Iraq by allowing greater local Assyrian control within the context of their sovereign state as an integral part of Iraq. This action will also encourage the Assyrian refugees, whether those internally displaced in the homeland or those scattered in Diaspora, to return to Iraq"

To make publicly such irresponsible demands, forms a grist to the mill of the fanatics in Iraq to slaughter our people in Iraq, like quoted in the article of http://www.asianews.it/. They play with fire and give terrorist and fanatic groups in Iraq good excuses in their hand to terrorize and exterminate our nation in Iraq. In addition to this, they continue to commit a crime against the Aramean nation by labelling them as “Assyrians”; a terrible remembrance to the colonial activities.

3. A deal has been made.

A third possibility for this horrendous atrocities against our people could be that behind the scenes a deal has been coined between parties who claim to be the owners of Mosul area and demand authority. The only obstacle for such a deal would be the presence of the Aramean indigenous nation and other Christians in Mosul.

A small indication for such reasoning; one could find is the unusual unanimity between groups, who usually drink one another blood, in relation tot the removal of article 50 from the provincial election law. Some may label this as unlikely, yet it certainly cannot be ruled out.

Please click here for reports from various media on the persecutions, killings and ethnic cleansing of the Indigenous Aramean nation of Iraq.

http://www.aramnahrin.org/English/Media_Reports_Arameans_Mosul.htm

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