Who Are the Assyrians?
The Assyrians are an indigenous Semitic people of Mesopotamia (modern Iraq, Syria, Turkey, Iran) with continuous presence spanning over 6,000 years. Descendants of the ancient Assyrian Empire and early Christian converts, they number approximately 3-5 million globally, though exact figures are disputed. Recognized as indigenous to Mesopotamia by various UN forums and academic bodies, they maintain distinct ethno-religious identity through Syriac Christianity (Assyrian Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic, Syriac Orthodox), speak Neo-Aramaic languages (relatives of Jesus's language), and preserve cultural traditions linking them to ancient Assyria. Despite forming one of the world's oldest continuous Christian communities, Assyrians face persecution, genocide (Seyfo 1914-1923 killed 500,000+), forced displacement, and existential threat in their ancestral homeland.
Neo-Aramaic Languages and Ancient Heritage
Assyrians speak Neo-Aramaic languages—modern descendants of Aramaic, the lingua franca of ancient Middle East and language of Jesus. Major dialects include **Assyrian Neo-Aramaic** (Northeastern Neo-Aramaic), **Chaldean Neo-Aramaic** (Northeastern Iraq), **Turoyo** (Southeastern Turkey), and **Classical Syriac** (liturgical language). These languages face endangerment due to diaspora dispersion and persecution in homelands. The Syriac alphabet, derived from Aramaic script, remains in use for liturgy and literature. Assyrians maintain historical consciousness linking them to ancient Assyrian civilization through place names, archaeological sites in their territories (Nineveh, Nimrud, Ashur), and cultural memory, though debates exist about continuity between ancient and modern Assyrians.
Syriac Christianity and Religious Identity
Assyrian identity is inseparable from Syriac Christianity, adopted in the 1st-4th centuries CE. The community divided into three main denominations: **Assyrian Church of the East** (independent since 5th century, preserving ancient East Syriac rite), **Chaldean Catholic Church** (Eastern Catholic in communion with Rome since 16th century), and **Syriac Orthodox Church** (Miaphysite, West Syriac tradition). The ancient liturgical language (Classical Syriac), distinctive chant traditions, church architecture, religious art, and ecclesiastical structure preserve 2,000-year-old Christian practices. Monasteries served as centers of learning preserving Greek philosophy, medical texts, and theological works. This Christian minority status made Assyrians vulnerable in Islamic-majority contexts.
Genocides and Persecution
The **Seyfo** (Assyrian Genocide 1914-1923) killed an estimated 500,000-750,000 Assyrians during WWI, perpetrated by Ottoman Empire alongside Armenian and Greek genocides. Entire villages were massacred, women enslaved, and survivors forced into exile. The 1933 **Simele Massacre** in Iraq killed thousands more. Throughout the 20th century, Assyrians faced systematic persecution: Kurdish attacks in northern Iraq, Arabization policies under Saddam Hussein, forced displacement from ancestral villages, and cultural suppression. The 2003 Iraq War and rise of ISIS brought new catastrophe: church bombings, kidnappings, forced conversions, destruction of ancient Christian sites, and mass exodus. The 2014 ISIS invasion of Nineveh Plains drove 200,000+ Assyrians from their homes, threatening to end Christian presence in Mesopotamia.
Diaspora and Survival Struggles
Today, more Assyrians live in diaspora than in the Middle East. Major communities exist in US (Chicago, Detroit, California), Sweden, Australia, and Germany. The diaspora maintains identity through churches serving as community centers, language schools teaching Neo-Aramaic to children, cultural organizations preserving traditions, and political advocacy for homeland security. In Iraq, the **Nineveh Plains** region represents the last significant Assyrian population concentration, though greatly reduced. Assyrians seek autonomous governance, security guarantees, and international recognition of genocide. Cultural preservation efforts include documenting endangered languages, digitizing manuscripts, and maintaining historical memory. The existential question remains whether Assyrians can survive as a distinct people in their ancestral Mesopotamian homeland.
References
- Donabed, S. (2015). Reforging a Forgotten History: Iraq and the Assyrians in the Twentieth Century. Edinburgh University Press.
- Joseph, J. (2000). The Modern Assyrians of the Middle East: Encounters with Western Christian Missions, Archaeologists, and Colonial Powers. Brill.
- Travis, H. (2010). Genocide in the Middle East: The Ottoman Empire, Iraq, and Sudan. Carolina Academic Press.
- Murre-van den Berg, H. (Ed.). (2015). Assyriology and the Study of the Christian Orient. Peeters.