Baghdede Archbishops and Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian political parties unite in protest for rights in Iraq

BAGHDEDE, Iraq — The Council of Baghdede Archbishops, along with five Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian political parties, including the Bethnahrin Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA), the Assyrian Patriotic Party, Abnaa al-Nahrain, the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa), and the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Popular Council, organized a popular protest in the Nineveh Plains town of Baghdede, Iraq. The protesters demanded national and political rights for the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in Iraq and for the recent violations against them, their property, and institutions to be addressed.

Originally scheduled for late July, the protest was postponed due to the unstable security situation in Iraq in recent weeks.

The demonstration saw a strong turnout, with Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people from Baghdede, representatives of various Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian parties, organizations, civil society groups, and religious figures participating.

During the event, the Council of Archbishops delivered impassioned speeches, calling for resistance against demographic changes and efforts to encroach on the property of Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in the Nineveh Plains. They also highlighted the importance of preserving their will in the electoral law.

On Thursday, the HBA issued a call to all Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people and Iraqis in general, urging them to actively join in the protest and unite in their pursuit of fundamental rights and justice.

Assyrian clerics from the Bishops of Nineveh council, rallied together in Qaraqosh/Baghdeda against ongoing land theft, corrupt security forces and division of the Nineveh plains. Iraqi forces prevented the media & supporters from joining them. Translated by Rama Galia pic.twitter.com/S8jdO4KYlm

— ܝܼܫܘܿܥ (@AssyrianSR) August 5, 2023