Mother Assyria monument erected in Chicago to honor martyrs of Simele Massacre

CHICAGO — The Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) community continues to commemorate the historical tragedies targeting them by erecting memorials that honor their martyrs and draw international attention to the massacres they have endured.

Recently, a monument named ‘Mother Assyria’, created by artist Ninos Jammo, was unveiled in the yard of the Assyrian Church of the East of Mar Sarkis in Skokie, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, USA.

The event featured speeches from Archbishop Mar Paulus Benjamin and other prominent figures from the Syriac–Assyrian community. The commemoration was attended by 500 people, including municipal officials.

The monument pays tribute to the martyrs of Simele and surrounding villages, who were killed 91 years ago by the Iraqi government. Originally scheduled for 2020, the event was postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The monument was funded through donations from the community, with support from Catholicos-Patriarch Mar Awa III Royel of the Assyrian Church of the East and the Assyrian National Council.

The Skokie area is home to a significant Syriac–Assyrian population, with the broader Chicago area hosting around 90,000 Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) residents.