Syriac–Assyrian community in North and East Syria unveils memorial honoring victims of Simele Massacre

HASAKAH, North and East Syria — In commemoration of the 91st anniversary of the Simele Massacre, where thousands of Syriac–Assyrians were killed by the Iraqi Army, the Syriac Union Party (SUP), in collaboration with the People’s Municipality of Hasakah, unveiled a memorial stone dedicated to the martyrs. The stone was placed near the Assyrian Church in the city of Hasakah, North and East Syria, symbolizing a tribute to those who perished.

The ceremony was attended by representatives from the institutions of the Bethnahrin National Council (Mawtbo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, MUB), the Democratic Autonomous Administration of the Region of North and East Syria (DAARNES), political parties, civil society organizations, and members of the region’s diverse communities. The event took place under the protection of the Syriac Security Forces (Sutoro).

The ceremony began with a moment of silence to honor martyrs, followed by a recounting of the massacre’s history. Sanharib Barsom, Co-Chair of the Syriac Union Party (SUP), delivered a speech lauding the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) for their role in liberating the region from the Islamic State (ISIS). He highlighted the critical contributions of the Syriac Military Council (Mawtbo Fulḥoyo Suryoyo, MFS) and Sutoro in safeguarding the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people on their ancestral lands.

Hazem Mahmoud, Deputy Co-Chair of the People’s Municipality in Hasakah, spoke about the historical suffering, displacement, and violence inflicted upon the Syriac (Aramean–Assyrian–Chaldean) people by Middle Eastern regimes, including the Iraqi regime during the Simele Massacre.

Following the speeches, the memorial stone was unveiled by the co-chairs of the Syriac–Assyrian Martyrs’ Families Foundation. In a statement to Syriac Press, Maha Shabo, Co-Chair of the SUP in Hasakah, emphasized the significance of placing the memorial near the church. She noted that many Syriacs–Assyrians who settled in the Khabur River Valley came from Simele nearly 90 years ago, stressing the importance of remembering the martyrs by naming schools and neighborhoods after them to ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Majed Ismail, Co-Chair of the People’s Municipality in Hasakah, expressed pride in participating in the commemoration, while Hazem Mahmoud reiterated that multiple communities, including Syriacs (Arameans–Assyrians–Chaldeans) and Kurds, have suffered massacres and injustices at the hands of oppressive forces.

The Simele Massacre, perpetrated by the Iraqi Army on 7 August 1933, claimed the lives of thousands of Syriac–Assyrian civilians. Many survivors fled to the Khabur River Valley in Hasakah, where they began rebuilding their lives.