Sarod al-Maqdisi of the Assyrian Democratic Movement calls for an autonomous region for the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in the Nineveh Plains

STRASBOURG, NINEVEH PLAINS, France Iraq — Sarod Al-Maqdisi, a political bureau member of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (Zowaa), addressed the European Parliament, emphasizing the need for governments to adopt strategies that protect and strengthen the presence of ethnic and religious minorities. He called for new administrative frameworks to safeguard their existence and advocated for an autonomous region for the Assyrian people in the Nineveh Plain. 

A call for government action 

Speaking at a hearing in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Al-Maqdisi urged local, regional, and national governments to implement more comprehensive policies that ensure the survival and flourishing of minority communities. 

He pointed to encouraging statistics regarding reverse migration to the Nineveh Plain, highlighting the importance of new administrative models to sustain and enhance the Assyrian identity in the region. 

A focus on Christian communities in the Middle East 

The session brought together representatives from Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian institutions in France and Germany. Participants examined the conditions of Christian communities across the Middle East, with a particular focus on Iraq and Syria, and the challenges they face. 

During his intervention, Al-Maqdisi outlined the hardships endured by Chaldeans-Syriacs-Assyrians since 2003, especially following the invasion of the Nineveh Plain by terrorist groups. He stressed the urgent need for effective government policies that guarantee minority rights, including: 

• Reconstruction efforts to restore war-torn areas. 

• Incorporation of minorities into national defense forces to ensure security. 

• Job creation initiatives to provide economic stability. 

• Election law reforms to guarantee fair political representation for minority groups. 

A vision for an autonomous Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian region 

Al-Maqdisi underscored the necessity of removing the Nineveh Plain from ongoing political conflicts. He proposed the establishment of a new governorate within the region and called for granting autonomy to the Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people. 

He concluded by reminding the audience of his people’s historical contributions to human civilization, calling for international support to preserve their cultural heritage and national identity. Al-Maqdisi also expressed gratitude to the European Union for its efforts in supporting forcibly displaced communities. 

As discussions on minority rights continue, the call for self-governance in the Nineveh Plain reflects a broader struggle for the survival and empowerment of Iraq’s indigenous Christian communities. 

At a European Parliament hearing in Strasbourg, Dr. Srood Maqdasi urged broader strategies to protect minorities, highlighted reverse migration to the Nineveh Plain, and advocated for new administrative frameworks to preserve diversity. pic.twitter.com/vyrrVl8q7I

— Zowaa (@Zowaa_ADM) March 14, 2025