Khabur Genocide Victims Forum calls for justice and international recognition

TEL TAMR, North and East Syria — In an effort to document the massacres committed by the Islamic State (ISIS) terrorist organization against the Syriac-Assyrian people in the villages of Khabur River Valley in 2015, the First Khabur Genocide Victims Forum was held on Sunday, 23 March, Tel Tamr, North and East Syria. The event was organized under the sponsorship of the Syriac Union Party (SUP), The Syriac Strategic Research Center (SSRC), the Syriac Cultural Association in Syria, Suroyo Media Foundation, Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ-SY), the Legal Advisory Team, and the Mor Ephrem Syriac Commission, with the participation of political, legal, and community figures.

The Forum commenced with a minute of silence honoring all the martyrs. Afterwards, an opening speech by researcher Zuhair Youssef from the SSRC, who emphasized the importance of including these massacres in Syria’s transitional justice process. He called on the Syrian Transitional Government (STG), to officially recognize the massacres in Khabur, Sadad, Malula (Maaloula), and Al-Qaryatayn as part of the violent campaigns targeting Christians in Syria.

The Forum focused on the severe violations suffered by the Syriacs-Assyrians, including forced displacement, abductions, killings, and the destruction of infrastructure, particularly churches and homes. It highlighted the importance of documenting these crimes and submitting them to international bodies to seek official recognition within the framework of transitional justice.

The event featured a historical account of the Khabur Genocide, presented by Hiba Asia, head of the Women’s Office of the Assyrian Democratic Party (ADO) in Hasakah, along with a speech by Nadine Maenza, Secretary-General of the International Religious Freedom Secretariat (IRFS)

During the Forum, survivors shared firsthand testimonies, revealing that the ISIS attacks on 23 February 2015, led to a drastic decline in the Assyrian population in the region, dropping from 25,000 to fewer than 1,000 people. Participants also discussed the profound impact of these crimes on the religious and cultural identity of the Syriac-Assyrian community, as well as legal accountability mechanisms under international law.

Following the testimonies, an open discussion on the Khabur Genocide took place. After a short break, Ali Iskan, a member of the forum’s preparatory committee, spoke about the legal framework for addressing the massacres in Khabur. Speaking to a SyriacPress correspondent, Iskan stressed that these crimes should be classified as genocide, stating:

“The attacks on civilians, mass abductions, executions, and destruction of places of worship all fall under crimes punishable by international law, including the statutes of the International Criminal Court and conventions on the protection of indigenous peoples and the right to self-determination.”

Meanwhile, Fayza Youssef, a human rights lawyer and project director at Syrians for Truth and Justice, emphasized the necessity of documenting victims’ testimonies to expose these crimes in international forums and ensure true accountability.

In this context, Faya Shamoun, another legal expert, underscored the need for legal and media pressure to achieve international recognition of the Khabur Genocide, adding, “We must shed light on this genocide and push for an international resolution to hold perpetrators accountable, whether directly or indirectly.”

The Forum concluded with the formation of a follow-up and documentation committee and the presentation of key recommendations, which serve as a comprehensive legal and human rights framework to ensure recognition of the genocide and accountability for its perpetrators. These recommendations included:

• Supporting the return of displaced persons and rebuilding affected villages.
• Enhancing security in Khabur to prevent future crimes.
• Revealing the fate of missing persons and holding those responsible accountable.
• Providing compensation to victims and their families for the harm they have suffered.
• Seeking the establishment of a special court for acts of genocide against Syriacs-Assyrians.
• Incorporating these massacres into Syria’s transitional justice framework.
• Expanding documentation efforts to include the massacres in Sadad, Malula, Al-Qaryatayn, and Nineveh Plains in Iraq.
• Holding the Forum annually, with a dedicated follow-up committee to oversee the implementation of its resolutions.

On the sidelines of the event, Ruba al-Freihat, the Forum’s executive coordinator, told SyriacPress:

“The Forum highlighted the legal, political, and media significance of documenting these violations. Our goal is to hold the perpetrators accountable, ensure compensation for victims and their families, and create a safe environment for the displaced to return home.”

Al-Freihat also stressed the need for collaborating with international organizations to prosecute the perpetrators, confirming that the forum’s findings will be submitted to international human rights bodies to ensure justice for the victims.

Road Ahead

As the Forum concluded, participants emphasized that documentation alone is not enough — it must be the first step toward accountability and ensuring perpetrators do not escape justice.

Ali Iskan noted that a defining aspect of the forum was the diverse participation of cultural and legal entities in supporting the Syriacs-Assyrian cause, which enhances the chances of international recognition of the genocide.

For many, the Forum was not just a human rights gathering, but a historic step toward breaking the silence surrounding the Khabur Genocide. “A decade has passed, yet justice remains out of reach,” lawyer Maya Shamoun put it. “But with the right legal framework and continuous pressure, we can achieve accountability and prevent such tragedies from happening again.”