Proposals for Assyrian autonomy in Iraq

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Since the early 20th century several proposals have been made for the establishment of an

autonomous area or an independent state for the Syriac-speaking modern Assyrians in northern Iraq
.

Historical proposals

Current proposals

The Nineveh Plains within Nineveh province

19th governorate

Currently,[

Ninawa Governorate. This proposal is pushed by two above mentioned parties as a new governorate for all minorities living there. Various estimates say that new province population will have the following ethno-religious makeup:[clarification needed
]

During June, 2017, a conference was held in Brussels dubbed, The Future for Christians in Iraq.[5] The conference was organised by the European People's Party and had participants extending from Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac organizations, including representatives from the Iraqi government and the KRG. The conference was boycotted by the Assyrian Democratic Movement, Sons of Mesopotamia, Assyrian Patriotic Party, Chaldean Catholic Church and Assyrian Church of the East. A position paper was signed by the remaining political organizations involved.[6]

Support – The proposal has been backed by the majority of Shia Arabs and Kurdish parties.

  • Jalal Talabani, President of Iraq[7]
  • Sadrist Members of Parliament block[8]
  • Islamic Dawa Party block of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki[8]
  • The three main Syriac Christian Bishops in the area, One Syriac Catholic, and two Syriac Orthodox, in 2017, came out in support of the idea of a protected area for Syriac Christians. Though the Patriarch has stated the priority should be other concerns.

Some foreign governments and political parties have also weighed in on the issue:

  • The Swedish political party
    better source needed
    ]
  • The Australian Federal Government through the
    better source needed
    ]

Oppose – It has been opposed by Sunni Arabs who make up the majority of the city of Mosul.

Assyrian Administrative Region

Some Assyrian organizations also call for a creation of an Assyrian Administrative Region in Northern Iraq, which would include the following districts:[14]

Ninawa Governorate
Dohuk Governorate

Several Assyrian political parties convened to sign a position paper on 6 March 2017 relating to the future of the Nineveh Plains.[15] The position paper called for the creation of a Nineveh Plains province that is self-governed by the Assyrian population of the Nineveh Plain.

Incorporation with Kurdistan region

Many Kurdish politicians have publicly come out in support of annexing the area to the

Slemani, and Halabja). Some Assyrians claim Masoud Barzani's KDP is intimidating the population into demanding their region be annexed.[citation needed
]

Some Assyrian political parties

KRG referendum, 2017 will take place in this occupied territory.[citation needed
]

Al-Rafidain Autonomous Region

On March 5, 2017, three bodies representing Assyrians, Yazidis and Turkmen issued a joint statement calling for a semi-autonomous region in Northern Iraq. The idea was pushed forward by the Turkmen Rescue Foundation, Yazidi Independent Supreme Council and the Al-Rafidain Organization.[17]

The project was proposed in line with Iraq's 2005 Constitution, which gives minorities the right to autonomy or self-administration in sub-units of territory (Chapter 1; Sections 5, 112, 115 and 116).

“The proposal of a region for the minorities is in line with the Iraqi Constitution and doesn’t contradict the general move to share powers and or let minorities manage their own affairs”, said Ali Akram Al-Bayati of the Turkmen Rescue Foundation.

The canton would comprise three continuous regions:

Nineveh Plain.[18]

See also

References

  1. ^ "1935: League of Nations — The Settlement of the Assyrians, a Work of Humanity and Appeasement". www.atour.com.
  2. ^ "Assyrian National Petition - United Nations, May 7, 1945". www.atour.com.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-08-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Assyrian Case for Autonomy". www.betnahrain.net.
  5. ^ https://www.nineveh.eu/
  6. ^ "The Future of the Nineveh Plain | PDF | Government | Social Institutions".
  7. ^ Iraqi President Supports Assyrian Autonomous Region
  8. ^ a b Multiple Arab Parties Support Nineveh Plains Self-Rule Project
  9. ^ Swedish Liberal Party Votes to Support Assyrian Administrative Area in Iraq, Assyrian International News Agency
  10. ^ "Australian MPS Support Assyrian Autonomous Region in North Iraq".
  11. ^ "Australian Parliament Calls for Assyrian Autonomous Province in Iraq".
  12. ^ "Christian organizations in the United States calling for the development of the province in the Nineveh Plain and granting autonomy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2011-10-09.
  13. ^ Sunni Arabs Oppose to New Province in Ninewa Plateau
  14. ^ Proposed Assyrian Administrative Region Assyrian International News Agency
  15. ^ "Iraqi Christians ask EU to support the creation of a Nineveh Plain Province".
  16. ^ http://www.fredaprim.com/pdfs/2006/KDPandNinevehPlain-Assyria.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  17. ^ ""We believe that Trump will support Christian autonomous region in Iraq"". 29 March 2017.
  18. ^ "Iraqi minorities move forward with autonomy plan - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". 16 March 2017.
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