Assyrians in Syria
Encyclopedia
Assyrians/Syriacs in Syria have lived in north eastern Syria since 2000 BC, parts of the region were an integral part of Assyria proper, and during the Neo Assyrian Empire (911-608 BC) the entirety of the modern country of Syria was under Assyrian
rule. A further influx settled there at the beginning of the French Mandate of Syria
as refugees from the now Turkish
areas north of present-day Syria, then as refugees from the newly independent Iraq in 1933 after the massacres of Assyrians there (see Simele massacre
).
In 1936, in the midst of local incidents, religious and political leaders in the Syrian province of Jazira (nowadays the Al Hasakah) asked the French authorities to give the province an autonomous status with regard to its mixed Assyrian-Kurdish-Armenian-Jewish-Arab population, like in the Sanjak of Alexandretta
, the Alaouites territory or the Jabal el Druze
, with no result as the Arab nationalists in Damascus
opposed any balkanisation of the future independent Syrian Republic.
Later on, in 1957, an Assyrian Democratic Organization
was set up in Syria
by centre-left intellectuals from the Assyrian
ethnic group and Christian
religious communities whose main native language was Eastern neo-Aramaic
.
Assyrians are a distinct ethnic group, they are Eastern Aramaic speaking Semites and are traditionally followers of the Ancient Church of the East
, Assyrian Church of the East
and Chaldean Catholic Church
. They are native to Iraq
, north eastern Syria
, north western Iran
and south eastern Turkey
.
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
rule. A further influx settled there at the beginning of the French Mandate of Syria
French Mandate of Syria
Officially the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon was a League of Nations mandate founded after the First World War and the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire...
as refugees from the now Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
areas north of present-day Syria, then as refugees from the newly independent Iraq in 1933 after the massacres of Assyrians there (see Simele massacre
Simele massacre
The Simele Massacre was a massacre committed by the armed forces of the Kingdom of Iraq during the systematic targeting of Assyrians in northern Iraq in August 1933...
).
In 1936, in the midst of local incidents, religious and political leaders in the Syrian province of Jazira (nowadays the Al Hasakah) asked the French authorities to give the province an autonomous status with regard to its mixed Assyrian-Kurdish-Armenian-Jewish-Arab population, like in the Sanjak of Alexandretta
Hatay Province
Hatay Province is a province in southern Turkey, on the Mediterranean coast. It is bordered by Syria to the south and east and the Turkish provinces of Adana and Osmaniye to the north. The province is part of Çukurova, a geographical, economical and cultural region that covers the provinces of...
, the Alaouites territory or the Jabal el Druze
Jabal el Druze
Jabal al-Druze , also known as Jabal al-Arab is an elevated volcanic region in southern Syria, in the As-Suwayda Governorate. Most of the inhabitants of this region are arab Druze, and there are also small arab Christian communities. Safaitic inscriptions were first found in this area...
, with no result as the Arab nationalists in Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
opposed any balkanisation of the future independent Syrian Republic.
Later on, in 1957, an Assyrian Democratic Organization
Assyrian Democratic Organization
Assyrian Democratic Organization , also known as Mtakasto, founded in Syria in 1957, is the largest Assyrian political organization in Syria and Europe...
was set up in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
by centre-left intellectuals from the Assyrian
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
ethnic group and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
religious communities whose main native language was Eastern neo-Aramaic
Aramaic language
Aramaic is a group of languages belonging to the Afroasiatic language phylum. The name of the language is based on the name of Aram, an ancient region in central Syria. Within this family, Aramaic belongs to the Semitic family, and more specifically, is a part of the Northwest Semitic subfamily,...
.
Assyrians are a distinct ethnic group, they are Eastern Aramaic speaking Semites and are traditionally followers of the Ancient Church of the East
Ancient Church of the East
The Ancient Church of the East was established in 1968. It follows the traditions of one of the oldest Christian churches, the Church of the East, whose origins trace back to the See of Seleucia-Ctesiphon in central Mesopotamia...
, Assyrian Church of the East
Assyrian Church of the East
The Assyrian Church of the East, officially the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East ʻIttā Qaddishtā w-Shlikhāitā Qattoliqi d-Madnĕkhā d-Āturāyē), is a Syriac Church historically centered in Mesopotamia. It is one of the churches that claim continuity with the historical...
and Chaldean Catholic Church
Chaldean Catholic Church
The Chaldean Catholic Church , is an Eastern Syriac particular church of the Catholic Church, maintaining full communion with the Bishop of Rome and the rest of the Catholic Church...
. They are native to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, north eastern Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, north western Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and south eastern Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
See also
- Assyrian diasporaAssyrian diasporaThe Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac diaspora refers to the estimated population of Assyrian/Syriac Christians in the world that migrated outside of the Middle East or their original homeland. The worldwide diaspora of Syriac Christian communities begins during World War I, with the mass-killings of...
- West Syrian RiteWest Syrian RiteThe West Syrian Rite, also known as the Syrian Rite or the Syro-Antiochene Rite, is a Christian liturgical rite chiefly practiced in the Syriac Orthodox Church and churches related to or descended from it. It is part of the liturgical family known as the Antiochene Rite, which originated in the...
- Assyrian homelandAssyrian homelandAssyrian homeland refers to a geographic and cultural region inhabited traditionally by the Assyrian people; who call it Assyria . It is largely coterminous with the Kurdish homeland, including parts of what is now northeast Syria, northern Iraq, northwestern Iran and southeastern Turkey.The area...
- Assyrian peopleAssyrian peopleThe Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...