Australian Embassy in Iraq Raises Issue of Kurdish Attack on Assyrian Village

MESOP 13.8.2013 – On June 14, 2013 the Australian Chapter of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) made an official appeal to the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the violation that has been perpetrated against the Assyrians living in the village of Rabatki in the district of Aqra, in the Dohuk province, Northern Iraq (AINA 6-17-2013).

Mr Hermiz Shahen, AUA Deputy Secretary General, urged Senator the Hon. Bob Carr to make urgent representation to the Iraqi authorities to investigate and to take immediate steps to reverse the action against the village of Rabatki and preventing any further violations and abuse.

We are pleased to announce that in an official reply from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Australian Embassy in Baghdad has raised this matter with the Chief of UNAMI’s Human Rights Office. The office confirmed that land title issues have been an ongoing issue in the region between Assyrians and Kurds since the 1960s.

The office also confirmed that they were aware of the incident in Rabatki, and that a UN mission was sent to the area in response to this incident. The Australian Embassy will continue to monitor the land title situation in the region and make representation to the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG), stressing the importance of upholding the law in such situations. The attack on Rabatki was condemned by Dutch Member of Parliament Joel Voordewind (AINA 6-25-2013) and Swedish member of parliament Yilmaz Kerimo (AINA 6-20-2013).

The Assyrian Universal Alliance condemns in the strongest terms possible these illegal and intimidating intrusions by the Kurds against the indigenous Assyrian people of Iraq. We hold the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) accountable for not stopping these discriminatory behaviours against Assyrians, deeming it a party to the unlawful and immoral occupation and transfer of Assyrian-owned lands to Kurdish squatters. These illicit acts are contrary to the obligations of Iraq’s national unity and civil peace that the faithful citizens of the country are seeking.

Assyrian Universal Alliance