Bookmark this site

www.Christiansofiraq.com is dedicated to bringing the latest news, articles and commentaries about the plight of the Christian Assyrians of Iraq to the attention of the international community.

This site is updated two to three times a week.

  Christians of Iraq
   
 Contact

Historical articles

 Historical pictures

 Photos of Bombed Churches

 Archived Articles

 Home

 

Conflicts between Kurds and the Shabak

This morning two Chritians were killed and four Shabaks were wounded by the KDP militia.

By Dr.Hunain Al-Qaddo

8, 26, 05

I am representative of Shabak in the Iraqi Transitional National Assembly, General Secretary of Democratic Shabak Assembly ,Member of the Constitution Committee and Chairman of Iraqi Minoritys Council. I come from A village called Alirash the heart of Shabak .I spent three years studying in Qaraqoush and then pursued my studies in Mosul and Britain.


Shabak are originally Aries. They have settled in Ninavah plains since the Safawed era and have lived in a stargic strip of land between Khazir and Tigris river in about 72 scattered villages and some of them live in eastern side of Mosul .There are about 400.000 Shabak in Iraq who live within the administrative boudaries of Namroud, Qaraqoush, Bar-tillah ,Basheqa, and Telkeef towns. They represent a third of the inhabitants in the town of Bar-tillah.

Shabak speak Shabaky language and have different way of life, values, traditions, customs, and clothing then the Kurds and the Arbs.They are neither Arab nor Kurd. They have no marriage linkage between them and Kurds. Their language is a composion of Farisi, Arabic ,Turkish and Kurdish words. They can not communicate with Kurds using their own language nor Kurds with them.


Shabak are peaceful people and have been living in peace with their brothers the Asasyrians, and have worked with them to preserve the friendly relations in the area. Shabak have been known as Shabak and they have been called so by their neighbours; christian,Yazedee, Arabs and even the Kurds.They are hardworking and trust worthy people , which has helped them to prosper in the recent years. Shabak are Muslims but they are not fanatics or extremist and are not biligerant and do not commit violence. 70 % of them are Shiets and the rest are Sunni.

They have now their representatives in Ninavah governorate, Qaraqoush municipality, Bertalla , Baseqa, Telkif and Nimrood municipalitiues..Shabak was recognized as a small nation in 1952 among Iraqi population ,but suffered badly under Saddams regime. Saddams Many of them were worngly accused by the Saddam regime of belonging to the Islamic Call Party. Twenty two of their villages were destroyed and 3000 of their families were deported to North of Iraq accuasing them of being disloyal to the regime. They were very happy by the changes which took place in April 2003. But quickly realized what that their situation will become worst.

The Kurdish parties quickjly occupied the whole area and began terrorising the inhabitants and asserted that the region belongs to Kurdistan and the inhabitants of the area are Kurds. They started blackmailing people ,bribing and expoliting them economically. Anyone who resisted their attempt to Kurdify the area was kidnapped and detained for no reason.

The KDP and others Kurds took the law in their hand and bypassed the authority in the region. There was demonestration by Shabak in Bertallah on 15th of August but they were confronted by 5000 bullets shot over their heads to sacre them off. Twelve Shabaks who participated in a radio program called (Dostorona Mustaqbbalana) were arrested, interogated in Erbil, and detained for 12 hours.

This morning two Chritians were killed and four Shabaks were wounded by the KDP militia.

Dr.Hunain Al-Qaddo

----

            

Who are the Christians of Iraq?

Conflicts between Kurds and the Shabak 8, 26, 05

New Iraq constitution may throw women's rights into Stone Age  8, 26, 05

Assyrians of Telesqof demonstrate against being divided in the Constitution 8, 25. 05

Assyrian Demonstrators Voice their Concern about the New Iraqi Constitution 8, 24, 05

A letter from the Rep.of Shabak in the National Assermbly  8, 24, 05

New Iraq constitution must protect Christians 8, 22, 05 

The text of the latest Proposed Iraq Constitution  8, 22, 05

Outside View: Who lost Iraq?  8, 22, 05

Iraq's Religious Minorities Concerned About Islamic Constitution 8, 22, 05  

Iraq TV's 'Cops' breaks new ground  8, 21, 05  

Young Catholics Gather in Baghdad  8, 20 05

Iraqis Squeezed Out By Kurdish Expansion, Muslim-Centric Constitution 8, 20, 05

A Memoradum from the Christians of Iraq to the Drafters of the Constitution. 8, 20, 05

Shafting Nineveh: The Fate of Iraqi Christians 8, 20, 05

Plea for Assyrian Christians and Iraqi minorities 8, 18, 05

Undemocratic aspects of the new Iraqi constitution draft 8, 17, 05

Iraqis vent rage on call-in TV after bombs kill 43 8, 17, 05

Iraq's Non-Muslims' Constitution Fears  8, 17, 05

Kurdish Gunmen Open Fire on Demonstrators in North Iraq 8, 16, 05

Their suffering continues 8, 14, 05

IRAQ: Focus on constitutional concerns 8, 14, 05

Photos form homeland  6, 14, 05

Despite Turmoil, Christians Place Faith in New Iraq 8, 13, 05 

Iraqi-American Translators: The Untold Story 8, 12, 05

Life in Ankawa 8, 12, 05

Why Torah's Hebrew script was Changed to the square Assyrian script 8, 11, 05

Assyrian Restaurant in Chicago  8, 10, 05

Speech at the Commonwealth Club of California By Fred Aprim 8, 10, 05

KURDS TAKE A HARD-LINE STANCE ON IRAQI CONSTITUTION  8, 10, 05

72nd Assyrian American National Convention   8, 09, 05

Unresolved Iraqi Constitutional Points  8, 09, 05

Information wanted for Upcoming Documentary about Iraqi women 8, 09, 05

Assyrian Objection to the Nationality Law 8, 06, 05

Iraqi Christians Remember Church Bombings One Year Later 8, 05 05

Looted history  8, 05, 05 

Book Release: Rosie Malek-Yonan's "The Crimson Field" 8, 05, 05 

Iraq Must Avoid a Rollback of Rights 8, 04, 05 

Nina Shea: Rule of law, rule of Islam  8, 4, 05

Iraqis in U.S. Won't Vote on Constitution 8, 03, 05

Bush's Global War on Christians 8, 01, 05

An Open Letter to Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I  8, 01, 05 

Democracy could struggle in Islamic Iraq  7, 30, 05

Assyrian Granny Shimmes's Contribution to Rendezvous of Civilizations 7, 29, 05

House amends funding bill to help Iraqi Christians 7, 29, 05

Iraq draft constitution fails to protect religious, human rights, USCIRF says  7, 29, 05

Iraq Seeks New Religious Policies July 28, 05 

From Lingua Franca to Endangered Language, The Legal Aspects of the Preservation of Aramaic in Iraq  7, 28, 05

A closer look at the constitution   7, 27, 05 

SKIP THE PRELIMINARIES  7, 26, 05 

Ambassador signals U.S. will work to guarantee rights 7, 26, 05

Iraq Constitution May Erode Women's Rights 7, 26, 05 

Kirkuk Conflict over the Identity of a City of all Races and Religions  7, 24, 05

Religious Minorities in Iraq Worried Constitution Won't Protect Them 7, 23, 05

Iraqi Christians fear prospect of Islamic law 7, 23, 05

Four dilemmas in Iraqi Constitution  7, 23, 05

Babylon's dirty secrets: No tablet left unturned  Jluy 23, 05

Federalism can prevent Iraq civil war July 22, 05

ENOKIAN: Understanding will not fix the Middle East  July 21. 05

REP. ANNA ESHOO URGES SUPPORT OF IRAQI RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY July 21, 05 

Iraqi Christians find safety in Syria July 19, 05

Assyrians in northern California press for inclusion  July 18, 0 5

Appeal of the Iraqi Women Movement  July 17, 05

International Meeting of Muslim Scholars July 17, 05

Turkmen position on the democratisation effort in Iraq  July 17, 05 

Request the Return of the Church in Turkey  July 17, 05

Iraq's Christians Fearful of Islamic Law July 17, 05 

As Many as 80,000 Assyrian Christians Have Fled Iraq July 16, 05

ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE MEETING IN LONDON July 16, 05 

Conference on Assyriology to draw 300 scholars  July 15, 05

Iraq faith minorities fear being left out under law July 14, 05

Report to the U.K Parliament about the Chaldo-Assyrians in Iraq July 13, 05

Debate in the U.K. Parliament about the State of Christians in Iraq July 12, 05  

Upcoming Press Conference in Washington D.C.: Iraq's Imperiled Minorities July 11, 05

Teaching and Broadcasting in Syriac Language  July 4, 05

Assyrian Tennis Player Wins in Wimbledon July 4. 05

Christians in Iraq face threats from all sides  July 2, 05

Philadelphia's IVC Joins 'Partners for Peace' Project with Iraq  July 2, 05

Iraqi Dam Will Obliterate Ancient Assyrian Capital July 1, 05

Converts to Christianity Ostracised By Society and Family  June 30, 05

Looting of ancient sites threatens Iraqi heritage  June, 30, 05

Turkey and its Christians, Persecution complex  June 29, 05

Assyrian representative part of Iraqi Delegation to Japan June 29, 05

An Assyrian Chaldean-Syriac Symposium in Iraq  June 28 05 

The Epic of Gilgamesh 

Stollen Art Buyers Funding Terrorists June, 24 05

Questions on constitutional RIGHTS for CHALDO-ASSYRIANS IN IRAQ in UK Parliament  June 24, 05

Evangelicals Building a Base in Iraq June 24, 05 

Turkey's discrimination against Assyrian naturalised European citizens June 24, 05 

Syria Stonewalls Prosecution of Murderers of Two Assyrians  June 21, 05

Appreciation for Iraq's Historic Heritage June 20, 05

Interview with Donny George Director of Baghdad Museum June 20, 05

Mar Delly meets Mar Dinkha in Chicago June 20, 05

Assyrian Brothers Delivering Democracy  June 20, 05

Mystery Which Shrouds Iraq's Missing Artifacts  June 19, 05

Letter to His Holiness Mar Emmanuel III Dally and His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV June 16, 05

Historical references to the Assyrians and Assyria after the fall of Nineveh June 18, 05 

Why chaldean clergies undermine the future of Christians in Iraq? June 18, 05

Jordan leads hunt for Iraq's looted treasures June 16, 05 

Assyrians around the world, Fans of Assyriska June 16, 05

Iranian Bombings May be Connected with Minorities, Election.  June 15, 05

Using Mass Media to Spread the Gospel in Iran  June 15 , 2005

Dishonoring the Christian women June 12, 05

Iraq's Jihad: Past as Prologue  June 9, 05 

About the Teft of the Iraqi antiquities June 9,05

Iraqi Activists Call for A Democratic Constitution June 9, 05

The Current Situation of the Indigenous Assyrians of Iraq  June 8, 05 

A Song for Assyriska June 8 ,05  

Ancient church hosts Diyarbakr festival performances in Turkey  June 8, 05

Between Iraq and a safe place  June 8, 05

Minority groups in Iraq face tough times  June, 3, 05  

New Assyrian archeological site in northeastern Syria  June 2, 05 

Iraqi Christian Campaigns Struggle  May 31, 05 

Assyrians the Indigenous People of Iraq  May 31, 05

Picnic an Assyrian family reunion May 31, 05 

Measuring Progress in the Arab World: Check the "Christian Barometer"  May 31, 05

Liars Should Have Good Memories: Muslim Abuse A Smokescreen  May 26, 05 

US Investigating Fate of Assyrian Man Missing in Iraq  May 25, 05 

Assyrian church sees first ceremony in 25 years May 25, 05

Fleeing Iraqi Christians on road to Damascus  May 24, 05 

Murdered Assyrian American hostage not a pilot  May 24, 05  

Deadly Car Bomb Explodes Near Iraq School  May 24, 05 

JUST WHAT EVERY IRAQI NEEDS: A BIBLE May 23, 05 

 

 

 

 Archives