Christians of Iraq

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Updated list of Opression and Murders of the Assyrians in Iraq Not reported by the International Press

---- EP Report Drops Genocide Clause, Calls for Investigation By Selçuk Gultasli - Emre Demir, Strasbourg September 28, 2006 http://www.zaman.com The Turkey report prepared by Dutch parliamentarian Camiel Eurlings was adopted Wednesday at a European Parliament (EP) meeting, but it included revisions. There were 429 ‘yes’ votes, 71 ‘no’ votes, and 125 abstained. A clause that would have set the recognition of the alleged Armenian genocide as a pre-condition for Turkey’s EU membership and the proposal on a privileged partnership for Turkey, rather than full EU membership, were rejected. The non-binding report called on Ankara to accelerate its reform process. Before the vote, the majority of Socialist, Liberal and Green Party MPs asked for the withdrawal of the paragraph on genocide. The proposal demanding the withdrawal of the genocide clause was adopted with 320 ‘yes’ votes against 282 ‘no’ votes. The report, referred to by some parliamentarians as “a lobby report,” also called for the indirect recognition of the Assyrian and Pontus Greek genocides. By adopting the report, the EP aims to influence the content of the progress report to be released on Nov. 8. It is the first time an EP report referred to the Greek Pontus and Assyrian “genocides,” as well as to the headscarf issue. The impact of the efforts to make the document on the Cyprus issue more balanced was limited. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputies, who went to the EP to hold meetings, noted that while the revised report was more positive, the genocide paragraph was disturbing. Rapparteur Eurlings, who cited the report as “balanced” was asked a number of questions on the subject. Asserting that the report’s references to the Pontus and Assyrian “genocides” were not calls for genocide recognition, Eurlings stated that they were meant to encourage Turkey to face its past. Paragraph 50 of the report calling for recognition of the purported Armenian genocide urges Turkey to open its Armenian border, improve its bilateral relations and establish diplomatic relations with Armenia. The same paragraph also proposes the investigation of the “genocide” issue by a commission to be established under the auspices of the United Nations The conclusion of the paragraph urges the adoption of the same approach with regard to the “other minorities,” in reference to the Greek Pontians and Assyrians. The paragraph, which lacks quality and coherence, calls for the establishment of diplomatic relations with Pontians and Assyrians, for whom no state exists.. The report, which rejects the clause that would set the recognition of the Armenian genocide by Turkey as a membership pre-condition, implies that Pontians and Assyrians were subjected to “genocide,” just like the Armenians. Even though the amendment proposal submitted by Greek MPs to recognize the Greek Pontus “genocide” was rejected, the last two expressions in the report disturbed Turkey’s delegation. The references made to those three “genocides” spurred a new debate on how to read the report. Joost Lagendijk, the Turkey-EU Joint Parliamentary Commission co-chairman, and Eurlings said that the report did not make a call for the recognition of Pontus and Assyrian “genocides,” but aimed instead at encouraging Turkey to discuss its past. Vural, an EP member of Turkish origin, strongly condemned the expressions on “genocides.” Because the report made indirect references to the “genocides,” it is most likely that the upcoming EP reports will contain similar expressions. EU Discusses Headscarves for 1st time A headscarf proposal submitted by German and Dutch Green Party members was adopted in Wednesday’s session. This is the first time an EU document made reference to the headscarf issue. The proposal does not specify a concrete resolution of the issue, but instead expresses hope for a consensus on the controversy. The proposal notes that there is an ongoing controversy in Turkish society on the status of the headscarf and that there is no binding EU ruling on this particular issue, but expresses hope for the realization achievement of a consensus that would allow the wearing of headscarves at universities. The EU Commission’s annual report did not make any reference to the headscarf issue. Turkish deputies who held meetings in Strasbourg in an attempt to amend the report noted that the recently adopted report was “much more positive” than the one adopted in early September. Saban Disli, AKP Deputy Chairman responsible for foreign affairs, Murat Mercan, Chairman of the Turkish Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and delegation member Mevlut Cavusoglu said the report was no more negative than previous ones, but there had been a setback in overall relations. Watson: Turkey Deserves Better Report Speaking to Zaman immediately after the vote, Liberal Party leader Graham Watson said that he preferred to abstain from voting since he did not approve the report. Noting that Turkey deserved a more embracing and positive report, Watson further said that the majority of the Liberal group abstained in the voting session based on its unbalanced content. Citing its unbalanced approach with regard to the Cyprus issue and references made to the Assyrian and Pontus “genocides” as the most disturbing aspects of the report, Watson noted that the European Union should help Turkish society discuss the issue of the alleged Armenian genocide.

Who are the Christians of Iraq? Ealool = September EP Report Drops Genocide Clause, Calls for Investigation Sept. 28, 06 Nenveh Essa, 21, studied accounting, Dies in Car Accident Sept. 27, 06 Kurds and Arabs Vie for Control of Mosul Sept. 26, 06 Iraq ensnared in quest to escape Arab politics Sept. 25, 06 Two Assyrian churches attacked in Mosul and Baghdad Sept. 25, 06 Turkey invites Assyrian and Armenian dignitaries to meal that breaks daily Muslim fast. Sep. 25, 06 Dutch Lawmaker May Remove Assyrian Genocide Reference in Report on Turkey Sept. 25, 06 Tense Time for Christians in Iraq Sep. 24, 06 Assyrian Church Bombed in Baghdad; 2 Dead, 17 Injured Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian Police Officer Murdered in Mosul Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian-Swedish journalist investigates the arrest of the Assyrian-Georgian General Sept. 21, 06 Muslims react to the speech of Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 20, 06 Iraq: International Religious Freedom Report 2006 Sept. 19, 06 Fear Strikes Iraq's Christians Over Pope Words Sept. 19, 06 Assyrian Cultural Day Sept. 19, 06 When Iraqi Christians Vanish, Locals Pay the Price Sept. 18, 06 Dozens Dead in Kirkuk Bombings Sept. 17, 06 Book Exhibit in Baghdeda Iraq Sept. 17, 06 Second Assyrian Christian Killed in Retaliation for Pope's Remarks Sept. 17, 06 The Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian Communities in the Late Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey Sept. 16, 06 'I Felt God Was With Me,' Says Released Assyrian Priest' Sept. 15, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 15, 06 Rosie Malek - Yonan Documentary, My Assyrian Nation on the Edge Sept. 14, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 14, 06 Kirkuk: The potential spark for civil war Sept. 14, 06 Sabri Atman in Sweden Sept. 14, 06 Assyrian Candidate Gains Republican Endorsement Sept. 13, 06 Priest Abducted in Baghdad Was Threatened and Tortured Sept. 13, 06 Assyrians Accuse Kurdish Authorities of Discrimination Sept. 12, 06 Priest Kidnapped in Baghdad Released Sept. 12, 06 Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the Assyrian, Armenian genocide Sept. 10, 06 Rosie Malek - Younan; The Assyrian Woman of the Year Sept. 10, 06 Lebanese Bishops Chastise Hizbullah, Back Siniora Sept. 6, 06 A Feast Awaits At Annual Assyrian Festival Sept. 6, 06 Prominent Assyrian Christian Leaves Iraq. Says Work Situation 'Intolerable' Sept. 5, 06 Turkey's terror against Christians in Midyat Sept. 4, 06 Syria; Sanctuary for Iraq's Displaced Christians Sept. 3, 06 August = Tubbakh Assyrians honour the Lt General Sir Stanley Savige KBE CB DSO MC ED August 31,06 Assyrian archaeologist resigns amid threats by the fundamentalists August 31, 06 Assyrians: from Bebar Khan to Saddam Hussein (a new book) August 28, 06 Donny George of Iraq's State Board of Antiquity, Heritage Flees to Syria August 28, 06 A New Film by Lina Yakubova August 27, 06 PM Maliki urges tribal unity in Iraq August 27, 06 Lebanese Bishops Appeal for a Stop to the Christian Exodus August 24, 06 Iraqi Christians Caught in the Crossfire August 23, 06 Assyrian Universal Alliance, Australian Chapter Meeting in Canberra August 23, 06 Iraqi Christians on Edge After Priest's Kidnapping August 23, 06 The Secrets Of Mustafa Barzani In KGB Archives August 23, 06 Pope urges release of priest in Iraq August 20, 06 Heading Toward an (Inevitable) War in Kirkuk August 20, 06 TWO CHALDEAN PRIESTS KIDNAPPED IN BAGHDAD August 18, 06 Confiscation of the Assyrian villages by the Kurds August 18, 06 The Kurdish Democratic Experiment: an Assyrian Tragedy August 17, 06 Assyrians Experience Slow Cultural Revival In Southeastern Turkey August 17, 06 Lebanese Bishops Call for Single National Leadership August 16, 06 Lebanese Cardinal Concerned About Christian Exodus August 16, 06 In Turkey non Muslims are listed as Foreigners August 14, 06 Murdered Assyrians in Iraq in August August 14, 06 Why Can't A Christian Be More Like A Muslim? Revisited August 13, 06 Peter W. Galbraith's 'The End of Iraq' August 12, 06 Babylon the Great lives August 12, 06 We Don't Want a Proxy War in Lebanon:' Cardinal Sfeir August 10, 06 Go-ahead for dam that will drown history August 9, 06 750,000 Christians Caught in Middle East Crossfire August 8, 06 Arabist Indoctrination At Middlebury College August 8, 06 Middle-Eastern conference: from worship to ‘reunion’ August 8, 06 Hezbollah Uses Christian Villages As Shields in Missile Attacks August 7, 06 Family Pays Ransom in Iraqi Kidnapping August 7, 06 Johanns meets with Iraqi leaders to help rebuild agriculture August 6, 06 Half of all Christians have fled Iraq since 2003, says Baghdad bishop August 4, 06 Christian Persecution Groups Express Concerns for Mideast Believers August 3, 06 Assyrians and Australians will honour Captain Savige for his world war one help August 3, 06 Nuri Kino Wins Swedish Award of: good role model for the youth Aug 1, 06 July = Tammuz Let them Rape and Kill Christian Women, says Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament July 31, 06 Aramaic-English Bible Translation Draws Criticism July 27, 06 Iran bans Da Vinci Code book after 8 editions July 27, 06 Everyone has a Guardian Angel July 26, 06 Ancient Urartian inscription disappears in Iran July 26, 06 Alum to head Mooreland Hill July 24, 06 The End of Christianity in Iraq July 24, 06 Why Can't A Christian Be More Like A Muslim? July 22, 2006 Residents of the Dora are told to Evacuate their homes July 21, 2006 Iraqis watch with sadness July 21, 2006 Turkey Signals It's Prepared to Enter Iraq July 19, 06 Iraqi Christians Flee Fighting July 19, 06 IRAQ AND THE KURDS: THE BREWING BATTLE OVER KIRKUK July 19, 06 Minister who learnt to manage the impossible at Baghdad July 14, 06 The Endeavour Programme July 13, 06 Sackler Gallery cancels exhibition of Iraqi gold July 10, 06 Students onto a winning football score July 9, 06 Three years after invasion, Iraqis now living in San Diego County differ in views of war July 9, 06 Kurdish Militia, Iraqi Police Terrorizing Assyrians in North Iraq July 6, 06 Kurdish Regional Government Needs Lessons in Democracy July 5, 06 An open letter to His Holiness Mor Zakka Iwaz July 3, 06 Writing Competition 2006 July 3, 06 USCIRF Testifies to Killing, Harassment of Mid east Christians July 2, 06 ‘Seyfo’ Monument Design Competition July 2, 06 June = Khzeeran Text of Rosie Malek-Yonan's testimony before the House Committee on International Relations June 30, 06 UK Assyrians Honour British MP June 30, 06 The forgotten Assyrian Christians of Mesopotamia June 28, 06 The Assyrian Empire revisited in China June 30, 06 Rosie Malek Yonan will Testify about Genocide before a Congressional Committee June 29, 06 The Plight of the Assyrians of Iraq June 28, 06 Living in the Grave Yard June 28, 06 Yes! Ashur Yousif is Dead but he Speaks June 26, 06 More Threats Against Basrawi Christians June 25, 06 Kurds Block Assyrians, Shabaks From Police Force in North Iraq June 18, 06 Iraqi Catholics in U.S. See Continuing Challenges in Their Homeland June 18, 06 Assyrian University Students Beaten By Iraqi Police June 18, 06 Assyrian leaders meet with Laura Bush June 17, 06 Assyrians in the World War I Treaties: Paris, Sèvres, and Lausanne June 16, 06 Iraqi Christians In Saskatoon Canada Want Peace in Their Homeland June 14, 06 Priceless Assyrian Relics Used for Target Practice June 14, 06 Kurd's Plan to Change the Demographics of Northern Iraq in their Favour June 14, 06 Questions assyrians would like to ask Turkey June 14, 06 Iraq's Minority Communities Look Abroad for Asylum June 13, 06 Assyrians Demonstrate in Washington, D.C.  June 12, 06 Turkey turns the confiscated church into a pornographic movie theatre June 12, 06 Continuing Persecution Renews Calls for Assyrian Safe-Haven in Iraq June 9. 06 Assyrian Demonstrations in Washington D.C. June 8, 06 Safety Zone Could Be the Answer for Iraq's Endangered Peoples June 8, 06 Assyrian Christians Object to Exclusion in Iraq Homeland June 07, 06 Welsh Members of UK Parliament Recognize the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide June 6, 06 Violence against the Assyrians in Iraq updated  June 4, 06  New Book Release by Sargon Donabed June, 2, 06  The European MP letter to the Syrian Embassy June 1, 06 Asking for Equal rights is considered racist by the Kurdish Regional Government June 1, 06 Archives March April May January- February 06