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Why should you care

Dear [Lawmaker],

The Assyrian American National Federation (“AANF”) express deep concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East; particularly in Syria and Iraq regarding the livelihood of the indigenous
Assyrian people. We urge the United States to take immediate action to ensure security and constitutional recognition for Assyrians in Syria, and the enforcement of constitutional law in Iraq.
Currently, we are witnessing steep demographic declines of the Assyrian people in our homelands.
In Iraq, the population has dwindled from over one million in 2003 to less than 200,000 today. In
Syria we are seeing an increase from 3 to 10 Christians, including Assyrians, fleeing the country
per day due to the current political climate and socioeconomic environment.
This year alone we have seen ongoing violence inflicted on Assyrians. In April, Assyrians
participating in New Years festivities in Dohuk, Iraq were assaulted by an individual yielding an
axe resulting in three injured. In June, an attack on Saint Elias Greek Orthodox Church claimed 27
lives and left over 60 injured. This was the deadliest assault on Syrian Christians, including
Assyrians, since the fall of Bashar al-Assad. These atrocities are congruent to a longer history of
violence and oppression for Assyrians in their indigenous homelands; including parts of Turkey,
Syria, Iraq, and Iran. This includes but is not limited to: The 1913 Assyrian, Armenian, and Greek
Genocide, the 1933 Simele Massacre, governmental erasure campaigns in the 60’s in Iraq, and the
effects of ISIS in the 2010’s. Past conflicts have led to mass displacement, targeted violence, and
the destruction of historic Assyrian villages, churches, and cultural heritage. These continued
attacks risk the total erasure of Assyrian presence in the region.
During previous times of conflict, Assyrians have submitted policy briefs to the Congressional
Record, have set meetings in Washington D.C., and have advocated for minorities in the Middle
East. We have requested and are continuing to request meetings with the House of Foreign Affairs
Committee to express these concerns and discuss efforts further. Today, we urge the United States
government to take demonstrative steps to ensure the security, dignity, and preservation of
Assyrians in the Middle East.

Sincerely,
______

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