The Assyrian Democratic Organization
Zirabebaba, Turkey — Missionaries of the At Anycost Jesus Mission are reporting the discovery of a mass grave near the village of Zirabebaba, Turkey. The report says that in late October, 2006, local villagers digging a new grave came across a cave containing the remains of approximately 40 people. It is assumed the remains are of Assyrian Christians and others who were massacred in the Assyrian Genocide of 1915. According to local history over 300 had been killed at the site. With the long history of denying the Assyrian Genocide, local police and military units told villagers to keep the discovery quiet.
As the news has leaked out, local police visited villagers and demanded they tell who gave the news. Villagers were also warned to prevent anyone from visiting the site.
According to the report, “experts” have indicated that the bones are part of a group of at least 120 Assyrian Christians from the village of Oguz who were massacred on June 14, 1915.
Having suffered the loss of nearly two thirds of their population during the Assyrian Genocide which peaked in 1915, the community continues to suffer most recently in Iraq where over 100,000 are refugees in neighboring Jordan and Syria.
Fearing another “Assyrian Genocide” this time at the hands of the same radical Muslim movements, the Assyrian Christians along with other non-Muslim minorities are streaming out of Iraq, not afraid of the danger but of their growing influence in the country.
The recent beheading of 14 year old Ayat Taariq in Iraq was the latest in a long string killings that have brought back the past to this long suffering community.
Amidst all the bad news, one piece of Good News has come to the Community. The Iraqi Government, alarmed at the dramatic “brain drain” asked the Assyrian community to formally request a province.
On September 19, the Assyrian Nation formally requested an Assyrian Province in the Northeast of Iraq. Members of the community are expected to return to Iraq if the Province is formally approved and a government formed.
The recent discovery of remains from the Assyrian Genocide has sent a note of caution to the community.
“I remember my Grandfather waking up in the middle of the night screaming,” said one Assyrian Christian who wished to remain anonymous. “It was 60 years later, but the terror was still real.”
The recent discovery in Turkey was a stark reminder to the community of the difficult road ahead — 90 years later the neighboring Turkish government still refuses to admit the Assyrian Genocide even took place.
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