The stance of Al- Istiqlal newspaper on the Assyrian massacre of 1933

Abstract

Al-Istiqlal newspaper is considered one of the most important newspapers in the history of Iraqi media. Founded during the monarchy, it had a nationalist and patriotic orientation. This newspaper played a significant role in raising political awareness within Iraqi society. A review of its pages reveals that it covered political events in all countries, especially those neighboring Iraq.

The Assyrian massacres of 1933 were among the most horrific and bloody events that occurred in the Simele region and its surroundings, perpetrated by the Iraqi government army. These massacres followed a deterioration in relations between the Assyrians and the Iraqi government. After the Assyrians were settled in Iraq, and following the end of the British Mandate and Iraq's independence, they requested autonomy within Iraq and the temporal authority of Patriarch Mar Shimun. However, the Iraqi government categorically rejected these demands. Regarding the Istiqlal newspaper and the Assyrian massacres, the Istiqlal newspaper paid attention to these events. In many of its issues, the newspaper published many articles and headlines about these events. These articles and headlines published by the newspaper were in the interest of the Iraqi government. For example, the newspaper paid a lot of attention to the reasons for the occurrence of these massacres, and it explained many of the reasons. The newspaper showed that the main reason for the occurrence of these massacres was the Assyrians and British and French colonialism. In addition, the newspaper did not mention the details about how these massacres occurred, and it did not mention what the Iraqi army did to the Assyrians in these massacres. The newspaper touched on the reasons for these massacres and the resettlement of Assyrians outside Iraq after these massacres.