The Assyrian Massacre in Iraq (August 1933) in the British Press

Abstract

British press reports provide comprehensive information regarding the movement of the Assyrians to Iraq following World War I, because of their persecution by the Ottoman Empire due to their alliance with the Allies, including Britain. This persecution compelled many Assyrians to seek a safe refuge, leading some to migrate to Iran and Iraq, demanding to live within a unified autonomous region, relying on British support to achieve this political and administrative aspiration. However, this objective was not realized, particularly after the end of the British Mandate in Iraq and its accession to the League of Nations in 1932, which limited the Assyrians’ opportunities to secure stable political guarantees.

Under these circumstances, some Assyrians, loyal to their religious leader Mar Shimun, rejected the Iraqi government’s decisions regarding their settlement and the denial of political authority to Mar Shimun. As tensions escalated between the parties, the Iraqi government resorted to military force to suppress the opposition, resulting in the killing of numerous Assyrians in Semel and other areas in northern Iraq. These events have since become historically known as the Semel Massacre of 1933, which marked a turning point in the history of the Assyrians in Iraq, highlighting the fragility of their political and social status and the significant challenges they faced in safeguarding their identity and rights against the emerging Iraqi state.

This tragedy underscores the importance of studying the political and social dimensions of the Assyrians during the post-British Mandate period, illustrating the tensions between ethnic groups and the nascent state, as well as the limited role of international powers in protecting minority rights, reflecting the complexities of Iraq’s early modern political landscape.