Magazine The Unveiling of the Assyrian Genocide Monument 7

Contents
111
Let it be remembered
1
A Message from the Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance (AUA), Mr Hermiz Shahen
2
News Excerpts
3
Genocide History
5
Assyrian Genocide Memorial
10
Messages
13
Media Release
25
Sabri Atman Biography
26
Ninos Aho Biography
27
Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis Biography
28
Dr. Robert Kaplan Biography
29
Acknowledgements
30
Let it be remembered
Ninety-five years ago, one of the bloodiest genocides in modern history began against the
Assyrian nation in southeast Turkey. It was done by the Ottoman Empire, in 1914 and during
the following years of WWI; this was part of the Christian Asia Minor Holocaust; Assyrians,
Armenians and Greeks alike were uprooted and effectively removed from their historic lands.
About 750,000 Assyrians, irrespective of age or gender, perished through orchestrated
massacres and deportations. More than 250,000 were left homeless in their ancestral
homelands or in disease-ridden refugee camps. We condemn the perpetrators of the
genocide, which has left a great bleeding wound in the heart of the Assyrian people.
Almighty Father, eternal God, hear our prayers for our Assyrian brothers and sisters who
sacrificed their precious lives fighting for survival and for Assyria, the rod of your hands. Grant
them your eternal peace. Help our struggling and oppressed people in Assyria, protect them
from evil and let the light of your greatness shine upon them. We ask you, our loving God, to
gather all our scattered people to their motherland “Assyria” and reunite them with their
roots. Amen.
Respect and honour to our Assyrian martyrs now and for all time.
Lest we forget
Mr. Hermiz Shahen
Message
Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA)
I would like to thank our distinguished guests and welcome them
to this memorial celebration.
Every nation has a day set aside for the remembrance of its
nationals who bravely gave their lives for the preservation of their
fellow people, culture and ethnic identity. Every year, on 7th of
August, as established by the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA),
Assyrians all over the world including our community in Fairfield gather
to commemorate the Assyrian martyrs and genocide remembrance
day to honour the memory of the victims of the Assyrian genocide.
Efforts are made to attain justice through holding their memory alive, and to prevent any further
horrors of that sort by educating mankind about the guiding ideals of humanity and solidarity among
all people.
We have been working for the last few years to get this ethnic, religious and cultural genocide of
the Assyrian people to be acknowledged and recognised in the State of New South Wales. The
genocide recognition will help to raise consciousness about the Assyrian, Armenians and Greek
genocides, it will also act as a powerful counter to those, especially in present-day Turkey, who still
ignore or deny outright the genocides of the Ottoman Christian minorities.
In June 2002, the Assyrian Universal Alliance wrote to the former Mayor of Fairfield City, Councilor
Anwar Khoshaba, requesting his support for an AUA submission regarding the recognition of the
Assyrian Genocide by the New South Wales (NSW) Council Association. This matter was discussed at
the Local Government Association (Lgov) Executive meeting on 16 August 2002, which later resolved
unanimously to support the recognition of the genocide perpetrated against the Assyrian people in
the period 1915-1918. It was also resolved that information about the matter be placed on the Lgov
NSW web site, that the matter be raised at the National General Assembly of Local Government, and
that the Premier of NSW and the Prime Minister of Australia be asked to support the recognition of
the Assyrian martyrs and the genocide remembrance day.
The AUA submitted another application on 5 July 2009, requesting to erect a monument in the city of
Fairfield honouring the memory of the victims of the Assyrian genocide.
We are pleased that despite strong objection by the Turkish government and the Turkish
community from the western suburbs of Sydney, the application was approved by the Fairfield City
Council on 15 December 2009.
On behalf of the Executive Board of the Assyrian Universal Alliance, we thank all the Council members
who voted in favour of this project, particularly the Mayor Councilor Nick Lalich, Deputy Mayor
Councilor Anwar Khoshaba, and Councillor Frank Olivier who seconded the motion. We thank all our
Assyrian and non-Assyrian supporters from Australia and abroad for their encouraging messages of
support. We extend our special appreciation to the Fairfield Police for a job well done, and for doing
their best to provide safety and security. Finally, we would like to thank all the Greek, Armenian, and
Assyrian organisations for their solidarity.
The London Times
15 June 1920
ASSRYlANS’ WAR SUFFERINGS.
The ARCHBISHOP of CANTERBURY, presiding at a meeting at the Church House,
Westminster, yesterday, in support of. the Archbishop's Mission to the Assyrian
Christians, said that probably one-half of the Assyrian nation had been put to death or
had died from sickness and exposure during the war. The murder of the Patriarch was
one of many horrors that occurred. The survivors were placed in a great camp near
Baghdad, but this was now being broken up, and 30,000 Assyrians were on their way to
the plain of Mosul, where they would be established under British protection, pending
repatriation.
The London Times
11 October 1918
TURKISH MASSACRES
47,000 REFUGEES REACH MESOPOTAMIA
Telegrams from Mesopotamia state that some 47,000 refugees largely Nestorians,
have come into the British lines after having got through the Turkish lines. Many of
these are being taken to camps near Baghdad. A further 10,000 have been absorbed in
the towns of Kurdistan or are wandering among the hills. These refugees have come
from the Urumia region, which was isolated during the Turkish advance in North-West
Persia. The British succeeded in establishing communications with them by aeroplane,
and endeavoured, though unsuccessfully, to send a relief convoy of arms and
ammunition from the Sain Kaleh, which is about a hundred miles south-east of Urmia.
In August a detachment of Jelus, under Aga Petros, broke through the Ottoman lines
and joined the British at Sain Kaleh. Some time later a large part of the population of
Urumiah, including Netsorians, Armenians, and Russians came in. The pursuing Turks
were driven back by the British cavalry. The day after this escape the Turks entered
Urumia and massacred 200 unresisting people-mostly old men-while 500 Christian
women are reported to have been distributed between the Turkish troops and the
Moslem inhabitants.-Reuter.
The London Times
9 October 1915
URUMIAH MASSACRES.
DEATH OF 12,000 NESTORIAN CHRISTIANS
A letter giving further particulars of the massacre of Nestorian Christians in Urumiah
has just been received from the Rev. Gabriel Alexander by Miss Barclay, Uric, Trantonroad, Bermondsey. Writing under date Tiflis, August 6, Mr. Alexander says: – As soon as
I learned that the Russian Army had gone to Urumiah, I left Tiflis in order to distribute
the aid offered by noble and kind-hearted English friends in this time of greatest need.
Alas ! the destruction of life, wealth, and houses was greater than we had imagined.
We have lost by death and murder more than 12,000 souls ; 150 Christian Nestorian
villages have been completely plundered and burned to ashes by Turks and Kurds. I
must say that plunder and massacre, and carrying off women and girls to make them by
force deny Christ and believe in Mahomed is done by Persians. Our homes and property
are almost all taken away by our neighbours, Persian Mahomedans. Unspeakably
shameful acts were done on five-year-old girls by Persians. We have collected from
Moslem villages more than 100 women who have been changed to Mahomedans and
their husbands murdered in their sight. As I entered the city I found crowds of palefaced women and children who were looking like skeletons, only skin and bones, with
an expression of hunger, fear and death on their faces. During the five months of
captivity (for 1,500 were shut up in the American Mission) each person could have half
a pound of bread in 24 hours. But this bread was made in the city and sold to the
Missionaries, and the Persian Governor had taught the bakers to mix fine steel dust,
and sometimes lime in the bread. In this way thousands died before doctors knew it,
but by a petition of the American missionaries it was stopped. We have lost four of our
doctors by death, and three of the American Missionary ladies. No one was allowed to
peep through the windows in the street, or to go out. In the ground large pits were dug
for graves. In one grave they put 1,500 bodies. For three days I went out with the
Cossacks to see the country. In all the plain of Urumiah I found the Mahomedan villages
full of inhabitants, with much cattle and flocks, but all Syrian Christian villages heaps of
ruins, without a single human being, only wild grass grown in their streets. Here and
there one could see the bones of human beings left unburied, food for the fowl of
heaven and dogs ; one could not but feel deep enmity to see the large, fine and old
churches burned up. Bibles were stained in the churches with the blood of virgins and
sold for a farthing. We have lost our best men and women. We have lost our wealth
and homes, and so have our brethren in the mountains.
Genocide History
Source: Assyrian International News Agency – www.aina.org
October 1914
Turkish troops and Kurdish tribesmen invade and plunder the villages of Urmia.
January 2-10, 1915
Plundering and destruction of seventy of Urmia's
villages in Iran, massacres in the plains. Unknown
number casualties. "There was absolutely no human
power to protect these unhappy people from the
savage onslaught of the invading hostile forces. It was
an awful situation. At midnight the terrible exodus
began; a concourse of 25,000 men, women, and
children, Assyrians and Armenians, leaving cattle in
the stables, all their household hoods and all the
supply of food for winter, hurried, panic-stricken, on a
long and painful journey to the Russian border,
enduring the intense privations of a foot journey in the
snow and mud, without any kind of preparation...It
was a dreadful sight,...many of the old people and children died along the way." (The Death of a Nation, pp.
119-120)
Statement of German Missionaries
"The latest news is that four thousand Assyrians and one hundred Armenians have died of disease alone, at
the mission, within the last five months. All villages in the surrounding district with two or three exceptions
have been plundered and burnt; twenty thousand Christians have been slaughtered in Armenia and its
environs. In Haftewan, a village of Salmas, 750 corpses without heads have been recovered from the wells and
cisterns alone. Why? Because the commanding officer had put a price on every Christina head.... In Dilman
crowds of Christians were thrown into prison and driven to accept Islam." (The Death of a Nation, pp. 126-127)
Urfa (Urhai)
Twenty years after the harsh memories of the New Years massacres, the new Assyrian inhabitants relived
history when they were ordered to surrender their weapons to the Ottomans and Kurds. Cognizant of their
recent history, they refused to comply with the Ottoman demand. The Ottoman army, under the leadership of
two German officers and armed with heavy artillery, attacked and destroyed the fort (Qalaa) and its Assyrian
and Armenian inhabitants. Fortunately, few did survive when the attack ceased at the government's behest to
pardon the Christians.
February 23, 1915
More than sixty Assyrian notables were taken from the French mission and shot by Turkish troops. Among
these was Mar Dinkha, a bishop of the Assyrian Church. "Here, then, in the ancient city of Tebarma, the scene
of many previous martyrdoms, an Assyrian bishop is being led to be executed. He was not alone. He had a large
company of his Christian brethren with him. The Moslems had established a rule in asking of their victims to
deny Christ and embrace Islam in order to save their lives. But weaker men and women than this body of
prisoners had already chosen to be burned alive, and to be cut to pieces with aces, then deny their Redeemer!
'Be brave, take courage, be patient, falter not, be firm and look up. In a few moments we will be with Christ!'
With such words he encouraged his companions in bonds, till they reached the end of their fatal journey, where
they were all shot to death." (The Flickering Light of Asia, pp.49-51.)
February 25, 1915
Turkish and Kurdish troops attacked the Assyrian village of Gulpashan, one of the most prosperous villages of
Urmia. Almost all of the men ware shot, and most of the women were violated. March 5, 1915 About 800
Assyrians who remained in Salamas, most of whom were old people, with some of the poorer and younger
women, were gathered together and killed. April, 1915 Massacre in Gawar and other districts in Turkey. The
number of martyrs is unknown.
1915 Tel Mozilt
Twenty years later, the Turkish saviours of 1895 were now the attackers of the 600 Assyrian homes in
cooperation with neighbouring Kurdish tribes. After capturing the city, they took all the men they found
between the ages of 12 and 70, a total of 475, and imprisoned them.
The next morning, the prisoners were taken out in rows of four and shot. After some arguments between
the Kurds and the Turkish officials on what to do with the young boys and girls left behind, the army decided to
slay them as well. Approximately 1,500 children, among them Reverend Gabrial (the red-bearded priest), were
murdered. Agha Ayoob Hamzah personally butchered the Priest. (Gorgis, Deacon Asman Alkass, Jirah Fi Tarikh
Al-syrian, Trans. Subhi Younan. 1980. pp. 24).
March 5, 1915
Turkish and Kurdish troops attacked their village of Gulpashan, one of the most prosperous villages of Urmia.
Almost all of the men were shot, and most of the women were violated.
April 1915
Massacre in Gawar and other districts in Turkey. The number of martyrs is unknown.
June, 1915
The Vali of Mosul begins attacks on the highlanders and destroys lower Tyari. The number of martyrs is
unknown.
Massacres at Sairt
Djeudet Bey, Military Governor of Van, upon entering Sairt with 8,000 soldiers whom he himself called the "The
Butchers' Battalion" (Kassab Tabouri), gave orders for the massacre of the Assyrians. "The Chaldean-Assyrian
diocese of Sairt comprises, exclusive of the Chaldean-Assyrians of the town, more than thirty villages, not to
count a large number of other villages inhabited by Jacobite-Assyrians, of whose number we are ignorant. All
these prosperous villages were pillaged, looted and burned, those who dwelt therein being put the sword."
Their were about 20000 inhabitants who were massacred all
Winter 1915
It is estimated that during the winter of 1915, 4,000 Assyrians died from disease, hunger, and exposure, and
about 1000 were killed in Urmia.
March 3, 1918: The Assassination of Mar Benyamin Shimun
"On the 3rd day of March, 1918, the Patriarch sat in his carriage, and with a bodyguard of one hundred and
fifty horseman started for the headquarters of the Kurdish chieftain, Simkoo. He went to assure the notorious
brigands that he could remain absolutely certain of the peaceful attitude of the Assyrians, provided his own
men indulged no longer in deeds of violence and lawlessness. But was not this noble, brave and Christian
attitude of a great Patriarch equivalent to the giving of bread to the dogs and the casting of pearls before the
swine? The news of Mar Shimon's departure preceded him; and before his arrival, the great assassin, who could
hardly believe the report, stationed seven hundred of his best marksmen in concealed and commanding
positions, with the order to shoot simultaneously at the sight of the
Patriarch, when he emerged from the house of their chieftain after the
visit. No servant could have received his master with a great honor. The
Patriarch was escorted into the house. Two of his bodyguard
accompanied him within. The others remained outside. The apparent
absence of the Kurds from environs of their chieftain's residence took
the Assyrians off their guard. In the course of the friendly interview
between the Patriarch and The Kurdish chief, one of the men who had
accompanied Mar Shimon into the house, noticed from the window the
presence of the concealed Kurds on the surrounding roofs. Realizing the
full import of the situation, the attendant said to the Patriarch, in
Assyrian: " My Lord, our end is certain, permit me to kill this dog
(Simkoo) just to avenge The blood that will surely be shed." The
Patriarch, with an incredulous smile, bade his attendant be calm. "My
Lord," repeated the Assyrian guard, "they will surely kill us all, let me kill
this dog, perhaps we can save your life!" The Patriarch restrained his
attendant again. He arose to depart, accompanied By Simko to the door. The later shook the hand of his guest,
and went back into the house. And just as Mar Shimon was seated in his carriage, surrounded by his bodyguard,
the seven hundred Kurds fired, all simultaneously, into the group of their unsuspecting victims. Only six of these
men escaped, with wounds in their bodies, to give the news of the tragedy, and tell the story of the Patriarch's
assassination. " (The Flickering Light of Asia. pp. 123-125).
May - 1918
Malik Khoshaba led an attack against the Turks. During the attack, some 30 were killed and wounded. (the
Flickering Light of Asia. p.154).
1918 The Massacre of the Assyrians in Khoi, Persia
" In order to accommodate the mountaineer Assyrian refugees, who had fled into Persia, the Fate Mar Shimon
Benyamin had arranged for some thirty five hundred Assyrians, mostly Thorn Tkhooma, to reside in the district
of Khoi, These Assyrians were attacked and massacred by Kurds. Here is a description of this Moslem barbarism
given by the Rev John Eshoo, who himself was one of those few that escaped in a most miraculous way from
the wrath of Islam He Writes; `You have undoubtedly heard of the Assyrian massacre of Khoi, but I am certain
you do not know the details Here had migrated a part of our people, and on~fourth of or refugees were
stationed in Sardavar (Khoi). These Assyrians were assembled into one caravansary, and all shot to death by
guns and revolvers. Blood literally flowed in little streams, and the entire open space within the caravansary
became a pool of crimson liquid~ The place was too small to hold all the living victims for the work of execution.
They were brought in groups, and each new group compelled to stand up over the heap of the still bleeding
bodies, and was shot to death in the same manner The fearful place became literally a human slaughter house,
receiving its speechless victims, in groups of ten and twenty at a time, for execution. At the same time, the
Assyrians, who were residing in the suburb of the city, were brought together and driven into the spacious
courtyard of a house. . .The Assyrian refugees were kept under guard for eight days, without anything to eat
except a handful of popcorn served daily to each individual, This consideration was by no means intended as a
humanitarian act, but merely to keep the victims alive for the infliction upon them of the most revolting
tortures at a convenient time set for their execution. At last they were removed from their place of
confinement and taken to a spot prepared for their brutal killing. These helpless Assyrians marched like lambs
to their slaughter, and they opened not their mouth, save by sayings "Lord, into thy hands we commit our
spirits~= The procession of the victims was led by two green turbaned Sayids (the highest religious order in
Islam), one with an open book in his hand, reading from it aloud the passages pertaining to the holy war, and
the other carrying a large bladed knife, the emblem of execution When the procession arrived at the place
appointed, the executioners began by cutting first the fingers of their victims, join by joint, till the two hands
were entirely amputated~ Then they were stretched on the ground, after the manner of the animals that are
slain in the Fast, but these with their faces turned upward, and their heads resting upon the stones or blocks of
wood Then their throats were half cut, so as to prolong their torture of dying, and while struggling in the agony
of death, the victims were kicked and clubbed by heavy poles the murderers carried Many of them, while still
laboring under the pain of death, were thrown into ditches and buried before their souls had expired- The
young men and the able-bodied men were separated from among the very young and the old They were taken
some distance from the city and used as targets by the shooters They all fell: a few not mortally wounded One
of the leaders went close to the heaps of the fallen and shouted aloud, swearing by the names of Islam's
prophets that those who had not received mortal wounds should rise and depart, as they would not be harmed
any more. A few.- thus deceived. stood up, but only to tall this time dead by another volley from the guns of the
murderers. Some of the younger and goodly looking women, together with a few little girls of attractive
appearance, who pleaded to be killed. against their will were forced into lslam's harems. Others were subjected
to such fiendish insults that I cannot possibly describe. Death. however, came to their rescue. and saved them
from the vile passions of the demons.' The Assyrian victims of this massacre totaled twenty-seven hundred and
seventy men, women and children," (The Flickering Light of Asia, pp. 156-58)
1918 The Battles of Urmia and the Final Exodus of the Assyrians
The Assyrians, within the space of six weeks, fought fourteen victorious baffles with the Turks. Number of
martyrs is unknown. (The Flickering light of Asia, pp. 165)
1918 The Massacre of the Assyrian Soldiers at the Port of Sharabkhana
"Assyrians took a chance by sending a boat with one hundred and sixty men to attempt the bringing of the
much-needed ammunition left n the port. The captain of the boat was a Russian who betrayed them. They
arrived at the port. It was observed by the Turks and the Moslems of Tabriz The Assyrians landed. As they
began to move toward the storehouse they saw the enemy coming. They fought their way back to reach the
boat, but the boat was gone! It was driven Farther out into the lake by the Bolshevik Russian captain. The
Assyrians were captured and their bodies were literally mutilated. The fragments of their bones and skulls were
later gathered [and]. . . were buried in the Christian cemetery." (The Flickering Light of Asia, pp. 16).
The Exodus From Sayen Kala to Hamadan
"The sufferings of the Assyrians throughout the long, tedious and hazardous journey from Urmia to
Hamadan, are simply indescribable. In their haste for flight, many of these people failed to take provisions with
them for the journey. And those who managed to do so, took only a supply that would last them a day or two,
or possible three, the longest, as they fully expected that they would meet some where on the road, and not
very far from Urmia, the returning Assyrian general (the late Agha Petros) and his men, together with the British
expediationary force. The county through which the caravan of the refugees passed was exclusively Moslem in
population. The entire land had already become more than once a regular campground for the heterogeneous
forces of Turkey, who had left it almost desolate and barren. There was, therefore, very little, if any, left to have
been commandeered by the Assyrian forces. Consequently, when the small rations were exhausted, and the
journey continued to become longer, the refugees tried to subsist on vegetation only. Diseases broke out
among the multitude, and was followed by the ravages of cholera. And as the fleeing Assyrians were now being
pursued by the enemy they had no time to bury their dead. or to carry with them those who were held in the
agonies of the dreaded contagion. It was perhaps a merciful sword, even though appl~ed with the vengeance of
demons, that came in time to shorten the fearful sufferings of the dying. Before Hamadan was reached, more
than fifteen thousand bodies had been left behind unburied, and their bones have since transformed the
narrow valley, in which they tell or were killed, into one of these melancholy scenes beheld by Ezekial the
Prophet. Naturally the progress of the refugees with th aged and the little children was very slow. The moslems
of Urmia headed by a Persian general, by the name of Majidel- Saftana, had started on the pursuit. During the
night, as the Assyrians were resting near Sayen Kala, and as they fell asleep from fatigue and exhaustion, the
pursuers stationed themselves over the hills that commanded the narrow road that followed the course of the
river which runs zigzag through the valley. As the morning broke, and the weary pilgrims began to rub their
eyes, a most murderous fire was opened into the dense crowd. Before Azaria Khan could scale the hills with a
body of his men to drive the enemy away, some five thousand more Assyrians had fallen dead! The crowds
were so dense that the victims fell like leafs as from autumn trees. The Persian General, after this heartless
slaughter of women and children, sent a telegram to his superiors, in Tabriz; the telegram Read: `I have sent a
few more thousand dogs into hell.'" (The Flickering Light of Asia, pp. 176-77)
1918: The Massacre of the Assyrians in the French mission
"The French mission buildings were sheltering more than six thousand Assyrian refugees. The murderers, led by
Arshad el Hemayoon, entered with every conceivable weapon, from a long sword to a wooden mallet. They
commenced with little children and infants. The latter were held by their tiny feet and their heads dashed
against the walls and the stone pavements. The older ones were held up by the hair of the head, hanging, while
their bodies were severed by one stroke of the sword. The little girls were publicly assaulted and then cut in
twain. Women had their breasts first cut off, and then pierced by daggers. Others were taken to the roofs of the
buildings, and from there dashed to their death into the streets below. Others had their hands and their limbs
amputated by sickles and axes, and then had their skulls crushed by wooden mallets.The spacious courtyard
became impassable from the still bleeding fragments of the victims' mutilated bodies while blood literally
leaked from the floor of each building to the one below. Of the entire number of the Assyrians, estimated at
more than six thousand, in the French mission buildings alone, not more than sixty souls remained who escaped
in a miraculous way; and all the rest were put to death in less than forty-eight hours, the official time for the
application of the mandate of the Jehad." (The Flickering Light of Asia, pp. 184)
1918 Assyrian Exodus From Persia to Baquba
Many thousands perished in this exodus through starvation, diseases and massacre; others were taken in
captivity. As a result of this terrible journey which lasted 25 days, 7000 more Assyrians died after their arrival in
the British camp at Ba'quba.
1923 Dair Al-Salib
The Kurdish Shaikh Saeed and his armed soldiers attacked many Turkish and Assyrian villages After conducting a
country-wide search for the criminal, the Turkish government received a fake letter stating that he had sought
refuge in the monastery of Dair Al-Salib. The government immediately sent a large army and demolished the
monastery, massacring the innocent inhabitants and other visiting Assyrian villagers. (Gorgis, Deacon Asman
Alkass, Jirah Fi Tarikh Al-syrian, Trans. Subhi Younan. 1980. pp. 111).
The Assyrian Genocide Memorial
By Hermiz Shahen
Relevance of the Memorial to the City of Fairfield:
“Assyrians appreciate the value of citizenship in Australia and consider themselves even more
privileged to be living in what they recognise as being the best city of the world – Sydney. This vibrant
community cannot however cease mourning its tragic past when its people remember that they are
the children and grandchildren of those who even to date have vivid memories of the horrific events
of a genocide that shaped their present status as a stateless nation… It is in this context and in the
context of universal human rights that the Assyrian community, as part of the Australian community,
pleads that this ethnic, religious and cultural genocide of their people be acknowledged and
recognized.” (Assyrian Universal Alliance proposal) One in ten persons residing in Fairfield is of
Assyrian ancestry.
With so many of our residents settling in Fairfield City after fleeing situations of war, trauma and
torture, the sculpture proposed by the Assyrian Universal Alliance conveys a universal message of a
safer world.
The Memorial will have particular significance on 7 August, which is designated as a Remembrance
Day for the Assyrian Genocide and Assyrian Martyrs.
Accuracy and international recognition of the events:
In accordance with Council’s Plaques and Memorials Policy, any proposed memorial that refers to
an historical event, must have the information verified. In the case of this memorial, the Assyrian
genocide is recognised by NSW Local Government Association (which is the peak industry body for
local government), as well as internationally:
1. Local Government precedent: “The Local Government Association of NSW resolved to
support recognition of the genocide perpetrated against the Assyrian people during WW1,
1914-1918 and onwards. The recognition of the Assyrian Genocide by Local Government will
assist the Assyrian nation strengthen their cultural identity and raise international awareness
of the tragedy associated with genocide
2. 2. In December 2007, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, the world's leading
genocide scholars organisation, overwhelmingly passed a resolution officially recognising the
Assyrian genocide, along with the genocide against Ottoman Greeks:
“…be it resolved that it is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide
Scholars that the Ottoman campaign against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914
and 1923 constituted a genocide against Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian
Greeks...”
http://www.genocidescholars.org/images/Resolution_on_genocides_committed_by_the_
Ottoman_Empire.pdf
3. International precedent: This is not the first memorial to the victims of the Assyrian genocide.
The governments of France, Sweden and the United States have all allowed Assyrians to
establish monuments commemorating the victims of the Assyrian genocide.
The Design of the Memorial and its Meaning:
The sculpture is designed by artist Lewis Batros. The hand
represents the people who dedicated their lives to create a better
and safer world. The hand is draped in the Assyrian flag,
representing the survival and spiritual rebirth and unity of the
Assyrian people. Figures of young children come together at the
base, symbolising the faith in the younger generation to carry the
torch for the future of the Assyrian nation. The hand holds the
globe for recognition of the Assyrian genocide. The Lamassu
(winged bull) is a mythological entity which wards off evil spirits.
Total height of the memorial = 4.5 m
Steel: 3 tonnes, concrete 15 tonnes
The location of the memorial:
The monument is located on the corner of
Smithfield Road and Elizabeth Drive,
Bonnyrigg, NSW, 2176 Australia. The
Assyrian Universal Alliance made a
separate application to name the new
reserve “Garden of Nineveh”. Nineveh is
the holy capital city of Ancient Assyria.
Other important dates:
Date of First Application:
5 July 2009
Council Approval:
15 December 2009
Construction Began:
23 May 2010
Construction Completed:
16 July 2010
Dedication Date:
7 August 2010
The Text on the Plaque:
The Construction and Funding:
The construction and installation of the memorial was proposed and fully funded by the proponent, the
Assyrian Universal Alliance.
The Proponent:
Assyrian Universal Alliance
Support for the Proposal:
Assyrian Australian National Federation
Assyrian Australian Association
Assyrian Charity & Educational Community
Babylon Cultural Association
Assyrian National Centre Inc.
Mr. David David
Message
The President of the Assyrian Australian National Federation
Assyrian Genocide Monument Unveiling - 7 August 2010
On behalf of the executive committee of the Assyrian Australian
National Federation and the affiliated organisations I would like to
congratulate the Assyrian Universal Alliance Australian Chapter on
creating history today, for making something unimaginable happen! In
particular I would like to thank Mr Hermiz Shahen the Deputy Secretary
General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and all the AUA members for all
of their hard work and dedication leading up to today.
Today is a day that many of our past and present ancestors have only
dreamt about. A day that has recognised all of the pain and torture or
ancestors had endured throughout the genocide period 1915 – 1918, by
the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Again in 1933, in Simele by the hands of
the Iraqi Government.
For me personally this is a dream I have contributed in making come true as my great grandmother
saw her own parents murdered in front of her eyes by the hands of the Turks in 1915. This day is a day
she dreamt of in her own words she prayed that “A day would come that our Assyrian men would
fight for our cause and let the whole world realize and acknowledge not only her pain but the pain of
the 750,000 murdered and all of their mourners who had to live with the loss”. Today is a day that I
have seen this dream come true.
A special thanks to the Australian Government and in particular Fairfield City Council for allowing
us to construct the Assyrian Genocide Monument at Bonnyrigg Park. Also a special thanks to Anwar
Khoshaba Deputy Mayor of Fairfield City Council for all of his support and assistance in making this
historical day finally happen.
The Assyrian Australian National Federation will always work hard and support the work of the
Assyrian Universal Alliance and the genocide issues, locally and internationally.
May their soles rest in peace. God bless you all.
Mr. Yonathan Betkolia
Secretary General- Assyrian Universal Alliance
Message
Mr. Carlo K. Ganjeh
Message
Assyrian Universal Alliance – Americas Chapter
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance – Americas Chapter to thank
and congratulate the Assyrian Universal Alliance –
Australia Chapter for the approval and installation
of the Assyrian Genocide Monument in Fairfield,
Australia.
I thank the entire team of the Assyrian Universal
Alliance activists, supporters, the Assyrian
community in Australia and around the world for
their support, letters of encouragement and
financial contributions that have helped to bring
this project to fruition.
The main objective of such projects is to bring
awareness to the world about the inhumane
events of the past and guard against their
repetition in the future. This can only be done
through awareness, education and a spirit of cooperation to defend the rights and lives of defenseless
people regardless of their ethnicity, religion or political views.
The Assyrian people have been victims of genocides, discriminations, uprooting and forced
deportations in the past. Since 2003 hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Assyrians have been forced to
leave their ancestral lands in North Iraq and become refugees in the neighboring countries, and
hundreds have become victims of sectarian violence. Sadly, no government has taken any serious
action to protect this ancient nation in its cradle civilization.
Again, on behalf of the Assyrian Universal Alliance – Americas Chapter I thank you and wish you
success in your program.
THE HON AMANDA FAZIO MLC
Message
President NSW Legislative Council
ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE MEMORIAL UNVEILING
It is an honour to be invited to the official unveiling the Assyrian Genocide Monument dedicated to
the memory of the victims of the Assyrian Genocide committed by the Ottoman Empire during WWI.
I would like to congratulate the Assyrian Universal Alliance and Assyrian-Australian community for
initiating and supporting the creation of this monument and Fairfield City Council for approving the
erection of the monument.
I am proud that in August 2008 the Parliament of NSW hosted a seminar commemorating Assyrian
Martyrs and Genocide Day. I am proud that the NSW Parliament is continuing to recognise and
support many communities in Australia who have been the victims of genocide and who have, like
many Assyrians, been forced from their homelands.
Australia is home to people from many different backgrounds and religions and we are all united
by our commitment to equity and social justice and to democracy and freedom.
Rev the Hon Dr Gordon MOYES, AC MLC
Member of the Legislative Council
Member of the Family First Party
"We remember with pride the Ancient History of the Assyrians. I have
studied Ancient History and the history surrounding the plight for recognition of
the Genocide of the Assyrian people. I greatly admire the archaeological remains
and scholarly background of the Assyrian people. We remember the
Genocide. We trust the memorial will be an encouragement to the Assyrian
people here and to recognise that the Assyrian people are appreciated and
welcomed."
Message
The Hon Marie Ficarra MLC
Message
The unveiling of the Fairfield city Assyrian
Genocide monument
LEST WE FORGET……
The genocide of 1915 and continued atrocities since that time have pierced the hearts of Assyrian
people around the world but especially in this close knit community of Western Sydney. Fairfield City
Council is to be congratulated for approving and supporting the construction of this treasured
monument.
This striking sculpture 4.2 meters high, shows the hand of a martyr symbolising the people who
dedicate their lives to create a better and safer world. The Assyrian flag represents the survival,
spiritual rebirth and unity of the Assyrian people. The young children attached to the flag and the
Martyr's hand symbolise youth carrying the torch and their hope for a future peaceful homeland for
Assyrian people. The globe of the Earth carried in the hand is a call to unity and a call to action for a
safe world without fear of genocide.
It was encouraging to see that support for the Assyrian Genocide monument came from so many
organisations including the Assyrian Australian National Federation, Assyrian Charity and Educational
Community, Babylon Cultural Association, Assyrian Sports and Cultural Association, Assyrian
Australian Association, Assyrian Barwar Association, Assyrian Aid Society, Assyrian National Centre,
Assyrian Patriotic Party, Bet Nahrien Democratic Party, Assyrian General Conference and Chaldean
National Congress.
This monument has a powerful meaning to all with knowledge of what it commemorates."We
have made a clean sweep of the Armenians and Assyrians of Azerbaijan." Those were the words of
Djevdet Bey, the governor of Van Province in Ottoman Turkey, who on April 24, 1915 lead 20,000
Ottoman Turkish soldiers and 10,000 Kurdish irregulars in the opening act of the genocide of
Armenians, Assyrians and Pontic Greeks, all Christians who had been living for centuries in what had
become a predominantly Muslim country. In three short years, 1.5 million Armenians, 750,000
Assyrians and 500,000 Greeks would be killed. Like the other Christians, the local Assyrians suffered
dreadfully. Seventy five percent lost their lives and all the others lost homes, livelihoods, friends and
relatives.
A second genocide of Assyrians in 1933, the Simmele massacre in north Iraq, was the defining
event that led historian and famed genocide researcher Raphael Lemkin to coin the term "genocide."
Deeply disturbed by the massacre of Christian Assyrians in Iraq and horrified by his knowledge of the
First World War era Ottoman Turkish genocides Lemkin’s reports to the League of Nations led to
investigations and declarations of these acts as barbaric crimes against humanity. They could not be
dismissed as the regrettable consequences of wartime turbulence. They were systematic acts of
targeted brutal racism. These totally unjustifiable acts represent the worst excesses of tyranny,
massive abuses of power that are abhorrent to all civilised people. The consequences echoed down
through the generations and the acts of the perpetrators have been aped by nasty racists many times
in the decades that followed. The resistance to genocide must continue and this monument is part of
that resistance.
Every year, on 7th of August Assyrians all over the world gather to commemorate the Assyrian
martyrs and genocide remembrance day in honour of the memory of the victims of the Assyrian
genocide. In Australia we honour and remember all who bravely gave their lives for the preservation
of their fellow man, their culture and ethnic identity. In fighting alongside Australians, with our other
allies and all too often alone, Assyrians have and continue to pay the highest price for their freedom of
faith.
It was pleasing to see the cooperation between the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) the
Australian Hellenic Council (AHC NSW) and the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC
Australia) on the on issues of human rights, genocide recognition and freedom of speech during their
recent three-way conference in Sydney. The combined community outreach of the ArmenianAustralian, Assyrian-Australian and Australian Hellenic communities present a strong and united front
to ensure continued opposition to genocide. Denial of 20 th century genocides in Australia is intolerable
and needs to be fought continually.
Many outstanding international issues remain unresolved concerning the current situation of the
Assyrians in Iraq suffering sectarian violence, the deteriorating situation of the Assyrian refugees in
the surrounding countries such as Jordan, Syria, Lebanon and Turkey and the need for the Iraqi
Government to establish an autonomous region for all Assyrians in the historical land of their
forefathers in Northern Iraq.
Since 2004 more than 500 Assyrians have been killed and hundreds of thousands of them have
been forced to flee abroad, more than 52 churches have been bombed, church leaders are being
kidnapped and killed, young girls and women are being abducted, assaulted and forced to veil
themselves by the fundamentalist terrorist groups in Iraq. The United Nations, the USA, the European
Union and indeed all the democratic powers of the world must urge the Iraqi government to ensure
the protection of the Assyrian Christian community. A safe region is needed in Northern Iraq for
Christians similar to the measures taken in the 1990's to protect the persecuted Kurdish and Shiite
communities of Iraq. Our Australian immigration policy should be reviewed to give priority to
persecuted Christians.
We must never relent in our effort to attain justice for all those who have died in defence of their
ethnicity, faith and culture. By educating all Australians and indeed mankind of the acts of genocide
and the continuing Assyrian struggle to survive and live in peace in their historical homeland we reflect
the ideals of humanity and solidarity among all decent people.
Karen Bos from Christian Faith and Freedom
Commemorating Assyrian Martyrs
The genocide of Christian Assyrians perpetrated by the Ottoman Turks and Kurds over many
centuries, especially during the First World War, remains among the greatest examples of man‘s
inhumanity to man. Described as ‘bestial cruelty’, the savage and cowardly massacres of Assyrians
were proscribed by the Islamic laws of Dhimma which have systematically persecuted generations of
Christians. This entrenched brutality, and the failure of the international community to intervene or
hold the perpetrators to account, is believed to have emboldened Hitler in the genocide later
unleashed by the Nazis.
As we gather to honour the Assyrian martyrs and remember their sacrifice, the awareness that
‘when one part of the Body of Christ is hurting, other parts hurt with it’ unites Christians of all ethnic
and denominational backgrounds in great sorrow, and strengthens our resolve to uphold one
another’s freedom, remembering Jesus’ declaration in Luke 4:18 that He was sent to proclaim liberty
to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind; to set free the oppressed - the ‘blind’ including all
who are blinded to truth; taken captive by the ‘worthless deceit of human wisdom’ against which we
are warned in Colossians 2:8. Jesus came to set all sinners free and exhorts us to love even our
enemies and pray for those who persecute us (Matt 5:44).
As we look back on the suffering and heroism of Assyrian martyrs in the past, let us also look
around the world and respond to the plight of Christians in our time who give up their lives rather
than their faith. The last words of martyred Assyrian Bishop Mar Dinkha resound through the decades
as a clarion call to all Christians: “Be brave, take courage, be patient, falter not, be firm and look up!”
May our awareness that ‘all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing’
unite us in determination to remain vigilant; to stand firm against all forms of tyranny; uphold people
with love and the truth with courage, and never surrender our God-given freedom.
Message from The Greek Australian Conservative Coalition
(GACC)
We wish the Assyrian Universal Alliance and the Assyrian people all the best and his full personal support in
the continuing fight for official recognition of the Assyrian genocide by the Ottoman Turks, furthermore we
believe it is important to build a strong and functional relationship between the Assyrian and Greek people of
Australia.
Statement from the Jewish Holocaust Centre, Melbourne
The Jewish Holocaust Centre commends the Assyrian Universal Alliance on the occasion of the
unveiling of the Assyrian Genocide Monument. In full recognition that the Assyrian Genocide (Seyfo)
took place at the hands of the Young Turk regime in the Ottoman Empire during and after the First
World War, alongside the Armenian Genocide and the Pontic Greek Genocide, the Jewish Holocaust
Centre seeks to place on record its admiration of the efforts of the AUA in ensuring that the memory
of the Seyfo will be recalled in perpetuity through this monument. This initiative will help to ensure
that the Assyrian Genocide will not be written out of history, and help to combat ongoing denials of
the historical reality of the Assyrian experience.
Pauline Rockman OAM
President, Jewish Holocaust Centre
Melbourne
Ninos Khoshaba MP
Message
State Member for Smithfield
I congratulate the Assyrian Universal Alliance for their service to the Assyrian Community in Australia and
the world.
The Assyrian Universal Alliance have worked tirelessly to highlight the importance in recognising the ethnic,
religious and cultural genocide of the Assyrian people and to condemn such acts from occurring again in the
future to people from all cultures and walks of life.
As global citizens we should strive to eliminate all forms of genocide. That is why it is important to
remember such events and to ensure they never happen again.
Federation of Assyrian organizations of Armenia
I express admiration of your unity and your energy which have led really to historical event. You by right
can be proud of result of the work and that the first monument devoted to innocent victims of the Genocide of
the Assyrian people will be established in Sydney.
Thank you again for your attention.
Sincerely, Irina Gasparyan,
President of Federation of Assyrian organizations of Armenia «Khayadta»,
the member of Coordination Council on affairs of national minorities
at the office of the President of Republic of Armenia
AUSTRALIAN ASSYRIAN ARTS AND LITERATURE FOUNDATION INC.
Dear Mr. Shahen,
We write to express the support and solidarity of the Australian Assyrian Arts and Literature
Foundation with the Assyrian Universal Alliance’s ‘Assyrian Genocide Monument’ project. This
endeavour, the first of its kind in Australia, is an encouraging and welcome step forward in the
worldwide movement for the recognition of the Assyrian Genocide.
The Foundation has worked actively on the matter of Assyrian Genocide recognition since its
inception. Amongst these efforts has been our organisation of two scholarly conferences on the
matter of the Assyrian Genocide in 2007 and 2008 in cooperation with both the Armenian and Greek
communities of Victoria. Similarly, the Foundation also worked to lobby members of the South
Australian Parliament and Government with the end result being the South Australian Parliament’s
recognition of the Armenian, Assyrian and Pontian Greek Genocide in March 2009. Notably, on the
invitation of the Foundation the South Australian Attorney-General and Minister for Multicultural
Affairs, the Hon. Michael Atikinson, attended the Feast of St. George celebrations at the Assyrian
Church of the East in Melbourne giving a speech in support of Assyrian Genocide recognition and
thanking the Foundation for its support. It is also worthy of mentioning that over many years
members of the Foundation have worked to build strong ties with the Armenian and Pontian Greek
communities on the topic of the Genocide and each community actively participates in each others’
commemorations and functions on the matter. This bond of friendship, respect and an understanding
of a shared history will continue to grow into the future.
There is in existence today, an extensive body of academic research and material which has found
beyond the shadow of a doubt that what can easily be termed a genocide did take place from
between 1914 and until 1923 in what was previously known as the Ottoman Empire. Taking the form
of massacres, death marches and forced deportations, the Young Turk government systematically
initiated a policy of riding the Ottoman Empire of its Christian 2 inhabitants. The resulting policies
resulted in the death and murder of some 1.5 million Armenians, 750,000 Assyrians and more than
300,000 Greek Pontians.
Despite the argument by some governments and political groups alleging that the Assyrian Genocide
did not take place, all scholarly evidence resoundingly points to the reality of this most targeted and
heinous genocide. In fact, in December 2007, the world’s foremost group of genocide academics and
scholars, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, formally recognised both the Assyrian
and Pontian genocides (following its 1997 recognition of the Armenian Genocide), announcing that:
“It is the conviction of the International Association of Genocide Scholars that the Ottoman campaign
against Christian minorities of the Empire between 1914 and 1923 constituted a genocide against
Armenians, Assyrians, and Pontian and Anatolian Greeks. It calls upon the government of Turkey to
acknowledge the genocides against these populations, to issue a formal apology, and to take prompt
and meaningful steps toward restitution.”
Until this very day Turkey bullies the small number of Christian minorities living in the country through
various legal and land disputes (refer to the ongoing case of the St. Gabriel Assyrian Monastery in
Midyat) and threatens and puts on trial those who dare to voice an opinion which does not follow the
state view of history or offends ‘Turkishness’ (refer to Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code). Despite
this, our communities hold no ill-feelings towards the Republic of Turkey. We only hope that as Turkey
modernises and aims to enter the European Union, that its past policies with regard the Christian
populations of the
Ottoman Empire are not forgotten or denied but that it does what the majority of academics and
scholars in the genocide field as well as numerous governments have already done; recognise the
Assyrian, Armenian and Pontian Greek Genocide.
Again, we take this opportunity to express our ongoing support for the ardent efforts of the Assyrian
Universal Alliance and wish it the utmost success in its ‘Assyrian Genocide Monument’ project and all
future endeavours.
Yours Sincerely,
Jacob Haweil
Chairman
Melbourne – Australia
Release joint statement
ANC Australia, AUA Australia, AHC (NSW)
SYDNEY: At the invitation of the Australian Hellenic Council (AHC NSW), the Armenian National Committee of
Australia (ANC Australia) and the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) held a three-way conference in Sydney to
discuss genocide awareness in Australia.
The conference, which was held to address the significant shared concerns of the three public affairs
organisations, brought about an atmosphere of cooperation on issues of human rights, genocide recognition
and freedom of speech.
Executive Director Mr. Varant Meguerditchian, who led the ANC Australia delegation at the three-way meeting,
stated that with the AUA and the AHC, ANC Australia had begun a process to build a coalition in opposition to
genocide and its subsequent denial.
He said: "ANC Australia, the AHC and the AUA as representatives of those Australian communities who were
subjected to genocide in the early part of the 20th century have a moral obligation to raise genocide awareness
in the political and public spheres.
"By combining the collective will of the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Australian Hellenic
communities we are presenting a united front in opposition to genocide denial in Australia."
AHC NSW Secretary Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis added: "Raising public awareness shall serve as the building block
to recognition and condemnation of the first genocides of the 20th century."
The Armenian-Australian, Australian Hellenic and Assyrian-Australian communities represent a sizable portion
of the Australian voting public. They see recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the Hellenic Genocide and the
Assyrian Genocide as an issue of fundamental importance.
Mr. Hermiz Shahen, AUA Regional Secretary for Australia and New Zealand, stated that "our commitment to
genocide awareness was all about influencing Australian government policy to bring an end to the cycle of
genocide".
Based on the shared concerns of their respective communities, ANC Australia, AHC and AUA have released the
following joint statement, outlining their agreement to focus on genocide recognition:
Whereby, Australia is signatory to the UN Genocide Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the
Crime of Genocide and has demonstrated leadership on international human rights issues; whereby, the
people of Australia provided food, clothing and shelter to victims and survivors of the Armenian Genocide,
the Hellenic Genocide and the Assyrian Genocide as part of an international humanitarian relief effort known
as the Near East Relief; and whereby, throughout World War One, Australian servicemen witnessed the
systematic annihilation of the Armenian, Hellenic and Assyrian peoples in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 1922; ANC Australia, the AHC and the AUA commit to their moral responsibility to seek recognition of the
Armenian Genocide, Hellenic Genocide and Assyrian Genocide by the Federal Government of Australia as a
measure aimed at preventing similar crimes against humanity from ever occurring again.
Sabri Atman
Biography
Sabri Atman is the founder and director of the
Assyrian Genocide and Research Center, Seyfo
Center. He is one of most known Assyrian front
figures and lectures of Seyfo (Assyrian
Genocide) worldwide. Due to this work Mr.
Atman is banned from turkey for life.
Sabri Atman was born in Nsibin (Tur Abdin)
southeast Turkey. He moved to Austria due to
political reasons and five years later he moved
to Sweden. He has studied economic at the
university of Gothenburg. For many years he
worked as a teacher, manager and for
Microsoft.
He has published two books both in Swedish and Turkish. Atman has also published many articles in
Assyrian magazines such as: Hujada, Nuhro, Babylon, Sawbo, Furkono and Shemsho.
Atman continues to contribute immensely to the creation of worldwide awareness towards the
recognition of the Assyrian Genocide.
Sabri Atman as an Assyrian patriot and educator continues doing his part to educate and create
worldwide awareness of the recognition of the Assyrian Genocide.
Awards and nominations
2006
Assyrian of the year by the Assyrian Youth Federation of Sweden
Honouring prize of Dr. Melek Kavakcioglu by Dr. Melek’s foundation
2007
Honouring prize of Naum Faik by the Asyriska Ungdomsdistriktet Stockholm
Suryoyo of the year by Huyodo Magazine / Germany
Nominated as the Assyrian of the year by Zinda Magazine
Ninos Aho
Biography
Ninos Aho is a world renowned
Assyrian poet and activist. He was
born in the small village of GirkehShamo in Syria, though his family is
originally from Tur Abdin in Turkey.
Ninos who was raised in Qamishli,
Syria, then moved to Damascus in
order to attend college.
The
Assyrian cause has taken him to
many places including Chicago,
Massachusetts and Aleppo.
He
currently resides in Los Angeles with
his wife, children and grandchildren.
He is a influential writer and an
inspiring person. Ninos Aho is a true
and pure Assyrian nationalist and has devoted his life to the Assyrian cause. Even though he was
brought up speaking the Western Assyrian dialect, he learned the Eastern Assyrian dialect in order to
reach and touch all Assyrians hearts. He has written some very powerful poems in both dialects which
he recites beautifully filled with passion.
Ninos has an aim for the year 2050 for Assyrians to have a Homeland. He believes that this can be
achieved through a series of milestones. Ninos believes through the recognition of Seyfo, the acts that
have shaped Assyrian's identity in the last hundred years, will assist Assyrians to be united. Ninos who
is an ambassador for Seyfo Centre, despite his health challenges still works tirelessly and humbly for
the Assyrian cause. He believes in encouraging young Assyrians, in order for them to understand and
grow passion for their culture and identity.
Dr. Panayiotis Diamadis
Biography
An educator with over a decade's experience
in the secondary and tertiary sectors, Dr
Panayiotis Diamadis currently teaches
Genocide Studies at the University of
Technology, Sydney. This course is one of a
handful across the world that includes study of
the Assyrian Genocide in its syllabus.
Dr Diamadis has lectured and written
extensively on the fate of the Assyrian people,
and the Australian connections to the
Assyrians. In his 2002 paper "Precious and
Honoured
Guests
of
the
Ottoman
Government", he explored long-forgotten
eyewitness accounts of Australian prisonersof-war. Eyewitnesses to the genocide the indigenous Christian Assyrian people of the Middle East
were subjected to during and after World War One.
Another long-neglected chapter of Australian military history Dr Diamadis’ work has brought back into
the light is the story of the Dunsterforce. This Commonwealth unit included Australian servicemen
who risked their lives in 1918 to rescue 40,000 Assyrian and Armenian refugees from the Ottoman
Turkish invasion of the Urmia region.
A long-standing supporter of the Australian Assyrian community, Dr Diamadis has organised two
conferences in Sydney on the Assyrian Genocide – Macquarie University (1999) and The University of
Sydney (2000). These historic events were some of the earliest academic meetings on the genocide of
the Assyrian people.
Since then, he has become involved with Return To Anatolia, a Melbourne-based organisation that
organises cultural activities promoting the shared history of the indigenous Christian peoples of
Anatolia (Assyrians, Armenians and Hellenes) to the broader Australian community. These include an
annual National Conference and public history exhibitions such as the Silk Road: Assyria and China
(displayed at the 2009 Moon Festival in Melbourne).
In his secondary teaching career, Dr Diamadis has incorporated ancient Assyrian history in his teaching
of Higher School Certificate (NSW matriculation) course. In his adult education activities, he includes a
great deal of Assyrian content in his short courses at the Workers’ Education Association Sydney –
looking at the Assyrian heritage in Iraq and Turkey from antiquity to the present.
Dr Diamadis currently teaches at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney and is married with one
child.
Dr. Robert M. Kaplan
Biography
Let the dead sleep: Remember the Assyrian Martyrs
Robert M Kaplan is honorary clinical associate
professor in psychiatry at the Graduate School in
Medicine, University of Wollongong and a writer,
historian and speaker. He has written on medical
involvement in genocide, forensic aspects of crime,
neuroscience, history and medical life.
He has a long-held interest in Middle Eastern genocide
and promoting dialogue among groups who have
suffered persecution in the region.
He is currently writing a book on the brain entitled How
to be Human. He is a regular speaker to a range of
groups and has presented on ABC; his talk on the
Armenian Genocide is to be broadcast on Ockhams
Razor in September.
Signing the contract with FCC – (L-R) Paul Azzo, Mayor Nick Lalich, Hermiz Shahen, Deputy Mayor Anwar Khoshaba, David David
Acknowledgements
The Assyrian Universal Alliance would like to thank the following
individuals, Assyrian organisation and Businesses who have
supported the statue project
ASSYRIAN ORGANISATIONS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Agha Petros Association
Assyrian American Civic Club of Chicago- United States
Assyrian Australian Association
Assyrian Australian National Federation
Assyrian Charity & Educational Community
Assyrian Diqlat School – Assyrian Australian Association
Assyrian Diqlat School- Assyrian Australian Association
Australian Assyrian Arts & Literature Foundation Inc – Victoria
Babylon Cultural Association
Seyfo Center, on behalf of Mr. Sabri Atman – Sweden
INDIVIDUALS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
A & F Moushoulof
Archie Kaloustian
Arsan Shalalo
Clarence Toma
Dimitry Yousif Khamo
Dinkha Warda
Dr. Zayto
Easter Golpashi
Ebrahim Benyamin Goulan
Edwar Rowel
Emanuel Yelda- AUA Branch - Canada
Fred Merza
Gabriel Gabriel
Hassan Shukur- U.K.
Henry Daniel
Hirmiz Audeshow
Hormoz Karimi
Jack De Baz
Jack Phranso De Baz
John Daryoush
John Gültekin- Germany
Josef Garis – Sweden
Juliet Issavi
Junia Shlaustas - USA
Lawrance Shamoan
Lawrence Simon
Lewan Darmo
Lida Nissan
Lucy Badal
Mark Oshana – Germany
Najeba Joseph
Nora Ayoubdel
Noray Bet Baba - USA
Numan Akkurt – Sweden
Phelemon Darmo
Ravina Joudo
Samuel Meytap – Sweden
Sargon Shimon
Sarkis Elia – USA
Shael Lolham
Shamasha Syrop Kanon
Shamiran Shahen
Shimshon Azad
Shlimon Khamo
Shmouil Khoury - Sweden
Simon Essavian
Sonhweo Khoshaba - USA
Sorma Kelaita
The Late Adam Azzo & Family
The Late Alphonso Tower & Family
The Late Awshalem Issa & Family
The Late Mooshi Mooshi & Family
Thomas Gabriel – Austria
Yacob Barhey
Yoala Haddad
Yonan Yonan
Youkhana Kina
Youliya Davoodi
Younathan Afarin
BUSINESSES IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
All Suburb Garden Care
BP Express Casula
Babylon Industries Pty Ltd
Be Mure Pty Ltd
C&N Laser Pty Ltd
Ducolor Paint Centre
Evolution Laser Clinic
Glamor Pty Ltd
IN2 Fones Pty Ltd
Kennards Hire
N M V Pty Ltd
Perfection Group Services Pty Ltd
Rockfill Design & Construction Pty Ltd
SBS Smithfield Building Supplies
Statewide Quality Services Pty Ltd
Storm International Pty Ltd
Sydney Acres – Real Estate
T&J Smash Repairs Pty Ltd
VE Laser Pty Ltd
VOLUNTEERS
Adison Alkhas
Alex Jones
Ben Jabro
David M. David
Edward Haydo
Envia Yalda
Flora St Vincent
George Khnano
Hammurabi Barhy
Hermiz Shahen
Jack Bazi
Jani Alkhas
Lyon Gorgiskhan
Nenos Nissan
Ninos Aaron
Paul Azzo
Saib Hurmz
Sam Zumaya
Simon Essavian
Steven Gabriel
Walter Lolham
Wiliam David
Youbert Melham
MEDIA IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association - radio program
Echoes of Ashur- radio program
Echoes of Nineveh - Assyrian Australian Association radio program
SBS Radio - Assyrian program
Voice from the East
VIDEO & PHOTOS
Edward Haydo and V2U video production
Hammurabi Barhy– Photographer
ASSYRIAN GENOCIDE MONUMENT PREPARATORY COMMITTEE
Adison Alkhas
Anabell St Vincent
Anna David
Ben Jabro
Benjamin Benjamin
Carmen Lazar
Chantelle Nissan
Dany Raoul
David M. David
Edward Haydo
Hammurabi Barhy
Hermiz Shahen
Jack Bazi
Lewis Batros
Melani Alkhas
Nenos Nissan
Ninos Aaron
Paul Azzo
Raymond Elishapour
Sheena Sarkhosh
Simon Essavian
Tabetha Bisseh
Walter lolham
Wiliam Davi