Appeal to teach the Chaldean language, a basic element of the Christian identity in Iraq
42 Chaldean organizations sign a common letter
Chaldean News Agency (13.12.2001)/ HRWF International Secretariat (18.12.2001) CWebsite: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - In an unprecedented move by Chaldean activists, a letter signed by 42 different Chaldean organizations and high profile individuals from the United States, Australia, France, Canada, and Sweden was sent to the Bishops of the Chaldean Church of the East on the occasion of their General Meeting (Senhodos) which was held in Rome, Italy between November 28 - December 4, 2001. The letter demanded that the Chaldean church take concrete and positive steps to encourage the "teaching in Chaldean language experiment" in the Safe Heaven area of northern Iraq.
Chaldean (Aramaic) was the dominant language of the area currently encompassing Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, and Israel from 700 BC till shortly after the Arab Muslim conquest of the area during the seventh century AD. It's a known fact that Jesus Christ spoke and preached his message using Aramaic and not as wrongly believed as having used Hebrew.
After the Arab Muslim conquest, laws were enacted that forbade the teaching of Aramaic language in public schools and with that Arabic became the dominant language of the Middle East till today.
Being true to such legacy, the successive Iraqi governments and since the establishment of modern Iraq in 1921 worked vigorously to close down all the private schools run by the Chaldean church, despite the fact that none had their curriculum taught in Aramaic. By early 1970, the last few schools left were finally transferred to the ownership of the Iraqi Ministry of Education.
Those acts were part of an extensive Arabization campaign to force the Chaldeans to be assimilated into the majority Arab population of Iraq. A campaign that was intensified under the rule of the current Arab Baath regime of Saddam Hussein since its ascent to power in 1968.
After the establishment of the Safe Heaven in northern Iraq on the aftermath of the Gulf War in 1991, the newly created Kurdish government agreed to establish schools with their curriculum taught in the Chaldean language in areas where majority of the students are Chaldeans.
The letter came on the eve of several disturbing incidents whereby the Iraqi government in a strange alliance with racist elements within Kurdish groups were pressuring certain Chaldean Church officials in northern Iraq into taking a negative position against that experiment.
The following is the English translation of that letter:
Open Letter to the Bishops of the Chaldean Church of the East "The Nation that loses its language loses its identity"
To the esteemed Fathers and Bishops of our church meeting in Rome at the end of November 2001,
Greetings and our deep respect,
At the beginning, please, allow us, dear Fathers, to wish you and your Senhodos (general meeting of Bishops.. CNA) complete success and best wishes to your efforts in serving your parishioners, a true service that's based on your pure Christian beliefs.
Esteemed Fathers,
As you well know, our Chaldean people and their church are going through difficult times which demand from all those sincere individuals to put all their efforts and the best of their abilities into stopping the bleeding of the migration and lessening its negative impact on our Chaldean church due to the decreasing number of its followers. Also, lessening its impact on our own Chaldean nation due to its losing its ancestral land as well as its impact on the composition of our identity.
Our Chaldean Church of the East was among the first that raised the cross of Jesus the Savior, and spread His message. It also gave millions of martyrs in defense of that true word of God as well as in defense of the right of the Christian Chaldean nation to stay alive. This same nation that gave the majority of those martyrs.
The majority of the rites and history of the Church of the East is written and preserved in Aramaic, the language chosen by God, to have his son Jesus Christ use it to spread his message of truth and salvation. That ancient language is the same spoken language (albeit different dialect) of our Chaldean nation and its living tongue for the last three thousands years.
Esteemed Fathers,
In northern Iraq, a new and unique experiment in the history of our Chaldean people is being implemented. After more than one thousand years, an opportunity has been presented to our children and people to learn and get educated in their mother tongue with what that entails of enrichment and preservation of our culture and identity from being absorbed and becoming distinct. In addition to its providing a cadre that's capable of understanding, comprehending, and enriching the heritage of our church as well as studying its ancient history, which after all was itself written in Aramaic.
Having stated the aformentioned, we, the undersigned from Chaldean organizations and individual activists in Diaspora, agree on the following as well as request from the Fathers of our Chaldean church meeting in Rome at the end of November 2001, the following:
- - The right to be educated in our people's Chaldean language is a national and legitimate right, in addition to being a holy national duty that will enrich all of the land of Mesopotamia. Hence, it's the duty of those sincere individuals of our people to work, through all available means, to encourage teaching in this ancient language. A language that's rich in vocabulary and deep in its positive effects on other Semitic languages like Arabic, Hebrew, Ethiopian, and other old languages that are no longer in use.
- - The main duty of our church, the Chaldean Church of the East, and its Fathers is to give their parishioners, a pure Christian education that's construed from its heavenly teachings. Also, on what get approved in its meetings as well as on what get dictated on it by the Holy See. Those Christian teachings do not contradict the principle of spreading them in the national language of the people that are being addressed.
- - Our legitimate request is calling upon our Esteemed Fathers who are meeting in Rome to issue an official decree, clear and binding, and to be read at all the churches and circulated to all the church institutions, that supports teaching in our national Chaldean language. It should demand from all the priests of the church to either encourage their parishioners to get educated in their mother tongue or in the case of the specific priest refusing to abide by that decree to declare publicly that the right to get educated in the Chaldean language is a legitimate right and a private matter concerning only the parents of the student or his/her guardians. Hence, the priest will stay out of this secular matter neither encouraging it, and definitely, nor fighting it.
- - - We call upon all those in charge of the "teaching in Chaldean language experiment" in northern Iraq to continue improving and expanding that experiment towards the betterment of the graduating students. All in the hope they would be able to continue their higher education. Also, by presenting to them the benefit of being exposed to the vast international educational resources. This can be achieved by increasing the class units allocated to the study of foreign languages like English, Arabic, and Kurdish. We believe that learning from the experience of the "Achieving Schools" curriculum is the best approach to reach that goal.
- -
- At the end, we're sure that the position of the Fathers of our glorious Chaldean Church as it enters its third millennium, is that of an honest position that is always open to sacrifices. A position of an unshakable faith in the face of difficult circumstances and immense pressures. Those pressures did not stop them from moving forward in spreading the message of Christ the Savior, nor from working towards the preservation of the church right to exist and to prosper in its Land of Birth.
Today, as you well know, our Chaldean people are spread among many nations, hence, the only way to preserve our identity from becoming distinct is through the preservation of our unique language.
Once again, our best wishes for the success of your meeting. Let the mighty God and his son, Jesus Christ, be your Shepard as well as to bless you, your efforts and your sacrifices in the service of the children of our church, the eternal, Chaldean Church of the East.
Signatories:
1. Mr. Yousif Nadhir - One of the founders and ex-president of the Chaldean Federation of America. - Detroit, Michigan
2. Mr. Kais Younan - President of "Soureth language Charity" - Detroit, Michigan.
3. Mr. Adeeb Zara - Mar Mekha Charity Committee. - Detroit, Michigan
4. Mr. Maher Ibrahim - Ishtar Cultural Club - Detroit, Michigan
5. Mr. Eugen Kalasho - Chaldean Family Club - Detroit, Michigan
6. Mr. Hanna Kalabat - Editor in Chief of "alKalima" Voice of the Chaldeans magazine San Deigo, California.
7. Mr. Joseph Kassab - Chairman of "Chaldeans for Census 2000 Committee" - Detroit, Michigan
8. Mr. Samir Yousif - Member of Council of Ethnic Communities in New South Wales - Sydney, Australia
9. Mr. Sam Yono - ex-President of Chaldean Federation of America - Detroit, Michigan
10. Mr. Ghassan Shathaya - Webmaster of "Chaldeans On Line" website - San Francisco, California
11. Mr. Ramzi George - ex-President of Chaldean Federation of America - Detroit, Michigan
12. Mr. Nissan alQas Shamoun - retired bank branch manager - Detroit, Michigan
13. Mr. Francis Kammo - Finance manager - Detroit, Michigan
14. Mr. Najeeb Mansour Jamil - Engineer - Detroit, Michigan
15. Mr. Roxi Yaldo - ex-Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus charity group - Detroit, Michigan
16. Mr. Fuad Manna - Editor in Chief of "alMuntada" magazine - Detroit, Michigan
17. Mr. Habib Hannona - Writer and historian - Detroit, Michigan
18. Mr. Nori Barka - Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus charity group - San Diego, California
19. Mr. Saher Haddad - Chaldean Youth Club - Detroit, Michigan
20. Mr. Shawqi Konja - Chaldean Voice radio station - Detroit, Michigan
21. Mr. Dawood Hannosh - Palace of the Orient club, - Detroit, Michigan
22. Mr. Adel Yaldeko - Chaldean Artists Association - Detroit, Michigan
23. Mr. Farouq Gourgis - Chaldo and Assur Committee - San Diego, California
24. Miss Rita Raban - President of Chaldean Youth Foundation - San Diego, California
25. Chaldean American Club - San Diego, California
26. Chaldean American Federation - San Diego, California
27. Founding Committee of Chaldean News Agency
28. Mr. Salam Marcus, Editor in Chief of "Beth Nahreen" magazine - Paris, France
29. "Beth Nahreen" Society - Paris, France
30. Mr. Dawood Bajowa -Chaldean American Medical Association - Detroit, Michigan
31. Mr. Shwan Qaradagh - President of Chaldean Civilization Society - Melbourne, Australia
32. Mr. Boya Gourgis - President "Ankawa" club - Melbourne, Australia
33. Mr. Sam Younan - President "Babylon Tower" club - Melbourne, Australia
34. Mr. Adrees Frety - Chaldean Academic Society - Sydney, Australia
35. Mr. Ramzi Qalo - President of founding committee of "Chaldean Cultural Society" - Sydney, Australia
36. Mr. Akram Hanoush - ex-President of "Chaldean Cultural Society" - Sydney, Australia
37. Mr. Munir Hormis - "Beth Nahreen" National League - Toronto, Canada
38. Mr. Emanuel Yalda - "Tana" Charity Society - Detroit, Michigan
39. Mr. Michael Sepey - Editor in Chief of "Chaldean People" newspaper - Sydney, Australia
40. Mr. Amir alMaleh - Webmaster of "Ankawa" website - Sweden
- - Mr. Saad Marouf, President of Chaldean Federation of America in a separate letter - Detroit, Michigan - Mr. Dawood Yalda Mekho - President of "Inishke" Society in a separate letter - Detroit, Michigan - copy to all the Bishops of the Chaldean Church of the East Chaldean News Agency chaldean_news@yahoo.com
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Massive emigration of Chaldeans
Chaldean News Agency (01.12.2001)/ HRWF International Secretariat (03.12.2001) CWebsite: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - Mexico After intense efforts by Mexican humanitarian groups as well as US-based Chaldean organizations, the Mexican authorities have finally issued a "preliminary approval" to release all the 145 Chaldean refugees detained in Campeche military base and Mexico City Immigration Prison on charges of entering the country illegally.
The majority of those refugees were taken from Tijuana, on the US-Mexican border, where they were awaiting their asylum applications to enter the United States. The arrests followed the September 11 events, and according to Mexican authorities as a "precautionary measure" against further terrorists' activities and as requested by the United States.
The tragedy of those Chaldean refugees from Iraq became the focus of galvanized efforts by Chaldean American groups in San Diego, California and Detroit, Michigan as well as by Mexican humanitarian groups. Letters were sent to the Mexican President, UNHCR Commissioner, US-INS Commissioner, US Secretary of State, several US Congressmen and Senators, Mexican Foreign Minster and his consular in Detroit, Mexican Immigration Director and many local and international humanitarian and refugees' settlement agencies requesting the release of those refugees.
Dr. Nori Barka, Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Charity group - San Diego branch and Mr. Joseph Kassab, Chairman of Immigration and Refugees Committee of the Chaldean Federation of America of Detroit made several contacts with UNHCR - Mexico City representative and Mexican authorities in an effort to find ways to resolve the plight of those refugees. Mr. Kassab also invited Mr. Joel Millman; the Wall Street Journal's U.S-Mexico Border Bureau Chief to interview some of the relatives of those detained refugees in Detroit area. On November 29 a front-page article discussing the plight of those Chaldean refugees was published by the Wall Street Journal.
During the week of November 15, Dr. Barka led a group of US lawyers and community activists and spent three days in Mexico City negotiating with the Mexican immigration authorities the release of those refugees in the custody of both his Knights of Columbus Charity group and a Mexican humanitarian group called "Casa de Migrante". Their efforts finally bore fruits and the Mexican authorities accepted the suggested arrangements and issued its "preliminary approval" decree.
The Chaldean people, worldwide, would like to thank both the Mexican as well as the United States authorities for their understanding and help in resolving the tragedy of those refugees who left their original homeland fearing persecution as well as hoping to rebuild their shattered lives in a country where they could find peace and human dignity. Also, thanks should go to all those sincere individuals, the un-named heroes, who worked tirelessly for the release of those refugees.
Chaldeans, are descendents of all the native people of Mesopotamia, whether Chaldeans/Babylonians, Assyrians, Arameans, Akkadians, Sumerians ..etc. They're a living 7000 years old nation that has contributed tremendously to the civilization of Mankind. The homeland of this ancient Christian nation that speaks Aramaic (the language spoken by Christ) is spread between Arab and non-Arab countries. Chaldeans could be found in Arab countries like Iraq (where they make up the third largest ethnic group after the Arabs and Kurds), Syria, Lebanon, and Egypt, as well as in non-Arab countries like Turkey, Iran, Georgia, and Armenia. Today, large concentrations of the Chaldeans could be found in many countries, notably the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and many other European countries. For more information about the Chaldeans, please, visit "Chaldeans On Line" website (http://www.chaldeansonline.net).
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Reuters (09.02.2001) - HRWF International Secretariat (13.02.2001) - Website: http://www.hrwf.net - Email: info@hrwf.net - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has praised the Sabaean religious sect and pledged to build a temple in Baghdad for its followers, Iraqi newspapers said on Sunday.
During a rare meeting with the head and prominent members of the sect on Saturday night, Saddam also promised the Sabaeans they would keep their equality with Muslims and Christians, the two main religions in Iraq.
The Sabaeans believe in God but are neither Muslims nor Christians. In Iraq they are officially recognised as a separate religion.
The head of the sect, Sattar Jabbar Hilo, presented Saddam with a translated version of their holy book, Kanza Raba (great treasurer). Newspapers said it was the first time their holy book had been translated into Arabic.
"We will set up a temple for you," Saddam told Hilo and his followers. "Iraqis have religious freedom, whether they are Muslims, Christians or Sabaeans," he added.
Iraqi historians say the sect was founded in Palestine in the first two centuries after Christ's death but its members had to flee to Yemen and from there emigrated to Mesopotamia, the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
In time they developed an elaborate ritual, particularly for baptism. They trace their roots back to John the Baptist, whom they revere.
Members of the sect say that around 80,000 Sabaeans live in Iraq, and some 15,000 still live in southern Iran. They speak a distinct language, Mandaean, and their religious books are written in Sabaean script.
The Iraqi Sabaeans used to live among Shi'ite Muslims in the marshes of southern Iraq, where they earned a reputation as the best canoe-makers and the area's most talented carpenters.
But the majority left their land of streams and rivers for Baghdad in the 1950s, adapting to city life by becoming the country's best silver and goldsmiths.
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