Iraq: Information on the Syriac Catholics; on their current treatment by the authorities and on their leader in 1990-1991
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1996 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IRQ23670.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Iraq: Information on the Syriac Catholics; on their current treatment by the authorities and on their leader in 1990-1991, 1 April 1996, IRQ23670.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acbb44.html [accessed 17 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Country Reports 1995 states that Syriac is the language spoken by the Assyrians who "are an ethnic group as well as a Christian community" (1996, np). Most of the 350,000 Assyrian Christians are located in the northern governorates (ibid. np). The Catholicos Patriarch, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, was the leader of the Assyrian community in 1991 and was still the leader of the community in 1995 (Europa 1992 1992, 1448, Europa 1995 1995, 1569). Country Reports 1995 states the Assyrian Christians were suspected by the authorities of collaborating with Kurdish rebels and in 1995 continued to be discriminated against, harassed and killed throughout the country "by forced relocations, terror and artillery shelling" (1996, np). Human Rights Watch World Report 1996 states that Assyrians "were coerced to identify themselves as Arabs in the census" (1995, 284). The attached Reuters report provides information on Christians emigrating from Iraq.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. (Electronic version received from Resource Information Center, US Immigration and Naturalization Service)
The Europa World Year Book 1995. 1995. 36th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.
The Europa World Year Book 1992. 1992. 33th ed. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications.
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1995. Human Rights Watch Report 1996. New York: Human Rights Watch.
Attachments
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1995. 1996. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. (Excerpts from the electronic version received from Resource Information Center, US Immigration and Naturalization Service)
Human Rights Watch (HRW). 1995. Human Rights Watch Report 1996. New York: Human Rights Watch, pp. 282-85.
Reuters. 23 April 1995. Jack Redden. BC Cycle. "Iraq's Christians Flood Out Seeking Better Life." (NEXIS)
