​

The idea of Assyria Day, now recognized globally as a symbol of Assyrian unity and revival, originated from the Australian Chapter of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA) during its National Congress held in Sydney in 2009. The proposal, rooted in the vision of restoring a national identity and affirming the Assyrian people's connection to their ancestral homeland, was unanimously adopted the following year at the 27th World Congress of the AUA in Erbil, Assyria (Iraq), held from 2 to 4 December 2010.

​

At that historic congress in Erbil—the heartland of ancient Assyria—the AUA officially declared 1st of July as Assyria Day, calling on all Assyrians around the world to commemorate it annually as a National Assyrian Day of Awakening. The congress resolution described the day as a "Return to Assyria", symbolizing national renaissance, unity, and the enduring struggle for justice and self-determination.

​

In an interview at the time, Mr. Hermiz Shahen, then Deputy Secretary General of the Assyrian Universal Alliance and head of its Australia and New Zealand Chapter, emphasized the importance of this day. He explained that "Assyria Day," aims to send a clear and united message about the Assyrian people’s right to safely return to their homeland, and their demand to live in peace and dignity with their neighbours—according to international human rights law and refugee return conventions.

​

Mr. Shahen noted that one of the most pressing objectives of Assyria Day is to raise awareness and support for the Assyrian demand to establish an autonomous province or federal region in their ancestral lands within Iraq. Such a region, he stressed, would be essential for the survival, protection, and future prosperity of the Assyrian people in their homeland.

​

The AUA, in Australia had already made significant efforts to raise the Assyrian cause on both humanitarian and political fronts. Over the years, the organization had submitted memoranda, petitions, and policy proposals to governments, international institutions, and human rights organizations on behalf of the Assyrian nation. Its objective has always been to demonstrate that Assyrians in the diaspora are peaceful, law-abiding contributors to their host societies, while those still in the homeland deserve international support, protection, and recognition as an indigenous people with a distinct cultural and national identity.

​

"Assyria Day," Mr. Shahen affirmed, "is not only a celebration—it is a statement of purpose. It is a reaffirmation that the Assyrian people will not disappear into history. We are here, we are united, and we are committed to our future." Since its inception, Assyria Day has grown in scale and significance. Celebrated annually on July 1st, it is now marked by conferences, educational events, advocacy campaigns, and cultural programs—especially led by youth—throughout Assyrian communities around the world.

Introduction: The Meaning Behind Assyria Day

Assyria Day is a solemn, yet hopeful occasion established to serve as a National Day of Awakening for Assyrians around the world. It is not merely a commemoration, but a strategic and symbolic call to action built upon three foundational pillars:

​

• The Return of Assyrians from the diaspora to their ancestral homeland in Nineveh.

• The Unification of Assyrians across all sectarians, linguistic, and political divisions.

• The Education of Assyrian youth on their rich heritage, traditions, and national history.

 

Assyria Day speaks directly to the heart of a nation that has endured displacement, marginalization, and genocide, yet has never surrendered its identity, spirit, or its dream of return.

​

The Role of Youth in Assyria Day

​

This day is especially designed for Assyrian youth—the emerging generation of national leaders—to celebrate, reflect, and take tangible steps toward realizing the dream of national revival. Through conferences, research, advocacy, and lobbying, youth are encouraged to engage with their heritage, explore modern strategies, and build global coalitions.

​

Youth were chosen for this mission because they represent the future—they are less burdened by the divisions of the past, more agile in using modern tools, and more visionary in shaping long-term goals. Their energy, creativity, and boldness make them ideal agents of change.

"Youth are not just the keepers of memory; they are the architects of return."

​

The Historical and Contemporary Context

Throughout history, most nations have established a national day to celebrate their sovereignty, cultural unity, or historical milestones. The Assyrian people, however, continue to exist without a recognized state, having suffered devastating historical setbacks over the centuries.

Assyrians are the indigenous people of Mesopotamia, heirs to one of the world’s oldest civilizations. The Assyrian Empire was once a beacon of advanced governance, science, and culture, stretching across modern-day Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran. Following its fall in 612 BC, Assyrians remained rooted in their homeland, maintaining their identity and adopting Christianity in the 1st century AD. The Assyrian Church of the East, established in Edessa, became a center for spiritual and intellectual leadership, spreading Christianity as far as China, India, and Central Asia.

Despite this remarkable legacy, the Assyrian people were repeatedly targeted: through Arab and Islamic conquests, Ottoman massacres, and modern genocides in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. These campaigns of ethnic and cultural erasure culminated in the 1915 Assyrian Genocide “Seyfo” and the repeated marginalization of Assyrians throughout the 20th and 21st centuries.

Yet the Assyrian nation remains unbroken. Today, the majority of Assyrians live in diaspora, forced from their lands but not from their identity. The need for a national day has never been more urgent—to assert our right to exist, to return, and to reclaim our place in history.

​

The Spiritual and Prophetic Significance

​

Assyrians hold fast to a divine promise spoken through the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 19:23-25), where Assyria is named as one of three nations blessed by God to be a light and blessing to the world alongside Israel and Egypt. This prophecy continues to inspire hope among Assyrians who believe that their restoration is not only a political necessity, but a spiritual destiny.

This conviction is matched by the historical reality of Western betrayal. After supporting the Allied forces during World War I and World War II, Assyrians were promised autonomy. That promise was never fulfilled. Instead, they were abandoned, leading to massacres, exile, and the continued erasure of their homeland.

Assyria Day is therefore not only a cultural event—it is a moral imperative and a call to justice.

​

Objectives of Assyria Day

Primary Objectives

1. Promote the Right of Return: Advocate for the safe and dignified return of Assyrians to their homeland in accordance with international human rights conventions.

2. Pursue Recognition and Autonomy: Demand international recognition of Assyrians as an indigenous people with the right to self-administration in the form of a federal province within Iraq.

3. Educate and Mobilize the Youth: Strengthen identity among younger generations through education, cultural revival, and civic engagement.

4. Raise Global Awareness: Increase visibility of the ongoing persecution of Assyrians and mobilize international advocacy for their rights and security.

5. Reinforce Unity: Inspire cross-organizational and inter-sectarian unity among all Assyrians for the common cause of national revival.

Secondary Objectives

• Encourage diaspora Assyrians to return and contribute to their homeland.

• Establish and support homeland-based enterprises that promote sustainability.

• Develop education and vocational training programs that build self-reliance and national pride.

• Advocate for equitable distribution of public resources to Assyrian communities by the Iraqi government.

• Establish an international fund to support the voluntary return and resettlement of Assyrian families.

• ​

A Vision for the Future

Assyria Day is not only a memorial to what was lost, but a platform for what can be built. It is a day to unite all Assyrians in their determination to rebuild what war, politics, and silence have tried to erase.

Let us remember: the yearning for Assyria has never died. It lives in our language, our prayers, our art, and in the hearts of every Assyrian child born far from home. Through this day, we reassert our right to exist, to return, and to thrive.

The establishment of an Assyrian Region within Iraq, with appropriate autonomy, cultural protections, and international support, is not only possible—it is essential. It will provide a foundation for security, identity, and peace, not just for Assyrians, but for all communities in the region.

Let Assyria Day be the turning point. Let it be a reminder of who we are, and a blueprint for what we can become. Let it awaken the world to the fact that Assyria lives and always will.