Sydney, Australia - On May 3rd, 2023, the Assyrian National Council-Australia (ANC-A) met with Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Leader of the Government in the Senate, and the Honourable Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy, to discuss the dire situation facing the Christian Assyrian community in Iraq and other parts of the Middle East.
The meeting was organized by the Honourable Chris Bowen MP and attended by Mr Hermiz Shahen, President of the ANC-A, Mr David David, Vice President, and Mrs Suzy David, Senior Advisor of the ANC-A. The ANC-A raised concerns about the ongoing plight of the Assyrian people, who have suffered from systemic discrimination, persecution, and displacement in the Middle East.
Mr Hermiz Shahen, President of the ANC-A, expressed the urgent need for Australia, a nation that values diversity and human rights, to take a strong stance against the persecution of the Assyrian people. "The Assyrian people have been denied recognition of their equality and legitimate national rights for far too long. We call on the Australian government to use its influence to help the Assyrian cause on the international stage," he stated.
The delegation urged the Honourable Ministers to take action on the implementation of Article 125 of the Iraqi constitution, which guarantees administrative, political, cultural, and educational rights for Assyrians and other minorities, does not expand on methods for implementation and fall short of the aspirations of the Assyrian people.
The establishment of an Assyrian region, under the same legal framework as the neighbouring Kurdish region, is crucial to bringing stability to the northern part of Iraq. The Assyrians, as an indigenous people with a history dating back more than 7,000 years, have the right to claim a region/state of their own.
The ANC-A delegates were encouraged by the Honorable Ministers' insights on the Assyrian situation particularly in Iraq and Syria and expressed their commitment to continuing the conversation to find solutions that promote stability and security for the Assyrian people in Iraq. They also highlighted the potential for the Assyrian people to develop their areas in terms of agriculture, industry, and production, contributing to the stability of Iraq as a whole.
The ANC-A would like to thank Senator Penny Wong and the Honourable Chris Bowen MP for their ongoing support for the Assyrian community and for taking the time to meet with them. The ANC-A is committed to working with the Australian government and other stakeholders to achieve their goals and promote the rights and freedoms of the Assyrian people.
For more information, please contact Mr Hermiz Shahen on his mobile 0407235349.