The College of Political Science at the University of Baghdad held a scientific lecture for graduate students on publishing scientific research in respected journals under the title “The Political Role of the Assyrians in Iraq after 2003.”
Dr. Firas Gorgis Aziz, pointed out during his lecture that the Assyrians are an ethnic and religious group that belongs to the Eastern Assyrian Church, which is one of the oldest Christian churches in the world, as they consider themselves descendants of the ancient Assyrians, who inhabited what is now known as Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and Iran, explaining that there are no accurate statistics on their number in Iraq after 2003, as their number decreased significantly and they live mainly in the northern regions of Iraq, especially in Mosul Governorate, which is considered their historical homeland. He also indicated that after the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Assyrians were subjected to discrimination, persecution, and violence by many armed groups, which considered them infidels and agents of the West. Assyrian churches, schools, and institutions were attacked, bombed, and burned. Many Assyrians were killed, kidnapped, and displaced. They were also stripped of their political, cultural, and economic rights, and were marginalized in the constitution, laws, and government institutions.
In reaction to these difficult circumstances, the Assyrians tried to organize themselves politically and civilly to defend their interests and rights, forming various political parties, organizations, and movements, such as the Assyrian Democratic Party, the Assyrian Democratic Movement, the Assyrian National Union, the Assyrian National Council, and others, as well as their participation in parliamentary and local elections, as they obtained some seats in the House of Representatives and the provincial councils, and appointed some ministers and officials in the government.
At the end, an open discussion was free for all postgraduates to answer their inquiries and questions about the lecture.
