Assyrian American Bishops Send Letter to Kerry Regarding ISIS Attacks on Assyrians
The Synod of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East has sent a letter to John Kerry, the United States Secretary of State, regarding the ISIS attacks on Assyrian villages and the capture of 150 Assyrians (AINA 2015-02-23).
Here is the text of the letter:
Dear Secretary Kerry:The atrocities very recently committed against the Assyrian Christians of the Khabur region in northeast Syria prompt us to write to your good offices in order to bring to your attention the urgency of the present situation. As the diocesan bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East in the United States, we would like to bring to the attention of the Obama Administration the sufferings and plight of our Assyrian Christians, which we have all witnessed taking place in broad daylight, early Monday morning. In our very own day, another holocaust is taking place in history, but this time against the Christian population of Syria by ISIL.
As you are well aware, the 35 villages along the almost 30 kilometer stretch of the Khabur River region were evacuated due to the approaching onslaught of ISIL and its forces of evil and destruction. We are hearing first-hand reports from our local diocesan bishop and other Assyrians who have helped in facilitating the settlement of the displaced that on Monday over 500 families were evacuated from the Khabur villages in the span of a few hours and brought to safety in the cities of Al-Hassake and Al-Qamishley. About 200 persons from another large village were still being bused out to safety, while five villages (at least) have already been completely taken by ISIL. These include the villages of Tel Baloa and Tel Shamiran, where 50 families were placed under house-arrest by ISIL and their village church burned down, while other reports stated that they were taken out of their village to a nearby town, and there status us unknown. The village of Tel Hurmizd suffered when 14 villagers were kidnapped and their whereabouts is not known till this moment. The village of Tel Goran has seen the kidnapping of some 15 persons, about 40 persons reportedly kidnapped from Tel Jazira, and Tel Shamiye has also been over-run by the ISIL forces. Local para-military Christian security forces have been active to protect the Christian population from further destruction and kidnappings, but with much difficulty due to the paucity of their number and weapons in comparison with those of the ISIL extremists. The total number of those kidnapped and/or held hostage in their villages is around 200 persons–children, women, the elderly and men! Further reports tell of incidents of killings, rape and the taking of women as concubines for these godless enemies of humanity.
The dire situation of the Assyrian Christians in Khabur, therefore, calls for immediate action by the US and other coalition forces present in the area to provide them with safety and the necessary means to properly and effectively defend themselves. We believe that our president’s administration in particular is morally obliged to secure the continued safety of the remaining Assyrian Christians in the Khabur region. We implore your good offices to bring this message directly to the attention of President Obama, and that our government act by taking concrete steps to help the remaining Assyrian Christians in the region to protect themselves, and to put a stop to the atrocities brought about by these fundamentalists who have created havoc in the Middle East.
What we are witnessing before our very eyes, Mr. Kerry, is genocide (properly speaking) against the Assyrian Christians, and indeed it is already being termed ‘another holocaust.’ The United States and the great nations of the free, modern and democratic world cannot just stand by and allow this to happen! We pray that our plea will not go unheard, as it is a voice for those young children, women, elderly and men who are now left voiceless and without hope of safety for their lives. The credibility of our nation and its administration will be compromised if nothing is done and the Assyrian Christians in this region are left at the mercy of the merciless forces of ISIL.
We thank you for your immediate attention to this urgent matter and your consideration for the safety and lives of the Assyrian Christians in Khabur, Syria.
Very truly yours,
Mar Aprim Khamis
Bishop of Western USAMar Awa Royel
Bishop of California, Secretary of the Holy SynodMar Paulus Benjamin
Bishop of Eastern USA
