HBA calls on Iraq to officially recognize 1933 Simele Massacre and establish National Day of Remembrance
ARBA’ILO, Iraq — The Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo d’Beth Nahrain Athroyo, HBA) called on the Iraqi government and Parliament to formally recognize the 1933 Simele Massacre and incorporate it into the country’s collective national memory.
The appeal came in a statement issued to mark the 93rd anniversary of the massacre, observed on 7 August, which is designated as Assyrian Martyrs’ Day.
The HBA described the Simele Massacre as a targeted assault against the Suraye (Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian) people and one of the most horrific mass atrocities in Iraq’s modern history. It said the political, humanitarian, and national repercussions of the massacre continue to resonate in the collective consciousness of the community.
بيان صادر عن حزب اتحاد بيث نهرين الوطني
بمناسبة الذكرى الثالثة والتسعين لمذابح سميل 1933 و يوم الشهيد الكلداني السرياني الآشوري.
في السابع من آب، يقف حزب اتحاد بيث نهرين الوطني وقفة إجلال أمام أرواح شهداء مذابح سميل عام 1933، تلك الجريمة التي استهدفت أبناء شعبنا الكلداني… pic.twitter.com/vzC8sO6nTV
— اتحاد بيث نهرين الوطني-Bethnahrin Patriotic Union (@bethnahrinunion) August 7, 2026
Rejecting the idea that the Simele Massacre should remain a fleeting memory or be consigned to silence and neglect, the HBA called for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killings, official recognition of the events, restitution for victims, and safeguards against attempts to deny or downplay the tragedy.
The HBA further argued that the continued neglect of the Suraye people’s historical suffering — including repeated massacres, persecution, and forced displacement over the decades — constitutes a significant obstacle to achieving justice and genuine national reconciliation.
It underscored the importance of recognizing the historical and national rights of Iraq’s indigenous peoples.
The HBA urged the Iraqi government and Parliament to adopt several measures, most notably formally recognizing the Simele Massacre as a historical crime committed against the Suraye people, incorporating it into Iraq’s national historical narrative, and declaring 7 August a National Day of Remembrance for the victims.
It also called for the inclusion of the Simele Massacre in school curricula as an integral part of Iraqi history. According to the HBA, such a measure would strengthen awareness of human rights and help prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
In addition, the HBA called for the constitutional, national, administrative, and cultural rights of the Suraye people to be guaranteed, while safeguarding their dignity and continued presence in their ancestral homeland.
The organization also demanded protective measures for what remains of the community’s historical presence and called for an end to what it described as policies of demographic manipulation and marginalization that threaten its future.
The HBA appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and human rights organizations to fulfill their responsibilities by supporting the Suraye’s people’s pursuit of justice and helping preserve their continued presence in Iraq.
The party affirmed that the Suraye people would not abandon their land or identity and would continue their political, legal, and democratic struggle to secure their rights and legitimate claims.
It concluded by stressing that the memory of Simele remains an enduring pledge to honor the victims, continue the pursuit of justice, and protect the community’s existence, identity, and rights.