The Sons of Mesopotamia, also known as Abnaa Al-Nahrain and Bnay Nahrain (Assyrian Neo-Aramaic: ܒܢ̈ܝ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, Arabic: أبناء النهرين), was an ethnic Assyrian political party based in northern Iraq. It was founded in 2013, and was headquartered in Erbil, Iraq.[1] Established to further the political objectives of the Assyrian people in Iraq, the party won one seat in the 2013 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election.[2]
Sons of Mesopotamia ܒܢ̈ܝ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ أبناء النهرين | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Basim Bello |
| Founded | July 20, 2013 |
| Dissolved | March 22, 2024 |
| Ideology | Assyrian nationalism Self-determination Populism |
| National affiliation | Athra Alliance |
| Website | |
| www.bnaynahrain.com | |
The party was named after Mesopotamia, also known as Beth Nahrain, or "the land of rivers" which was the historical location of Assyria, the ancient empire that encompassed Iraq, Syria, and parts of Iran and Turkey.[3] The chosen name reflects on the ethnic identity of the party's members, as well as their ongoing struggle to reclaim rights for Assyrians in their ancestral lands.[1]
The Sons of Mesopotamia was the first and only Assyrian-led political party with a female president, headed by both Galeta Shaba and Basim Bello, the former mayor of Tel Keppe.[4]
History
editThe Sons of Mesopotamia was founded as a splinter group after a number of its members became disillusioned with the leadership of the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM) and Yonadam Kanna. In a statement issued on July 20, 2013, former members of the ADM, led by Shmaiel Nanno,[5] announced the split. In the statement, the party acknowledged that their departure from ADM was not an easy decision,[1] but was necessary as conditions for Assyrians in Iraq had drastically worsened since the US invasion of Iraq. The party specified a number of reasons for the split, citing mistrust and misguided leadership under Kanna, a complete monopolization of authority, continued violations against the party's principles and regulations, and disputes regarding strategy.[1]
The split came as a devastating blow to the ADM, as several notable members—including Shmaiel Nanno, Mikhael Benjamin, Khlapieel Benjamin, and Srood Maqdasy—were among those who left the party and joined the Sons of Mesopotamia. Their departure created confusion and a loss of confidence in ADM leadership, causing friction among community members. Despite the split, Sons of Mesopotamia has reaffirmed their support for ADM's stated principles and policy platform, and referenced the three martyrs of ADM, Yousip, Youbert, and Youkhanna,[6] in their mission statement.[1] Many members and supporters see the political party as a realization and restoration of ADM's original mission.[1]
In 2023, the party joined the Athra Alliance, a political alliance representing Assyrian interests in Iraq.
Political ideology
editThe Sons of Mesopotamia claims to have maintained its commitment to universal Assyrian objectives to secure the rights of Assyrians in Iraq, specifically in northern Iraq and the Nineveh Plain. Their focus is geared towards addressing the increasing violence targeting Assyrians, oppressive policies implemented by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), underrepresentation in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the rapid demographic change in historically Assyrian lands,[7] encroachment on Assyrian lands,[7] massive displacement of Assyrians, marginalization of Assyrians and other minority groups, lack of meaningful consideration of Assyrian objectives in KRG constitution drafting process,[8][9] security, increased restrictions on the Assyrian right to assemble,[7] and the goal of a Nineveh Plain province.[10]
Policy
editMikhael Benjamin, Sons of Mesopotamia adviser and director of the Nineveh Center for Research and Development (NCRD),[7][11] in 2014 published a proposal for a Nineveh Plain province following the Islamic State's 2014 invasion of Mosul, that left more than 200,000 Assyrians displaced.[12] In the proposal he writes:[13]
But what is sure at the moment is that they have led to more deterioration in the conditions of the minorities, whether on the humanitarian level whereby all the remaining communities of the area were displaced rendering it completely void of people, or on the security and political level that became more complicated raising questions as to where would all this conflict lead to in their area at a time when it is the minorities who become first victims in all these conflicts something that makes the importance of putting an end to such conditions even more important through neutralizing the conflict there for a limited period of time through the deployment of international peace keeping forces that would impose a safe haven under international protection.
Dissolution
editIn March 2024, it was announced that the party would dissolve in order to reform with ADM following the election of Yaqoob Yaco as General Secretary. In an official statement on their website, the party detailed how its delegates voted to dissolve in order to reunite with ADM at its General Conference, and expressed enthusiasm for the future of Assyrians in Iraq in the political landscape.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Sons of Mesopotamia Statement Dated July 20, 2013
- ^ Ishtar TV: 2013 KRG Parliament Election Results
- ^ World History Encyclopedia: Mesopotamia
- ^ SBS Interview with Galeta Shaba, President of Abnaa AlNahrain
- ^ ANB Interview with Shmaiel Nanno, Abnaa Al-Nahrain Board Member
- ^ The Heroes of the Assyrian Democratic Movement
- ^ a b c d Human Rights Watch: Iraqi Kurdistan: Christian Demonstration Blocked
- ^ AINA: Minorities in Iraq's Kurdistan Push for Greater Political Voice
- ^ Minorities in Iraqi Kurdistan Push for Greater Political Voice
- ^ Official Sons of Mesopotamia Website
- ^ Assyrian Demonstration Blocked by Kurds in Iraq
- ^ AINA: The Minorities of the Nineveh Plain and the Demand for a Safe Haven
- ^ PDF: The Minorities of the Nineveh Plain and the Demand for a Safe Haven by Mikhael Benjamin
- ^ "تم غلق صفحة ابناء النهرين بعد المؤتمر العام الثالث لحزب أبناء النهرين (مؤتمر حل الحزب)". bnaynahrain.com (in Arabic). Sons of Mesopotamia. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.