Every August 7, the Assyrian community around the world pauses to remember one of the darkest chapters in its long history. Assyrian Martyrs Day honors the memory of 3,000 Assyrians who were massacred by the Iraqi government on August 7, 1933.
Few communities on Earth can claim roots as deep as the Assyrian people. This predominantly Christian group has called Mesopotamia home for over 6,700 years, making them one of the region's oldest civilizations. Remarkably, their first king ascended to the throne in an era so ancient that it predates any known calendar system.
Today, the global Assyrian population is estimated at about 5 million. Their communities are spread across Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria, where they reside in the north of Aleppo.
Once significantly larger, the Assyrian population has been devastated in modern times. Since 2003, bombings, forced displacement, and genocide perpetrated by the Islamic State have taken a catastrophic toll — killing thousands and driving hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Facts about August 7, 1933- Assyrian Martyrs Day
- Assyrian communities observe Assyrian Martyrs Day each year on August 7.
- Beginning in the 1930s, successive Iraqi governments subjected Assyrians to sustained persecution. The suffering was particularly acute during the Simeon II and Nuri-Said periods (1925-1934 and 1937-1939), which saw widespread arrests, hostage-taking, and mass executions.
- On a monthly basis, approximately 1,000 Assyrians faced arrest, and 20% of those detained were held for one or two years without ever being charged.
- A government decree in 1933 called for the execution of all Assyrians who had not officially departed Iraq. In the space of a single day, around 3,000 Assyrians lost their lives.
- Authorities seized the property belonging to Assyrians and sold it off, using the proceeds to compensate individuals who had been arrested.