Skip to main content

Christian minority in Iraq seeks autonomy in post-Mosul Iraq

What do Iraqi Christians expect from the post-Islamic State era?
An Iraqi Christian prepares for the first Sunday mass at the Grand Immaculate Church since it was recaptured from Islamic State in Qaraqosh, near Mosul in Iraq October 30, 2016. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah      TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY - RTX2R30Y

One of them was Syriac, the other was Chaldean. The Syriac speaks Arabic but understood my conversation with his comrade in English. The Chaldean is a member of the Kurdistan parliament who speaks in perfect, fluent English. Among the three denominations that constitute one of the oldest Christian communities in Mesopotamia, only a representative of the Assyrian community was not present.

Syriacs, Assyrians and Chaldeans are ethnically and linguistically the same people. They take pride in speaking Aramaic, the language Jesus Christ spoke. Generally, they do not like to be asked whether they are Syriac, Assyrian or Chaldean. They insist that they are all the same and that such a question is of a divisive nature.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.