Assyrians in the United Kingdom

Infobox Ethnic group
group = Assyrians in the United Kingdom

flagicon|UK
caption=
poptime = 8,000http://www.christiansofiraq.com/Parliament.html]
popplace = London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool
langs = English, Assyrian
rels = Christianity; Assyrian Church of the East and Chaldean Catholic

Assyrians in the United Kingdom are located in Greenford and Hanwell, small towns in the London Borough of Ealing. There is a small Assyrian Club and a small Assyrian Church of the Assyrian Church of the East. Assyrians can also be found in other parts of the country, albeit in smaller numbers. Assyrians have found strong vocal support from MP Stephen Pound. [http://www.christiansofiraq.com/stephenjune306.html]

Religion

Assyrians in the United Kingdom can be divided up into two groups; those that identify with the Assyrian Church of the East, who call themselves "Aturaya", and those who adhere to the Chaldean Catholic Church, who describe themselves as "Chaldanayeh".

A Chaldean Catholic Church in Acton, London and a smaller Assyrian Church and Club exist in South Ealing. There, the Assyrians celebrate the secular "Assyrian New Year". Before acquiring the church in Acton, the Chaldeans "rented" a Church from a Latin rite one in Central London, the Church of St. Anna.

The priest of the Chaldean Church is currently Father Habib. The former Chaldean priest was Father Andreas, now a bishop, ordained in Rome by the Pope in 2004. The priest for the Assyrian Church of the East is Father Stephanus.

Immigration history

The vast majority of Assyrians in the UK are Iraqis.However, there are few Assyrians from Iran,Syria and about 4 families from Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

World Wars

As a result of the Great Game, a diplomatic struggle and "cold war" between the Tsardom of Russia and the British Empire, the Assyrians and Kurds became involved in the political interference of the Great Powers. Both groups sought independence from the aged Ottoman Empire. With the outbreak of world war 1, the Assyrians sided with the British, in the hope of receiving independence. However, at the Treaty of Versailles, the Assyrian delegates were refused entrance; in 1933 the Assyrians suffered one of their worst persecutions when thousands were wiped out in the Simele Massacre. This was in retaliation for assisting the British in world war 1, who occupied Iraq. Ironically, the Arabs and Kurds had also assisted the British, but only the Assyrians remained more or less loyal to the British as levies. The outbreak of the Second World War found 40,000 Assyrian soldiers fighting for the British. In the Anglo-Iraqi War, the Assyrians played a decisive role in providing Britain with the much needed man power to defeat the pro-Nazi Arab rebel forces in the region; another example of Assyrian participation in the war was during the 1944 Battle for Albania, when 75% of a paratrooper attack was composed of Assyrian troops, the rest being Kurds. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUE5XDEXzmk] With the war over, Assyrian interests were brushed aside in an attempt to court the Arab majority in Iraq after world war 2. During these times, a few Assyrians may have left Iraq for Britain. Notwithstanding these efforts, British interference on a colonial level largely ended with the end of the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq.

Modern times

Despite the anti-British uprisings and riots in the first half of the 20th century, Iraq would continue to play a key role as a provider of oil and source for Western Investment. Too far away from Israel, Iraq largely stayed out of the Arab-Israeli wars, sending only token forces, thus preserving a fair relationship with her former Colonizing power, Great Britain and its Cold War ally the United States. British companies such as John Laing established themselves in Iraq. With the Iraq-Iran War, and the following Gulf Wars, some Assyrians who were closely tied to these companies immigrated to the UK.

Many more Assyrians and Chaldeans fled Iraq for the UK after the Gulf War (1990-91). Following the Invasion of Iraq (2003), more Assyrians and Chaldeans fled to the UK in the face of increased Islamic persecution, including bombing of Churches. [http://www.christiansofiraq.com/bombed.html] Because of the previous British influence and the presence of troops in the country, it is a suitable place for immigration. It is also closer to Iraq than America (where many more Assyrians and Chaldeans can be found). Furthermore, the UK has a more relaxed immigration policy, though conservative parties in the country threaten to tighten immigration laws.

Houses of Parliament

In recent years, the Assyrians have received increased support from the Houses of Parliament. In particular were the efforts of MP Steven Pound of Ealing and Lord Hylton. Issues raised included the persecution of Assyrians by Kurds and Arabs, and a brief outline of their history since the "Great Game". [http://www.christiansofiraq.com/report.html] Assyrians received increased media coverage with the kidnapping and death of a Chaldean Catholic Bishop in Iraq. [http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0703209.htm]

ee also

*Assyrian Diaspora
*Assyrian people

References