Tweet at Iraqi and KRG officials and demand excavations of all suspected mass graves in Simele, Iraq believed to be related to the Simele Massacre of 1933.
Multiple sites in the town of Simele contain arrays of disassociated skeletal remains consistent with their designation as possible mass grave sites and warrant investigation. Preliminary information and assessments of these sites support their designation as possible mass grave sites. There is speculation from well-informed international scholars that these sites are indicative of what could be mass graves and may indeed be related to the 1933 Simele Massacre. These reports can neither be confirmed nor refuted without excavations and forensic examination of the remains.
In August 1933, the Iraqi state launched a campaign systematically targeting the indigenous Assyrian population in northern Iraq. As many as 6,000 Assyrians were killed. Assyrians deserve proper recognition and justice for this crime. @IraqiGovt #APIWeekofAction
The victims of the Simele Massacre of 1933 were callously buried in mass graves. @Kurdistan Regional Govt should allow neutral third parties to excavate and investigate all suspected mass graves in Simele. @KRG_USA @KRG_DFR @BayanRahman @SafeenDizayee #APIWeekofAction
Unacceptable that the @Kurdistan Regional Govt continues to deny justice to those Assyrians affected by the Simele Massacre of 1933 by ignoring requests for third-party excavations of suspected mass grave sites. @KRG_USA @KRG_DFR @BayanRahman @SafeenDizayee #APIWeekofAction
The Iraqi Constitution recognizes crimes committed against majority groups, but makes no mention of the suffering of Assyrians. The exclusion of crimes committed against Assyrians minimizes their status and contributes to the erasure of their history. @IraqiGovt #APIWeekofAction
It's been 340 days since @AssyrianPolicy met with @KRG_USA to request a neutral survey of massacre sites & excavations of all suspected mass graves related to the Simele Massacre of 1933. No progress has been made. What's the hold up? @BayanRahman @SafeenDizayee #APIWeekofAction