#19 The Story of Assyria: Iraqi Nationalism and Assyria

In Class 19 of The Story of Assyria, we examine how Iraqi nationalism has defined Iraq’s identity while often treating modern Assyrians as separate from ancient Assyria. The discussion covers the British mandate and the creation of the Iraqi state, competing nationalist frameworks, Assyrian political demands after World War I, rising hostility in the early kingdom period, the Simele massacre of 1933, and how later regimes including the Ba’ath Party and Saddam Hussein used Mesopotamian symbolism while remaining suspicious of Assyrian political identity. We close by distinguishing Assyrian nationalism from Assyrianism as a social and cultural movement grounded in historical continuity. 0:00 Welcome and topic Iraqi nationalism and Assyria 1:03 Check in from Gaznik Botan and Hakkari region 1:55 How Iraq understands Assyrians as a people 2:48 Did Assyrians have recognized native status in Iraq 4:45 Simele massacre referenced as turning point 6:06 Early Iraqi leadership and the question of native claims 8:27 Pierre pushback national building and who buys in 10:48 Ancient Assyria as heritage modern Assyrians as separate 11:44 Cultural continuity vs legal ownership of heritage 15:13 Law limits and the continuity argument 17:53 What is Iraq Ottoman legacy and British creation 18:31 Two forms of Iraqi nationalism inclusive vs Arab focused 21:14 Ba’ath period and shift toward Mesopotamian framing 22:10 Ottoman Safavid struggle and the three provinces 23:18 British conquest Basra Baghdad Mosul 24:38 Pre World War I maps Assyrian regions and peoples 25:54 Hashemite kingdom and League of Nations admission 28:48 Anglo Iraqi treaty and oil exploitation context 30:17 Post war Assyrian demands and Mar Shimun leadership 33:08 Iraqi state frames Assyrians as denominations not a nation 34:54 Internal Assyrian debates Malik Khoshaba and others 37:44 British play both sides and rising Iraqi hostility 39:13 June 28 1933 parliament rhetoric against Assyrians 42:08 Simele 1933 massacre and British complicity discussion 43:41 R S Stafford quote on using the army 45:00 After Simele nationalism underground 1945 petition 46:44 Saddam and Mesopotamian nationalism strategy 48:51 Regime suspicion of Assyrians in leaked documents 50:47 Civilization contested ancient Iraqis versus Assyrians 51:09 Assyrian Democratic Movement 1979 goals 52:02 Nineveh and Mosul geography and demographic change 55:00 Assyrianism as cultural movement not state nationalism