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DAM
THREATENS ANCIENT ASSYRIAN CITY OF ASHUR
Mr.
Andreas Mavrommatis
Special
Raporteur of Human Rights in Iraq
UN
Center for Human Rights
Palais
de Nations
CH-1211
Geneva 10
Switzerland
Dear
Mr. Mavrommatis,
The
city of Ashur, the ancient sacred capital of the Assyrian Empire, may be
flooded as a result of waters rising behind a new dam near the city,
according to the "Iraq Press" reported on 23 July, 2001
Government
of Iraq intents to flood the ancient city of Ashur, the "world
capital" and the first capital of the Assyrian Empire, with the
waters of Tigris river.
The
present Assyrian Christian population in Iraq, numbering more than 1.5
million, are the descendents of the Assyrian Empire and are the true
indigenous people of Iraq. The ancient city of Ashur was one of the four
ancient Assyria's capitals and it is our spiritual city which the
Assyrians took their name.
In furtherance of its Arabization scheme against the minorities in
Iraq and to implement its racist and ethnocide policy against the
Assyrians, the Iraqi regime has embarked on a sinister project to
inundate the ancient Assyrian city of Ashur with water from Tigris
river. The proposed “Mackoul” dam and its reservoir will ruin more
than 100 Assyrian historical sites, including the city of Ashur. The
government of Iraq is trying to severe all connections between the
present the Assyrians in Iraq and their glorious history. Assyrians have
long suffered under the present government.
We
are appealing to you to investigate this matter fully and voice your
concern against this cultural crime. We are asking that you approach UNESCO's World Heritage Committee to inscribe the ancient city of Ashur
in its list as a cultural site with "outstanding universal
value." Let the committee fulfill its promise of "working to
make sure that future generations can inherit the treasures of the
past."
Sincerely
yours,
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0404/p16s02-stss.htm
Christian Science Monitor http://www.anthro.mankato.msus.edu/archaeology/sites/middle_east/assur.html
City of Ashur (Assur) |
