Assyrian Martyrs Day

August 7th is known as Assyrian Martyrs Day or Assyrian Remembrance Day. This day is observed annually by Assyrians worldwide as a day of remembrance to honour all Assyrians who have fallen victim to genocide, mass atrocities, and persecution due to their distinct ethnic and religious identity.
 
This date commemorates the victims of genocides and atrocities, including those of the Assyrian Genocide (1914-1923), Simele Massacre (1933), and most recently the persecution and mass displacement of Assyrians in Iraq and Syria at the hands of the Islamic State.
 
This year also marks the 90th anniversary of the Simele Massacre, during which the armed forces of the Kingdom of Iraq, led by Bakr Sidqi, systematically targeted and killed as many as 6,000 Assyrians in the Assyrian village of Simele and its surrounding area. This massacre occurred less than a year after Iraq’s founding, and set a precedent for the systematic oppression and inequality towards the indigenous Assyrian population, which continues to this date.
 

Click the button below to download a Timeline of Assyrian Genocide Events.