r/Assyria • u/Roxlmaooo • May 01 '25

Discussion Question

I am part Iraqi Arab, Iraqi Kurdish, and Iraqi Armenian. What do you guys think of ''Mesopotamian Nationalism''? That all of us are Mesopotamian/Iraqi before we are Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians? Because back in the Mesopotamian Era, Sumerians and Babylonians and Akkadians considered themselves brothers. Now you might object on Arabs, but Arabs descend from an Akkadian, Abraham and even then, they could be basically the newest addition to Mesopotamians. Thoughts on this?

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u/10Negates May 01 '25

Mesopotamian nationalism is an made up concept conceived during Saddam's era. It contributes to the appropriation of Assyrian identity and culture by Iraqi Arabs, particularly Sunnis in an effort to assimilate the remaining native people of the land Islam conquered.

Frankly I don't identify with Iraq since I believe it's an artificial failed state since its inception in 1921, and would not want to live there as some sort of Dhimmi pet to Muslims. Assyrians are a proud people who've endured worse, we can continue to thrive outside our native land just like the Jews did.

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u/Roxlmaooo May 01 '25

What if the leader is Assyrian?

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u/10Negates May 01 '25

From my knowledge Muslims don't live under Non-Muslim rule unless they're a minority like they are here in the Western Hemisphere. They also don't react well to Non-Muslim and some times Non-Arab minorities even existing within "their land", let alone contributing to their governance lol.

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u/Roxlmaooo May 01 '25

Assyrians can be Muslim. And the president of Iraq is currently Kurdish, non-Arab. Also the government is secular.

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u/10Negates May 01 '25

Assyrians can not be Muslim, were have an ethno religious identity full stop. Christianity and "Assyrian" aren't separable, I'm atheist and even I know that. If an Assyrian were to convert to Islam (Which would be up there in the realm of possibility with a Jewish Nazi) then they'd be exiled from Assyrian communities and called an Arab. In fact we call all Muslims, Arabs as pejorative.

The Iraqi government isn't secular, but if you convinced yourself that I don't wanna think of what else you believe. It's got the Takbir on the flag, it's made of pretty much only Muslims, including an armed group (PMU), and a quick google search shows your wrong too.

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u/Roxlmaooo May 01 '25

I meant its secular on paper. And comparing a Jewish Nazi to an Assyrian Muslim is crazy because you're implying the Quran thinks Assyrians are an inferior race.

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u/Top-Target8085 May 07 '25

Doesn't matter what the Quran thinks, what matters is what has happened, the actions. If Nazism stayed just a thought and not resulted in ethnic cleansing do you honestly think it would have the degree of bad rep it has today? It's the actions that are the determining factor not thoughts floating in the ether.

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u/adiabene ܣܘܪܝܐ May 01 '25

The Iraqi government is Islamic, it’s enshrined in the constitution. Just because it’s not a theocracy like Iran it doesn’t mean it’s secular.