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Assyrian Democratic Organization

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Assyrian Democratic Organization
ܡܛܟܣܬܐ ܐܬܘܪܝܬܐ ܕܝܡܩܪܛܝܬܐ
المنظمة الآثورية الديمقراطية
LeaderGabriel Moushe Gawrieh
Vice presidentBashir Isshaq Sa'di[1]
Founded1957
HeadquartersQamishli, Syria
IdeologyAssyrian minority politics
Minority rights
Political positionCentre-left
National affiliationSyrian National Coalition
ColoursLight blue
Democratic Council
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Website
https://ado-world.com/en/

Assyrian Democratic Organization (ADO) (Syriac: ܡܛܟܣܬܐ ܐܬܘܪܝܬܐ ܕܝܡܩܪܛܝܬܐ; Arabic: المنظمة الآثورية الديمقراطية), also known as "Mtakasta/Mtakasto", is an Assyrian political party based in Syria. Founded in 1957, it is the oldest Assyrian political party in Syria, and was established as a national, political and democratic movement with the objectives of safeguarding the existence of the Assyrian people, as well as the realization of their legitimate national aspirations (political, cultural, administrative) in their historic homeland.[2][3]

The Assyrian Democratic Organization has long since faced upheavals by the ruling Assad family and bans on its activity. The party is currently based in Qamishli as part of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, and has been part of the Syrian National Coalition since October 2011.[4] Currently, the ADO boasts of membership of around 5000, advocates for the formation of civil, secular Syrian state, and enjoys good relations with Western countries such as the United States.[5]

History

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Founded in 1957 in the town of Qabre Ḥewore, the Assyrian Democratic Organization was founded with the hopes of securing an independent Assyrian state.[6] The party was formed as a response to the developments of pan-Arabism in Syria, and increased pressure for Assyrians under Arabization campaigns and the formation of the United Arab Republic. The party espoused an ideology of secularism, and the origins of the party's thought can be linked to other prominent Assyrian nationalists such as Naum Faiq, Freydun Atturaya, Farid Nazha, and Ashur Yousif.[7]

In 2005, ADO opposed the creation of the Constitution of Iraq following the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The opposition came as a result of the division of Assyrians into two distinct groups, namely "Assyrians" and "Chaldeans". In a statement released on August 31st, ADO called for Assyrian organizations in the Assyrian homeland and diaspora to appeal to authorities in Iraq to undo the division and declare Assyrians as one sole ethnic group.[8]

In 2010, ADO was stopped by Syrian security and prevented from holding a ceremony commemorating its anniversary.[9]

Syrian Civil War and ISIS

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After the outbreak of the Syrian Civil War, the ADO took a stand against the Syrian regime and began a routine of neighborhood watches, arming young Assyrians with weapons for protection. Speaking the The National News, Akkad Abdul Ahad, who ran the party's newsletter, stated "We are against the regime, but many Christians are afraid of change, of what comes after the regime, of who will rule Syria." [4]

The Assyrian Democratic Organization has been in opposition to the Sutoro police force during the fight against ISIS, as it is affiliated with the Asayish and the Syriac Union Party.[1]

In March 2017, two ADO offices in Qamishli and al-Malikiyah were shut down by Rojavan authorities due to a lack of a permit. On 12 April, an official in the governing Movement for a Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) met with Gabriel Moushe Gawrieh, head of the ADO, and discussed the incident and the "need to respect the laws of the administration". It was the first time TEV-DEM officials met with the ADO.[10] [11]

Modern activity

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See also: Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war

In July 2020, the ADO joined an alliance of political parties called the Syrian Front for Peace and Freedom, which also included the Kurdish National Council, Syria's Tomorrow Movement, and the Arab Council in al-Jazeera and the Euphrates.[12] [13] In December of that year, ADO condemned a speech made by Bashar al-Assad at Al-Uthmaniyah Madrasa that espoused Arab nationalist sentiments. The ADO accused Assad of aiming to cause discord amongst Syria's ethnic and religious components, and put Assyrians at risk of further violence.[14] [15]

In 2021, Gawrieh, than the leader of ADO, was prevented from entering Iraqi Kurdistan by the AANES. Gawrieh had previously been banned from entering the region in July of that year, and he was scheduled to meet with the German consulate in Erbil. Despite the AANES aiming to push blame on the Kurdish Regional Government, the ADO condemned AANES for the dispute and called on authorities to reverse the ban and uphold the ideals of the administration. [16]

In 2022, on the eve of Akitu, the ADO and the Syriac Union Party signed a Document of Political Understanding, which aimed to bolster mutual cooperation through recognizing the situation of Assyrians in Syria and the various names in use (Assyrian, Chaldean, Syriac). The agreement followed discussions between the two parties under US mediation, and was hailed as significant for preserving Assyrian communities in Syria despite threats of Kurdish reproachment. [17] [18] Gawrieh stated that the Document was a message to the Assyrian homeland and diaspora, and was commended by himself as well as Bashir Isshaq Sa'di and Sara Barsom of the Assyrian Women's Office.[19] [20]

In 2024, ADO participated in a webinar hosted by the Syrians for Truth and Justice Organization (STJ), in which Gawrieh condemned Turkish airstrikes on AANES and discussed the state of Assyrians in Syria due to the airstrikes, and how it impacted their presence in the country.[21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Rojava – a "protection zone" for religious and ethnic minorities in Syria?" (PDF). Society for Threatened Peoples. June 2016.
  2. ^ About ADO Archived 2011-07-24 at the Wayback Machine, ADO world
  3. ^ The Assyrian Democratic Organization Rejects Iraq's Constitution
  4. ^ a b Szlanko, Balint (20 February 2014). "Instead of fleeing, some of Syria's Christians will stand their ground". The National. Retrieved 2015-02-16. Other Christian groups, such as the Assyrian Democratic Organisation (ADO), oppose the government, too, and have joined the Syrian National Coalition, the opposition umbrella group.
  5. ^ Manhal Barash (21 June 2024). Politics in Syria: Mapping Active Political Parties and Movements (PDF) (Report). Impact Research. p. 18-19. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  6. ^ Woźniak-Bobińska, Marta (2020). Modern Assyrian/Syriac Diaspora in Sweden. Łódź, Poland: Department of Middle East and North Africa, University of Lodz. p. 115. ISBN 978-83-8142-360-1.
  7. ^ BarAbrahem, Abdulmesih (15 July 1997). "A National School". Augsburg, Germany: Mtakasto. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  8. ^ "The Assyrian Democratic Organization Rejects Iraq's Constitution". Assyrian International News Agency. 4 September 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Syrian security forces stopped the celebrations of the Assyrian Democratic Organization on the occasion of its anniversary". english.ankawa.com. Ankawa.com. 16 July 2010.
  10. ^ Wladimir van Wilgenburg (13 April 2017). "Assyrian faction linked to Syrian opposition meets with Kurdish TEV-DEM after office closure". ARA News. Archived from the original on 15 April 2017. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  11. ^ Kinan Sultan (17 March 2017). ""PYD" Closes Headquarters Of Anti-Assad Assyrian Party". Baladi News.
  12. ^ Louay Rhebani (1 October 2020). "Will al-Jarba's visit to Moscow achieve any geopolitical gains?". english.enabbaladi.com. Enab Baladi.
  13. ^ "ASIA/SYRIA - Christian groups join the "Front for peace and freedom" in north-east Syria". fides.org. Agenzia Fides. 31 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Assyrian Democratic Organization: al-Assad's speech puts the Syriac-Assyrian component in danger". syriacpress.com. Syriac Press. 14 December 2020.
  15. ^ "ADO Press release regarding Assad's recent statements: "Incitement and stirring up conflict between the original people of Syria."". ado-world.com. Mtakasto. 13 December 2020.
  16. ^ "Gabriel Moshe Banned from Traveling to Kurdistan Region of Iraq KRI". en.yekiti-media.org. Yekiti Media. 31 August 2021.
  17. ^ Ma'o, Khalaf (26 May 2021). "Two Syriac/Assyrian parties in Qamishli are discuss political agreement under US auspices". npasyria.com. Qamishli: North Press Agency.
  18. ^ Garcia, Alison (1 May 2021). "Assyrian Christians Seek Unity in Syria". persecution.org. al-Hasakah: International Christian Concern.
  19. ^ "Syriac Union Party and Assyrian Democratic Organization sign political understanding document in North and East Syria". syriacpress.com. Syriac Press. 1 April 2022.
  20. ^ "BETH ZALIN: Assyrian Democratic Organization officials commend the signing of Document of Political Understanding with the Syriac Union Party in Syria". syriacpress.com. Syriac Press. 3 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Northeastern Syria: The Deliberate Targeting of Infrastructure Exacerbates the Risk of Forced Displacement". hevdesti.org/. Synergy Hevdesti. 20 February 2024.
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