Indigenous Assyrians

Assyrian aboriginal peoples from what is now known as Iraq and Turkey retain their indigenous language and customs, but struggle for autonomy and nationhood.

Assyrian indigenous people have petitioned international organizations and governments numerous times over the last century, and have continually been denied sovereignty.

They have retained customary links to land, language and culture, despite horrific genocide and dispossession that has removed half of their population in recent history. The homeless nation of Assyria has its own flag.

Since 2005, a few international governments (surprisingly including Australia) have been speaking out in favour of Assyrian autonomy. However, Assyrian indigenous land rights and autonomy are still far from being reality.

Some Kurdish indigenous peoples have actually been granted native title on Assyrian traditional lands. Read more here.