'A place in our hearts': an historic visit to the city of Habbanyah

The ChaldoAssyrian students and Youth Union organised a visit to Habbanyah, a city 85 km west of Baghdad in Al-Anbar Province, in central Iraq. A military airfield, RAF Habbaniya, was the site of a battle in 1941, during World War II.

Visitors praying at the old collapsed church of Mar Sawa Credit: ChaldoAssyrian union

Key Points

• The invitation extended by the Governor of AL-Anbar province
• The visit is a statement that Assyrians are the original people of Iraq
• First Large Assyrian prresence in the city for decades

Assyrians lived for decades in this city. Most of them were families of the British LEVIS during World War II.

From the mid-fifties of the last century onward, most Assyrian families left the city and went to Baghdad and other parts of Iraq.

Habbanyah has an important place in the hearts of thousands of Assyrians—especially those who lived there. Many athletes, writers and artists came from this city.

In the last eighty-five years, no Assyrians have been living there and Iraqi Arabs now occupy most of this city.

The ChaldoAssyrian Students and Youth Union took with them over one hundred people for a visit that, for some, was considered a pilgrimage.

A lunch for the visitors was prepared by the city officials Credit: ChaldoAsyrian Union

Naseem Sadiq spoke to the President of the Baghdad branch of the union, Mr Sarkis Youkhannna, who said that this trip was an initiative to remind many Assyrians of the memories of their parents who lived there and to prove, the Assyrians still exist in their homeland.

Mr Youkhanna is a member of the Iraqi Youth Parliament and has many friends in the Iraqi civil Society who live in the province of An; they repeatedly have asked him to bring the Assyrians to visit the city and celebrate their history and memories and visit the churches and the old clubs that were established since the mid-forties last century.

Mr Youkhanna said, “two buses and some private cars took this historical visit and about a hundred Assyrians joined this trip,”

The union had to limit the number of visitors for security reasons and the logistic of organising the trip,”. Mr Youkhanna told SBS.

At the entrance of the old Mar Sawa Church Credit: ChaldoAssyrian union

Mr Youkhanna said,” The visit was officially extended to us by the governor of Al-Anbar Province and police who were notified came and escorted us to the city,”

Residents of the town received the Assyrian visitors with flowers and Olive Branches as a symbol of tolerance and brotherhood.

Some members of the visiting party Credit: ChaldoAssyrian Union

Few families who visited the city have lived in Habbanyah and they had Arab neighbours who welcomed them and invited them for lunch, and they insisted that the visitors stay the night at their places.

This visit was a statement that Assyrians were the original inhabitants of the city, but most importantly, Assyrians are the original people of Iraq.

Sarkis Youkhanna

 A prayer was conducted at Mar Sawa of the Assyrian Church of the East; the visitors went to the famous Iraqi tourist spot, the Lake of Al-Habbanyah.

Visitors at the lake of Al-Habbanyah on sunset Credit: ChaldoAssyrian union

Mr Khoushaba said the most amazing thing the visitors noticed was many Arab inhabitants in Habbanyah are still able to speak the Assyrian language.

The Arab neighbours told the visitors; whenever the parents want to communicate secretly in front of their children, they talk to Assyrians.

Some of the national and local media covered this visit in their news. Mr Youkhanna repeatedly told the media that this visit was proof that Assyrians still exist and are a vital part of this country.