The monument was unveiled in the Assyrian Martyrs’ Square, located in the center of the town of Tell Tamer. The ceremony was attended by members of the Assyrian community as well as representatives of political and social organizations from the region.
The memorial was established as a permanent tribute to the Assyrian men and women who died in different periods of conflict and violence, while also preserving their memory for future generations. Speeches delivered during the ceremony emphasized the importance of remembering the sacrifices of the martyrs and passing their legacy on to younger generations.
Tell Tamer and the surrounding Khabur region have a long-established Assyrian presence. The area became home to thousands of Assyrians who settled there after surviving the massacres and persecution of the early 20th century, including survivors of the 1933 Simele Massacre in Iraq. The community subsequently established dozens of villages along the Khabur River.
The region has also experienced renewed violence in recent decades. In February 2015, ISIS attacked Assyrian villages along the Khabur River, abducting more than 200 Assyrians and forcing thousands of residents to flee. Assyrian political and community organizations have since continued to hold commemorations for those killed and abducted during the attacks.
The Khabur region is today mostly emptied of Assyrians with most estimates putting the number of remaining Assyrians at around five hundred individuals. Some of the mostly empty Assyrian villages have been used to house Arabs and Kurds from other parts of Syria, sparking fears among Assyrians that the refugees will stay permanently.
