Assyrians Captured By ISIS Now At 150, Negotiations for Their Release in Progress

Hasaka, Syria (AINA) — The number of Assyrians captured by ISIS in yesterday’s attacks (AINA 2015-02-23) is now estimated to be at 150. ISIS attacked the 35 Assyrian villages on the Khabur river in Hasaka, Syria, killing at least 4 Assyrians guards who were defending their villages. There has been fierce fighting since yesterday between ISIS and Assyrian and Kurdish militia. Up to 130 ISIS members have been killed.

Negotiations to free some of the hostages are ongoing. Prominent Arab Sheiks in Hasaka are acting as intermediaries between ISIS and Assyrian leaders. The Sheiks are pushing ISIS to at least release the Assyrians who did not fight. According to sources in Hasaka, ISIS has agreed in principle to release those Assyrians who offered no resistance but flatly rejected releasing those who fought back.

The group of Assyrians that may be released is believed to be being held in Abdul Aziz Mountain, approximately 60 kilometers from the Assyrian villages where they were captured. This group of Assyrians is from the villages of Tel Goran, Abu Tina and Tel Jazira.

Nine Assyrians Killed

At least nine Assyrians have been killed fighting ISIS, they are:

• Milad Sammy Adam
• George Maholian
• Tamir Darwish
• Marius Hurmiz
• Simon Somo
• Abraham Qatina
• Joseph Afeh
• Julian Osi
• Haysam from Hasaka

ISIS has captured 12 Assyrian fighters from Tel Tamar, including two females.

Refugees Need Shelter

The Assyrians who managed to escape to Hasaka and Qamishli left only with the clothes on their backs. There is a critical need for shelter for the 3000 Assyrian refugees.

The Assyrian community in Sydney collected 60,000 Australian dollars yesterday in an emergency fundraiser. The money will be sent to Syria to aid the refugees.

Bishop Meelis Zaia, the Metropolitan of Australia and New Zealand for the Assyrian Church of the East, is meeting with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and other branches of government to request aid for the Assyrians who have been displaced by the ISIS attacks.

Assyrian American Bishops sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the ISIS Attacks on Assyrians (AINA 2015-02-26). The Bishops called for arming the Assyrians:

The dire situation of the Assyrian Christians in Khabur, therefore, calls for immediate action by the US and other coalition forces present in the area to provide them with safety and the necessary means to properly and effectively defend themselves. We believe that our president’s administration in particular is morally obliged to secure the continued safety of the remaining Assyrian Christians in the Khabur region. We implore your good offices to bring this message directly to the attention of President Obama, and that our government act by taking concrete steps to help the remaining Assyrian Christians in the region to protect themselves, and to put a stop to the atrocities brought about by these fundamentalists who have created havoc in the Middle East.

The following is a partial list of the Assyrians captured by ISIS:

Village of Tel Hurmiz

1. Solomon Safar Gilyana
2. George Bolus Esho
3. Fuad Oshana Younan
4. Elias Darmo Warda
5. Youkhanna Bolbul Qatina
6. Zaya Benjamin Dinkha
7. Rihana Benjamin Dikha
8. Wedad Eliya Younan
9. Shamiran Esho Younan
10. Naima
11. Hermiz Gewargis Khano

Village of Qaber Shamiyeh

1. Enyir Warda Abdal
2. Fawwaz Joseph Tammo
3. Awiya Youkina Mallik Hermiz

Village of Tel Goran

1. Yikhannis Adam
2. Michael Mirza
3. Elias Mirza
4. Abdo Mirza
5. Mirza Mirza
6. Wegram Mirza
7. Fabronia Mirza
8. Miryana Mirza (6 Years old)
9. Wegram Mirza (unconfirmed)
10. George Ishmael
11. Ishmael Ishmael
12. Joseph Ishmael (unconfirmed)
13. George Esho
14. Salem Dashto
15. Aweya Zaya
16. Joseph Zaya
17. Joel Zaya (unconfirmed)
18. Tato Odisho
19. Jamil Odisho
20. George Odisho
21. Jamil Kolyat
22. Awiya Wegram
23. Joseph Esho
24. Najma Youkhanna
25. Mirza Khaya (unconfirmed)
26. 5 unnamed women

Village of Tel Fweidat

1. Sargon Ninos
2. Joseph Ninos
3. Wedad Rihana Benjamin
4. Mayo Karko Hanna

Village of Tel Jazira

1. Shwel Esha
2. Hanan Esha
3. Munira Esha
4. Amira Esha
5. Ramziya Rihana
6. Raswina Esha
7. Mariam Gawriyeh
8. Abdul-Massih Noya
9. Iris Darmo
10. Sheren Darmo
11. Jamila Kako
12. Mansour Darmo (Child)
13. Najiba Youkhanna
14. Joseph Youkhanna
15. Firyal Youkhanna
16. Hanna Youkhanna (Child)
17. Mary Youkhanna (Child)
18. Sorin Youkhanna (Child)
19. Edwisha Youkhanna
20. Elissa Ishmael
21. Hamson Youkhanna
22. Salwa Roel
23. Bironia Samo
24. Amana Kako
25. Manal Kako
26. Adam Kako
27. Farida Kako
28. Shamiran Kako
29. Helana Kako
30. Shwarekh Khoshaba
31. Elizabeth Khoshaba
32. Malak
33. Khorshid Giwargis
34. Gabi Ishmael
35. Mouna Esha
36. Jessica Ishmael (Child)
37. Sharbel Ishmael (Child)
38. Wanes Ishmael
39. Ishtar Ishmael
40. Timatios Ishmael
41. Shamiran Mako
42. Marleen Ishmael
43. Miryana Ishmael
44. Ashor Nidor
45. Roel Dinkha
46. Aweshalem Dinkha
47. Sadeq Ishmael
48. Loudia Hermiz
49. Rami Ishmael
50. Michael Ishmael
51. Ninorta Ishmael
52. Giwargis Ishm

There are 35 contiguous Assyrian villages on both sides of the Khabur river, stretching 80 kilometers west from Hassaka to Ras al-Ain. The remaining inhabitants of these villages, some 3000, have now been evacuated, most to Hasaka and about 200 to Qamishli. Hundreds have taken refuge in St. Mary church in Hasaka and and St. Ephrem church in Qamishli.

Three weeks ago ISIS ordered Assyrians in the region of Hassaka to remove the crosses from their churches and to pay jizya (Christian poll tax), warning residents that if they failed to pay they would have to leave or else be killed (AINA 2015-02-03).