Rep. Slotkin, whose 7th congressional district includes Lansing and extends as far East as South Lyon, introduced the resolution to address various Christian communities and call for Iraq to create an ongoing fund dedicated to rebuilding their towns.
Read MoreHanan Qia and Ghazwan Alyass are independent contractors who joined the staff of the Chaldean Community Foundation in 2022 in order to be the eyes and ears of the CCF, which is currently working on rebuilding villages and creating economic opportunities for the people of the Nineveh Plain in Iraq. They were here in Michigan recently to attend the Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce’s Awards Dinner and to tour the Chaldean Community Foundation.
Read MoreThe Chaldean American Chamber of Commerce is considering investing in the Nineveh Plains of northern Iraq, a region where a large portion of the population are Christians and saw massive destruction following the brutal arrival of the Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014.
Martin Manna, who heads the Chamber of Commerce, told Rudaw that “these are our ancestor’s lands. This is important for us to invest in places where we have quite a large population.
“This is likely the best place in all of Iraq and we want to maintain our identity, our culture, our language in this region.”
Read MoreUnusually cold temperatures did not put a damper on Assyrian, Chaldean, and Syriac celebrations of Akitu, the Assyrian-Babylonian New Year, in the Kurdistan Region on Saturday. Akitu marks the revival of nature in the spring and the ancient festival was dedicated to the rebirth of the ancient Mesopotamian god Marduk and his victory when he created the world out of chaos.
Read MoreFor decades now, Mosul’s Christians haven’t been able to worship in their churches because their city was racked with insecurity and violence. But on Sunday, April 2, 2023, Holy Mass was celebrated at the Monastery of Saint Michael for the first time in more than 20 years. It was officiated by Archbishop Najib Mikhael Moussa, who was overjoyed to be able to conduct the service there.
Read MoreALQOSH, Iraq — On 4 April, the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people of Alqosh, located in northern Nineveh Plains in Iraq, held the Alqosh Market Festival. The event was attended by residents from other regions and Alqosh residents who came from the diaspora.
Read MoreIn 2017, the Trump administration escalated the deportation of Iraqi nationals, including many who had lived in the metro Detroit area for decades. These individuals had been convicted of felonies in the past, preventing them from becoming US citizens. They were here legally, but America under Trump didn’t want them.
Read MoreThe history of alcohol in Iraq stretches thousands of years, back to the invention of beer in ancient Mesopotamia. Their ruins are full of hundreds of clay tablets that record the methods and means of making and drinking beer; some even depict drink councils. Cups and vessels for drinking and manufacturing wine are also frequently found among the artifacts.
Read MoreFor much of history and in many lands, being Christian was considered an act of treason and failure to renounce that belief would result in a death sentence. Called to witness for God and Christ the Savior, these nine brave souls paid the ultimate price for their faith.
Read MoreBetween the fall of 2021 and the fall of 2022, 5,621 Christians were killed, 4,542 were arrested, and 5,259 were kidnapped around the world, according to the Christian international network Open Doors. In addition, over 2,000 churches and church buildings were the target of violence. Almost one in seven Christians worldwide were persecuted, with those in the Middle East bearing the brunt of the hatred.
Read MoreThe Iraqi constitution guarantees “personal, religious and cultural freedom,” protestors say to a law that prohibits the sale of alcohol in the country say the law violates the constitution.
Read More“European customers are switching to electric vehicles at a faster rate than anywhere in the world.” So says Jaclyn McQuaid, and she should know. GM is all-in on EV, investing $35 billion through 2025 in electric and autonomous vehicle technology in Europe, and Jaclyn oversees the entire operation on that side of the pond.
Read MoreIn October 2022, Dr. Paulo Botta visited San Salvador de Jujuy and El Carmen, two towns of the Jujuy province in the north of Argentina. There he met with descendants of Chaldean Iranians who immigrated to Argentina between 1900 and 1930. Botta, a professor of Social Sciences affiliated with the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, explained, “Nobody even knows about that group of Chaldean families who arrived here almost a century ago.”
Read MoreChildren in Iraq make playgrounds where they are able, including the grounds of churches. In Tilkepe, kids play street soccer near the Sacred Heart Church, an area that parents believe to be the safest place for their kids to play. Many churches were destroyed by ISIS in recent years but are now being rebuilt.
Read MoreThe Patriarch of Baghdad, Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, warned that “future generations will be without faith” unless Churches overcome their differences to address the reality of life in the region.
Read MoreA first communion mass was held in April in the St. George’s Chaldean Church in Iraq which was destroyed by the Islamic State in 2014 and rebuilt through the Hungary Helps Program.
Read MoreDivision brought us to the point of near extinction. Every generation before ours focused on our differences and ignored our similarities. On December 16, 2022, we reached a turning point. Four names, four flags, and five patriarchs united under a single identity: Suraye.
Read MoreAs one of the world’s most popular beverages, tea has fascinated us, stimulated us, motivated us, and calmed us for well over two thousand years. Tea, or “chai,” as we call it in Iraq, is an authentic part of the local heritage. The Iraq’s long love affair with tea is amazing and historic, although it is difficult to cultivate in Iraq because it needs special environmental conditions.
Read MoreIn late November, an historic delegation of community leaders from Detroit’s Chaldean community and several U.S. legislators toured northern Iraq and took notice of the living situation of the Chaldean families remaining there. Working with many different people and organizations, the delegation has planned many programs to support the community in Iraq.
Read MoreThere was a sadness in their eyes, but they were happy to pose. When I pulled out my phone to take a picture, they stood up straight and simultaneously pulled their arms behind their backs. They stared straight at me.
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