Erbil, Kurdistan Region – Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani today marked the 92nd anniversary of the Simele Massacre, paying tribute to the thousands of Assyrian civilians killed in the 1933 atrocities committed by the then-royal regime of Iraq.

In a solemn statement posted on his official Twitter account, President Barzani honored the memory of the victims, stating: *"Today, on the 92nd anniversary of the Simele Massacre, we honor the memory of the innocent Assyrian victims who, in 1933—alongside the people of over sixty villages in Mosul and Dohuk—were brutally killed by the then-royal regime of Iraq."*

The President reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region's commitment to protecting its diverse communities, adding: "We reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding Kurdistan's rich cultural diversity, fostering coexistence, and mutual respect. This land has been, and will always remain, a home for all its people."

The Simele Massacre was part of a wider campaign of violence against Assyrians in Iraq following the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire. In August 1933, Iraqi forces under the command of General Bakr Sidqi attacked dozens of Assyrian villages, killing an estimated 3,000 civilians and displacing thousands more. The massacre remains a painful chapter in Iraq's history and is considered by many historians as an early example of 20th-century genocide.

The Kurdistan Region has long positioned itself as a safe haven for religious and ethnic minorities, including Assyrians, Yazidis, and others who have faced persecution in Iraq. President Barzani's statement underscores the Region's ongoing efforts to promote reconciliation and preserve the rights of all communities.