Sydney (AINA) -- What was supposed to be a peaceful day of voting for the future of the Republic of Iraq, turned into racial discrimination for Iraq's Assyrians and other ethnic minorities.
Assyrians who had waited in line for hours were turned away from voting. According to voting officials they did not carry appropriate documentation to show the place of birth as Iraq.
"I had documents showing my place of birth and being an Iraqi, but I think they are not allowing Assyrians to vote so that they can increase votes for other Arab Iraqi groups and in general for Muslims," said Ashur Aprim.
"It's very unfortunate we are seeing barriers preventing our Assyrian people from voting today," said Shimon Haddad, "more than 40% of our Iraqi Christians today were not able to vote, we had asked polling officials to sort out many problems and complaints but once again unfortunately we haven't been successful. Because of this we as Assyrians and Iraqi Christians are losing a large number of potential votes, we are scattered all across the world and the Iraqi's know that our votes are important for our people back home."
Assyrian locals accused officials in charge of the voting center of turning away Assyrians to further increase votes for the Kurdish and Arab Muslims of Iraq and to marginalize Iraq's indigenous Assyrians.
Iraqi and Assyrian media reported these incidents but were asked to stop by election officials, but they refused. Soon after, Fairfield Police were contacted and the press were forced to stop reporting and cameras were confiscated.
"The Al Furat newspaper journalists were stopped by Shiite and Kurdish polling officials because they were reporting the truth," said Shmouel Yowanis. "The police were called and tried to confiscate its media pass and license, and also equipment. The police also tried to stop 'The Assyrian' news from filming the incident."
According to a local Assyrian, "Fairfield police had no right to involve themselves and confiscate cameras belonging to the press. We live in democratic Australia where we are guaranteed the right to freedom of speech. Fairfield police has breached this law and we demand a full and open investigation. Their was no violence, their was no privacy law breached -- the press reported on the truth and carried appropriate media passes and licenses. We demand the NSW Government investigate this matter as soon as possible."
Similar reports from the United States have been made as Assyrians from Chicago (AINA 3-9-2010) and Detroit have come forward and accused officials in charge of being "Anti-Assyrian." Some Assyrians were also turned away from voting centers in North Iraq.
http://www.aina.org/news/20100310224556.htm
Not even in the western countries Assyrians are allowed to vote!!!
Assyrians who had waited in line for hours were turned away from voting. According to voting officials they did not carry appropriate documentation to show the place of birth as Iraq.
"I had documents showing my place of birth and being an Iraqi, but I think they are not allowing Assyrians to vote so that they can increase votes for other Arab Iraqi groups and in general for Muslims," said Ashur Aprim.
"It's very unfortunate we are seeing barriers preventing our Assyrian people from voting today," said Shimon Haddad, "more than 40% of our Iraqi Christians today were not able to vote, we had asked polling officials to sort out many problems and complaints but once again unfortunately we haven't been successful. Because of this we as Assyrians and Iraqi Christians are losing a large number of potential votes, we are scattered all across the world and the Iraqi's know that our votes are important for our people back home."
Assyrian locals accused officials in charge of the voting center of turning away Assyrians to further increase votes for the Kurdish and Arab Muslims of Iraq and to marginalize Iraq's indigenous Assyrians.
Iraqi and Assyrian media reported these incidents but were asked to stop by election officials, but they refused. Soon after, Fairfield Police were contacted and the press were forced to stop reporting and cameras were confiscated.
"The Al Furat newspaper journalists were stopped by Shiite and Kurdish polling officials because they were reporting the truth," said Shmouel Yowanis. "The police were called and tried to confiscate its media pass and license, and also equipment. The police also tried to stop 'The Assyrian' news from filming the incident."
According to a local Assyrian, "Fairfield police had no right to involve themselves and confiscate cameras belonging to the press. We live in democratic Australia where we are guaranteed the right to freedom of speech. Fairfield police has breached this law and we demand a full and open investigation. Their was no violence, their was no privacy law breached -- the press reported on the truth and carried appropriate media passes and licenses. We demand the NSW Government investigate this matter as soon as possible."
Similar reports from the United States have been made as Assyrians from Chicago (AINA 3-9-2010) and Detroit have come forward and accused officials in charge of being "Anti-Assyrian." Some Assyrians were also turned away from voting centers in North Iraq.
http://www.aina.org/news/20100310224556.htm
Not even in the western countries Assyrians are allowed to vote!!!