JUNE 2024

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY VOL. 21 ISSUE V JUNE 2024 

‘ON THE JOB’ 

MEET THE STERLING HEIGHTS 

POLICE DEPARTMENT’S 

CHALDEAN ‘A-TEAM’ 

Featuring: 

Mayor of Hamdaniya 

Going the Extra Mile 

Daggas to Tattoos

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4 CHALDEAN NEWS JUNE 2024

METRO DETROIT CHALDEAN COMMUNITY | JUNE 2024 | VOL. 21 ISSUE V 

ON THE COVER 

14 On the Job 

Meet Sterling Heights’ Chaldean officers 

By Cal Abbo 

FEATURES 

18 High Stakes 

Legalized gambling leaves wake of needs 

By Paul Natinsky 

20 Moving the Needle 

June covers through the years 

By Sarah Kittle 

14 

22 From the Outside 

A uniquely close-knit community 


24 Honoring History 

Birth of the Chaldean Cultural Center 

By Cal Abbo 

DEPARTMENTS 

46 A Night of Culture 

Chaldean Story event 

By Cal Abbo 

6 From the Editor 

A Time of Growth 


38 Culture & History 

Mayor of Hamdaniya (Arabic) 

By Dr. Adhid Miri 

8 Foundation Update 

Athena Award Nomination, 

Balance & Breathe, M-SWELL 


Daggas to Tattoos 


10 Noteworthy 

Miles for Smiles 

12 Chaldean Digest 

LTU in Iraq, Genocide, Sheetz 


Mayor of Hamdaniya 



Daggas to Tattoos (Arabic) 


48 Events 

CACC Awards Dinner, Palmer Park 

50 From the Archive 

Baba! 

10 


FROM THE EDITOR 

PUBLISHED BY 

Chaldean News, LLC 

Chaldean Community Foundation 

EDITORIAL 

EDITOR IN CHIEF 

Sarah Kittle 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Cal Abbo 

Sarah Kittle 

Dr. Adhid Miri 

Paul Natinsky 

ART & PRODUCTION 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR 

Alex Lumelsky with SKY Creative 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

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PHOTOGRAPHERS 

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Subscriptions: $35 per year 

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Story ideas: edit@chaldeannews.com 

Advertisements: ads@chaldeannews.com 

Subscription and all other inquiries: 

info@chaldeannews.com 

Chaldean News 

30095 Northwestern Hwy, Suite 101 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334 

www.chaldeannews.com 

Phone: (248) 851-8600 

Publication: The Chaldean News (P-6); 

Published monthly; Issue Date: June 2024 

Subscriptions: 12 months, $35. 

Publication Address: 

30095 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 101, 

Farmington Hills, MI 48334; 

Permit to mail at periodicals postage rates 

is on file at Farmington Hills Post Office 

Postmaster: Send address changes to 

“The Chaldean News 30095 Northwestern 

Hwy., Suite 101, Farmington Hills, MI 48334” 

A Time of Growth 

Spring, with its gentle warmth and vibrant 

blooms, offers more than just a visual treat. 

It serves as a poignant metaphor for personal 

growth and renewal. Much like the earth awakening 

from its winter slumber, we can harness the 

energy of spring to embark on our own journeys of 

self-discovery and development. 

Our cover story this month focuses on six police 

officers of Chaldean heritage who serve in the 

Sterling Heights Police Department. Most of them 

were inspired to pursue law enforcement careers 

by witnessing good policing as a child. They 

chose to work for the Sterling Heights force because it has 

an excellent reputation, and Sterling Heights welcomed the 

recruits because the city has a large Chaldean population. 

These officers share an excellent example of individual career 

development. 

I love this season when nature demonstrates the power 

of resilience and transformation. Trees that once stood bare 

now burst forth with fresh green leaves, symbolizing the 

shedding of old, stagnant habits and the embrace of new 

beginnings. Similarly, personal growth often requires shedding 

limiting beliefs and behaviors that no longer serve us, 

making room for growth and expansion. 

Paul Natinsky’s article on gambling addiction includes 

Father John Jaddou’s private journey of growth and reflection, 

as he had a very personal experience with gambling 

as a teen. The needs and desires that drive us in our youth 

can create havoc in our adult lives; however, they can also 

inspire something greater, like Father John counseling youth 

about the dangers of addictive gambling or David Antone 

and some of his high school pals founding a charity to bring 

smiles to the faces of pediatric cancer patients. 

Hope springs eternal. The longer days and increased sunlight 

of spring can also inspire us to step out of our comfort 

zones and explore new possibilities. Just as flowers stretch 

towards the sun, reaching for nourishment and light, we can 

strive to reach our fullest potential by seeking out opportunities 

for learning and self-improvement. 

Dr. Tarek Sobh, president of Lawrence Technological 

SARAH KITTLE 

EDITOR 

IN CHIEF 

University, sought out an opportunity to expand his 

school’s reach and partnered with The American 

University Iraq Baghdad (AUIB) to offer engineering 

courses. AUIB began as a dream of influential 

individuals in Iraq and United States involved in 

business, industry, and government who wanted 

a world-class institution of higher learning established 

in Baghdad, reminiscent of the days when 

the city was an educational and cultural mecca. 

The mayor of Hamdaniya in Iraq recently visited 

Michigan to attend the Chaldean American Chamber’s 

Annual Award Dinner, featured on our Events 

page. He spoke with CN staff and outlined his dreams and 

plans for the future of his city and his country. 

Spring encourages a sense of connection and community. 

As the natural world awakens, we are drawn outdoors 

to enjoy the beauty of blooming flowers and the chorus of 

birdsong. This reconnection with nature can foster a deeper 

sense of interconnectedness and remind us of our place 

within the larger tapestry of life. 

In that spirit, the CN’s Chaldean “Cultural Night” on May 

9 taught visitors to the Chaldean Community Foundation 

about the community, its history, and its customs. Historical 

music, song, and dance fed our souls, and fresh bread and 

cultural food fed our bellies as we embraced Chaldean culture 

and shared it freely with interested others. Guests had 

the opportunity to try on traditional Iraqi village garb and 

have their photo taken. It was a wonderful event, and just 

one stop on our journey to tell the Chaldean story. 

In essence, the spring season serves as a reminder that 

personal growth is an ongoing journey, much like the cycles 

of nature. By embracing the spirit of renewal and transformation 

that spring brings, we can cultivate resilience, embrace 

new possibilities, and foster a deeper connection between 

ourselves and the world around us. 

Sarah Kittle 

Editor in Chief 

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PUBLISHER'S CIRCLE 

As the publication of record for 

Michigan’s Chaldean community, 

the mission of the Chaldean News 

is to preserve and archive Chaldean 

heritage and history, and to tell the 

ongoing story of Chaldean contributions to 

the communities in which we live and work – in 

Michigan and around the world. 

In the last 5 years the Chaldean News has 

substantially increased its readership and social 

media following, introduced new digital and website 

content and expanded storytelling and video offerings 

with the help of small grant funding. 

The Publisher’s Circle is a unique opportunity for community 

members to support the Chaldean News and its continuing 

mission to be a voice for the community, wherever they 

may be. With the warmhearted help of individual and 

organizational supporters we can ensure that this important 

resource remains to educate and connect the community 

while evolving to meet the needs of future generations. 

The Chaldean News has recently launched a CN app 

and will continue to expand into new media such 

as radio and TV, all with the goal of preserving our 

culture and telling the story of our people. You can 

take part in helping to preserve your Chaldean 

heritage by joining the Publisher’s Circle today. 

Jibran “Jim” Manna 

Martin and Tamara Manna 

We are grateful for the overwhelmingly 

generous support of our community. 

To learn more, visit chaldeannews.com 

or contact us at 248-851-8600 

Let’s grow the circle. 


FOUNDATION UPDATE 

Seeking Employment 

CCF team showing support for Stacy Bahri’s nomination for the Athena Leadership Award. 

On May 1, the Chaldean Community Foundation hosted the inaugural 

Spring Community Job Fair. With almost 30 employers 

in attendance and close to 150 eager job seekers, it was an event 

to remember. 

Job seekers had the opportunity to connect with hiring professionals 

from a variety of industries and even had in-person 

interviews on the spot. 

If you’re still on the hunt for employment, meet with CCF’s 

Career Services department during walk-in days every Monday, 

Tuesday, and Thursday to explore more opportunities and kickstart 

your career journey. 

CCF Staff Member Nominated 

for Athena Award 

CCF’s Strategic Initiatives Manager, Stacy Bahri, was nominated for the 2024 Athena International 

2024 Leadership Award. 

Stacy’s journey started as a case worker, where she passionately advocated for her 

clients, helping them acculturate into American society. Today, she manages community 

outreach and strategic initiatives for the organization. 

The Athena Award has been offered by the Macomb Foundation since 1999 to transformative 

leaders, change-makers, and trailblazers for their excellence in leadership. 

Creating a Healthy Balance 

The CCF’s Balance and Breathe Program is now underway! The 

program is catered to older adults and caregivers, giving them 

the opportunity to learn chair yoga and Zumba exercises. 

The program is in collaboration with the Jewish Federation of 

North America’s Center on Holocaust Survivor Care Institute on 

Aging and Trauma. 

The program runs until September 6; For more information 

regarding the program, please contact the Chaldean Community 

Foundation at 586-722-7253. 

CCF Strategic Initiatives Manager Stacy Bahri and M-SWELL team pose for a group photo. 

M-SWELL Visits CCF 

The Macomb Student/Staff Wellbeing, Emotional Learning Launch (M-SWELL) team had 

the opportunity to visit the Chaldean Community Foundation last month to get an overview 

of programming and resources available to the greater community. 

M-SWELL’s mission is to collaborate with 22 local districts and launch the Macomb 

County Suicide Free Schools and Mental Wellbeing Initiative. 

Representatives from Warren Consolidated School District, Utica Community Schools, 

Chippewa Valley Schools, and the Macomb Intermediate School District were in attendance. 

CCF thanks the group for their dedication towards youth mental health and looks forward 

to future collaboration. 

Balance and Breathe instructors teaching chair yoga exercises 

to those in attendance. 


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NOTEWORTHY 

Going the 

Extra Mile 

High school students co-found 

Miles for Smiles, a non-profit 

to aid kids with cancer 

What can a high school student 

do nowadays to stand 

out on their college application? 

One sure way to get noticed is to 

create a charity that does good work 

and makes a significant impact on the 

community. 

Enter Miles for Smiles, a nonprofit 

PHOTOS BY ALEX LUMELSKY 

Miles for Smiles co-founders David Schmitt and David Antone 

dedicated to spreading smiles and creating 

unforgettable memories for children 

battling cancer. Select individuals 

get the chance to feel the rush of the 

racetrack, surrounded by supportive 

friends, family, and a community united 

in the fight against pediatric cancer. 

Dreamed up in the “vibrant halls” 

of Cranbrook Kingswood High School, 

the website describes “six spirited students” 

who “found themselves drawn 

together by a love for the rumble of engines 

and the thrill of speed.” 

The founding students are President 

David Schmitt, Steven Loiselle, 

David Antone, Sam Fisk, Joe Wiater, 

and Michael Aguilar. 

On May 19 at M-1 Concourse, Miles 

for Smiles hosted an event presented 

by sponsor KIDSGala that allowed pediatric 

cancer patients and their families 

to feel the adrenaline of riding in 

a high-performance race car on a controlled 

track with experienced drivers. 

“It felt very rewarding to be able to 

host wonderful families and children 

who are going through hard times,” said 

David Antone, “and to be able to put 

smiles on their faces was surreal for us.” 

Other activities included a magic 

show, face painting, ballon creations, 

photo booth and display cars. All designed 

to put a smile on kids’ faces. 

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CHALDEAN DIGEST 

Turkish Parliament decries French National Assembly’s stance on Assyrians and Chaldeans, calling for historical 

accuracy and peaceful relations between the two countries. 

Turkish Parliament Condemns French Decision 

on Assyrians, Chaldeans 

Numan Kurtulmus, Speaker of the 

Turkish Parliament, sent a letter to 

Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the 

French National Assembly, condemning 

the decision to acknowledge the 

Assyrian and Chaldean Genocide by 

the Ottoman Empire adopted by the 

French National Assembly on April 29. 

In the letter, Kurtulmus said, “We 

deeply condemn the adoption of an Assyrian-Chaldean 

bill containing baseless 

allegations against Ottoman history 

in the French National Assembly 

on April 29, 2024, at a time when we are 

trying to develop parliamentary relations 

with your country. This is a severe 

accusation that we do not deserve and 

does not align with historical facts. The 

repetition of unsubstantiated claims 

regarding the events of 1915 in the decision 

is also regrettable.” 

Kurtulmus stressed that national 

parliaments should focus on building 

bridges of peace and friendship between 

nations instead of fostering hostility. 

“Such decisions that distort historical 

facts or make arbitrary genocide allegations, 

despite the clear definition in 

international law, cast a shadow on the 

credibility of parliaments. Moreover, 

parliaments have neither a scientific 

nor a judicial role in writing history.” 

The letter went on to say, “The 

years of World War I are remembered 

in history as a period when all peoples 

of the Ottoman Empire were victims, 

regardless of religion or ethnic origin. 

The political exploitation of history 

and the selective, biased, and distorted 

interpretation of past grievances 

will only fuel extremist and populist 

politics with discrimination, religious 

hatred, and xenophobia. Encouraging 

reason and common sense in the face 

of hatred and enmity should be the primary 

duty of the political institution. I 

hope for the positive advancement of 

relations between our countries and 

wish you success in your efforts in this 

direction.” 

– turkiyenewspaper.com 

Madison Heights officials reject Sheetz gas station 

proposal during contentious meeting 

The Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce’s advocacy efforts paid off 

on May 14 when Madison Heights City 

Council rejected a request to open a 

Sheetz location in the city. Sheetz is 

an Altoona, Pennsylvania-based company 

that specializes in large-footprint 

gas station/convenience stores. 

Opposition to their opening came 

from residents who object to the 24- 

hour operation as well as business 

owners who feel the large chain would 

adversely affect their businesses. The 

CACC’s Sharkey Haddad participated 

in a letter writing campaign and helped 

organize protestors who attended the 

Madison Heights City Council meeting. 

Sheetz proposals had recently 

faced opposition or been rejected in 

Fraser, Rochester Hills, and Waterford. 

Attendees at the Madison Heights 

meeting held up red placards that 

said, “Stop Sheetz.” 

Community energy ran high, 

and applause rang out after several 

speeches against the proposal, one of 

which was made by Sharkey Haddad. 

Sharkey said, ““The Chaldean 

Chamber of Commerce has its eyes 

on the prize, we focus on supporting 

small businesses who are the backbone 

of every city, every state and nationally.” 

– Detroit Free Press 

LTU President 

and Iraqi Prime 

Minister meet 

to discuss 

engineering 

education 

The presence of tech, specifically Lawrence 

Technological University (LTU), is 

growing in Iraq. On a recent visit to the 

metro Detroit area, the Iraqi prime minister, 

Mohammed Shia’ Al Sudani, had 

the opportunity to speak with LTU’s 

president Dr. Tarek Sobh about the university’s 

agreement with the American 

University in Baghdad (AUIB). 

“This pivotal encounter underscores 

Lawrence Technological University’s 

commitment to global education 

and transformative international 

partnerships,” Sobh said of the meeting. 

“We look forward to the economic 

contributions and knowledge impact 

this vibrant collaboration will bring.” 

LTU helped create a new College 

of Engineering at AUIB, supported in 

part by the U.S. Department of State. 

“This initiative will not only enhance 

academic and research opportunities 

but also set a global standard in engineering 

education and research,” 

Sobh said. “The prime minister has 

graciously extended the support of the 

Iraqi government for this transformative 

project, emphasizing the shared 

vision and commitment towards educational 

and research excellence.” 

Sobh also credited the Chaldean 

American Chamber of Commerce and 

its president, LTU Board of Trustees 

member Martin Manna, for their role 

in the AUIB collaboration, as well as 

the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in 

Washington, Iraqi ambassador to the 

United States Nazar Al Khirullah, the 

Iraqi Consulate General in Detroit, the 

Consul General of Iraq in Detroit Muhamad 

Hassan S. Muhamad, and the 

Prime Minister‘s Office, Republic of Iraq. 

– Techcentury.com 


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COVER STORY 

PHOTOS BY JOSÉ MARRERO 

On the Job 

Meet Sterling Heights’ Chaldean Police Officers 

BY CAL ABBO 

Over the last few decades, Sterling 

Heights has become the 

capital of metro Detroit’s Chaldean 

community. According to data 

from the 2010s, around 25% of the 

population in Michigan’s fourth largest 

city, more than 30,000 people, is 

Chaldean or Iraqi. Almost certainly, 

that number is higher now. 

In general, the city is known for 

its diverse population and immigrant 

communities. The Sterling Heights 

Police Department (SHPD) is a large 

part of the city’s success. Over several 

years, the department has hired a few 

Chaldean officers so they can connect 

with and better understand such a 

large portion of their community. Here 

are vignettes of six Chaldean police officers 

that work with the SHPD. 

Police Officer Danny Delly 

Delly was born in Michigan, and his 

parents made sure to teach him and 

his siblings both English and Sureth. 

He’s wanted to work with the police 

since he was around five years old. 

One of his neighbors was an officer 

for Madison Heights and inspired him 

from a young age. The same neighbor 

pinned his badge at his police academy 

graduation ceremony. 

After graduating high school in 

2016, Delly obtained his associate degree 

in criminal justice from Macomb 

Community College. He graduated 

from the Macomb police academy in 

2019 and worked as an officer in Dearborn 

Heights for five years until coming 

to Sterling Heights, where he heard 

great things about the department and 

the opportunities available. “Protecting 

and serving in the community that I 

grew up in means a lot to me,” he said. 

Delly enjoys solving crimes, helping 

people on their worst day, and protecting 

others from criminals. He plans 

to become a part of the Crime Suppression 

Unit as well as Traffic. Eventually, 

he wants to become a road Sergeant 

and then a Lieutenant. 

POLICE continued on page 16 



Sergeant-Training Coordinator 

Jassin Hakim 

Hakim was born in Grosse Pointe 

Farms. He grew up watching the TV 

show “CHiPs”, a crime drama series 

that follows the lives of two motorcycle 

officers in the California Highway 

Patrol. He admired the two main 

characters, Ponch and John, for their 

dedication to helping others and apprehending 

criminals. “My admiration 

for their work left me with a clear 

conviction that I would pursue a career 

as a police officer when I grew 

up,” he said. 

Two mentors helped Hakim along 

the way. His father taught him to value 

kindness and generosity while his 

Uncle Bassam, a former member of the 

military who became a police officer, 

guided him through his own journey 

and mentored him during his career. 

Hakim started out as a military 

policeman, which gave him the skills 

required for his later career in law 

enforcement. He grew up in Sterling 

Heights and loves that he can serve 

and protect the community he calls 

home. Hakim plans to advance further 

within the department and in 

his career as an officer. Eventually he 

wants to play a role in shaping the direction 

of the SHPD. 

“I love helping people, whether 

it’s aiding an elderly individual or offering 

support to a victim of a crime,” 

he said. “One of the challenges of 

being an officer, however, is bearing 

witness to the darker aspects of humanity.” 

Police Officer Esho Matty 

Matty was born in Iraq, went to Turkey 

in 2010, and came to Michigan 

two years later. His parents did not 

speak English, and now Matty is trilingual, 

speaking Arabic, Chaldean, 

and English. 

He’s always wanted to become a 

police officer because he enjoys helping 

people, especially those who feel 

helpless. Matty graduated from high 

school in 2016 and worked full-time at 

Penn Station making sandwiches. He 

received his associate’s degree from 

Macomb Community College in 2019 

and finished the police academy the 

next year. 

After policing for three years in 

Grosse Pointe Park, Matty joined the 

SHPD at the end of last year because 

he heard great things about it and 

saw how many different departments 

he could join. Finally, he was policing 

the city in which he grew up. 

In the future, Matty wants to be a 

part of the narcotics bureau and promoted 

to Sergeant. 

Sergeant of the Directed Patrol 

Unit Lamar Kashat 

Kashat was born in Royal Oak and 

grew up in Saginaw. His parents immigrated 

to the U.S. in the 1970s. He 

grew up surrounded by police officers, 

witnessing their professionalism and 

how they always helped others. Their 

dedication, integrity, and commitment 

to the community inspired him to pursue 

a career in law enforcement. 

In addition, Kashat noticed Chaldeans 

were underrepresented in law 

enforcement and wanted to change 

that. As he grew up, he watched his 

parents build a business from the 

ground up. “Seeing their determination, 

resilience, and unwavering dedication 

taught me invaluable lessons 

about hard work, perseverance, and 

the rewards of turning dreams into 

reality,” Kashat said. 

Kashat attended Delta Community 

College and later earned a bachelor’s 

degree in criminal justice from Saginaw 

Valley State University. In 2007, 

he graduated from the police academy, 

fulfilling his dream. 

After his family and friends encouraged 

him to apply to the SHPD, 

Kashat looked into it and liked what 

he saw. “I’ve long aspired to join a 

forward-thinking agency that offered 

opportunities for advancement,” he 

said. “Moreover, the department’s diverse 

range of law enforcement areas 

presented an enticing opportunity 

for professional growth and development.” 

Kashat enjoys helping and serving 

the community as part of being a police 

officer. He loves the camaraderie 

he has with his fellow officers and the 

fact that his days are never boring and 

are never the same. 

He likes all the roles he gets to 

play as an officer, including mentor, 

counselor, and advisor. In the future, 

Kashat aims to develop the units he’s 

involved in and cultivate the future 

leaders of our agency. “I’m committed 

to advancing our agency’s progress 

and maintaining its forward momentum,” 

he said. “My ultimate goal is to 

eventually lead this police agency.” 

Police Officer Natan Bittou 

Bittou was born in Baghdad and came 

to the United States in 2007. When he 

left his hometown, he was worried he 

would never get to experience his culture 

to the same extent ever again. “I 

was wrong,” he said. “I lived in Sterling 

Heights as soon as I arrived and 

felt like I was home again. I learned 

that our Chaldean culture will always 

adapt and remain strong no matter 

where we’re located.” 

Bittou’s family has an extensive 

military background which informed 

his decision to become a police officer. 

He attended Macomb Community 

College and Madonna University 

while working a full-time job. Just as 

well, for Bittou, the police academy 

was physically and mentally challenging, 

but he never considered another 

path. 

“I always wanted to join the SHPD 

since I was in college because I grew 

up in Sterling Heights,” he said. “I 

went to school here and my entire 

family lives in the city. SHPD is known 

to be the best department in the State 

of Michigan and I am honored to be a 

part of it.” 

To fulfill his role as a police officer, 

Bittou tries to involve himself in the 

community by attending events and 

conducting follow ups after his police 

calls. He’s highly proactive during his 

shifts and frequently makes arrests. In 

the future, Bittou wants to be promoted 

and serve in a special unit in the SHPD. 

Detective Edwar Talia 

Talia was born in Baghdad and immigrated 

to America with his family in 

1995. His main contact was his aunt, 

who sponsored his family. “I saw my 

aunt had a few businesses that were 

thriving, and her family was doing 

great,” he said. “One of her sons told 

me that you can achieve anything in 

America as long as you are driven, motivated, 

and determined to succeed no 

matter the obstacles.” 

When he lived in Iraq, Talia’s 

grandmother took him to church every 

Sunday. On the way home, they would 

stop by the local police department 

behind her house. These interactions 

had a huge influence on Talia and 

helped him decide to become a police 

officer later in life. 

“I love helping people, whether it’s aiding an elderly individual 

or offering support to a victim of a crime. One of the challenges 

of being an officer, however, is bearing witness to the darker 

aspects of humanity.” – Jassin Hakim 

Talia started college hoping to become 

an architect, but he changed his 

mind after concluding it would be a 

boring career. He obtained an associate 

degree and then attended the police 

academy. “It was difficult to get a job as 

a police officer in 2013, but I landed a 

part time position with the Highland 

Park Police Department in 2015.” 

After a while, Talia’s goal became 

to work for SHPD. He wondered what 

made the department the best in the 

state, and eventually found his answer. 

The SHPD offers growth and 

development, different bureaus and 

units, and citizens love the police department. 

Talia also loves helping and protecting 

people. His favorite experience 

on the job occurred when he was training 

Officer Natan Bittou. “We were 

dispatched to an address that we had 

been to earlier in the day on a family 

dispute,” he said. “We looked through 

the windows and saw someone lying 

on the couch unresponsive. We entered 

the house, began CPR, and ultimately 

saved her life.” 

In the future, Talia wants to get 

promoted to Sergeant, then Lieutenant, 

and finally Captain. 


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FEATURE 

High Stakes 

Legalized gambling leaves wake of addiction treatment needs 

BY PAUL NATINSKY 

In 2018, newly legalized sports gambling exploded 

across the country. With 34 states legalizing 

wagering on athletic contests, companies such 

as DraftKings and FanDuel swooped in with easyto-use 

apps, glitzy ads and magnetic celebrity endorsements. 

Tie-ins with professional sports teams, 

leagues, and networks helped further move sports 

betting out of the shady world of bookies and loan 

sharks and onto a bright playground of easy winnings, 

fun gimmick bets, and enticing incentives. 

Ease-of-use enhancements accompanied the 

image makeover. No longer did a bettor have to get 

dressed and head to a shady bar to put a dime on the 

Lions. Getting down on a game is now as simple as a 

click on a smartphone. You can even make bets on a 

game during the game. 

With stigma evaporated and betting made virtual, 

the numbers are what you’d expect them to 

be—way up. The sports betting industry in the United 

States posted a record $10.92 billion in revenue 

in 2023, a 44.5% increase from 2022, which also set 

a record, according to an ESPN report. In Michigan, 

where sports betting has been legal since 2020, the 

numbers reflect the national boom. 

When all forms of legalized gambling are considered, 

the Great Lakes State ranks in the top 10, racking 

up $1.92 billion in gross receipts for all forms of 

legal gambling and a No. 1 ranking from online gaming 

alone. This windfall netted the state more than 

$300 million in tax revenue last year. 

This spike in online gambling, particularly in a 

state that runs several lotteries and hosts casinos 

throughout its borders, has created greatly increased 

opportunities for those who are susceptible 

to develop destructive gambling addictions. 

“In the first year since the legalization 

of sports betting and online gambling 

in Michigan, more than 4,400 calls were 

made to Michigan’s problem gambling 

helpline in 2021. This is nearly triple the 

number of calls received in 2020, the 

year before online gambling was approved,” 

reported the Michigan Department 

of Health and Human Services one 

year after online gambling became legal 

in the state. “Referrals for people to receive 

gambling treatment also grew significantly, 

from 295 referrals in 2020 to 

420 referrals last year, a 42% increase,” 

the agency reported. 

MDHHS further reported, “While social 

gambling isn’t a problem for most, 

for some it provides a sense of control and escape 

which, over time, can affect other areas of life. For 

youth, this risk is especially concerning with the rise 

of online gaming and virtual connection during the 

COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of problem gambling 

among high school students is twice that of adults, 

and someone gambling by age 12 will be four times 

more likely to develop a gambling addiction. Additionally, 

more than two years into a global pandemic, 

the impact of social distancing has left many with 

idle time, frustrations and anxiety.” 

Fr. John Jaddou’s experience is reflective of the 

pulls and perils of gambling addiction, especially 

among young people. He annually delivers a homily 

about gambling on Super Bowl Sunday, urging those 

who play to ensure that it is nothing more than a fun 

diversion. He also tries to bring the message of caution 

to Chaldean youth groups across the Metro 

Detroit area once a year. 

Gambling, per se, is not a sin, said Jaddou. 

It is the disconnection, the retreat 

from life’s important events and sense 

of community, that is dangerous. 

Jaddou would like to see gambling 

issues addressed more frequently and 

help to extend help beyond individuals 

to groups. Regarding present help 

available through the Church, he 

cites The Parable of the Prodigal 

Son, maintaining that the 

Church is there to listen and help when the parishioner 

is ready to face a gambling problem directly. 

Part of Jaddou’s passion about youths and gambling 

troubles stems from a chapter long in his past. 

From the time he was 15 until a crisis at 17, Jaddou, 

who is now 35, gambled on sports. He bet daily on 

NBA games, dispensed gambling advice and had a 

bookie. Betting on sports was part of the high school 

culture in which he and his friends were immersed. 

Jaddou’s moment of crisis came when he got in 

over his head and stole $300 from his father to pay 

a bookie who threatened to beat him up. Deeply 

ashamed, Jaddou never gambled again. 

He says the uncertain economy, along with aggressive 

sports gambling promotions, have increased 

problem gambling in his congregation. He says he’s 

hearing more confessions about gambling addictions 

lately and that there are not nearly enough 

resources available to address this trend 

within the Church and the broader community. 

A 2020 survey revealed that drug 

and alcohol addiction is about 7 times 

more likely to occur than gambling addiction; 

but government expenditure 

to treat gambling addictions is 338 

times less than that appropriated for 

substance abuse treatment. 

When it comes to the timeliness of 

addressing gambling’s downside, it 

seems numbers don’t lie. 

Fr. John Jaddou 

gives a talk at a 

high school on the 

rise of gambling 

and online betting. 



Moving the Needle 

BY SARAH KITTLE 

“ 

The more things change, the 

more they stay the same.” 

This quote attributed to 

French writer Jean Baptiste Alphonse 

Karr in 1849 still holds true 175 years 

later. As we look back on the span of 

stories gracing the Chaldean News 

covers in the month of June, many of 

these topics are still at the forefront of 

discussion in the community. 

Take the 2004 cover, “Rebuilding 

a Homeland.” The US Army was still 

ensconced in Iraq at this time, and its 

leaders were struggling to outline the 

country’s future for its citizens. Two decades 

later, the country is still trying to 

rebuild. 

The next four covers (2005-2008) 

feel like déjà vu as well. 2005’s cover 

story “Deadly Detroit” was about the 

large numbers of Chaldeans dying for 

the American Dream—getting shot and 

killed in their place of business. The dire 

situation would lead to the formation 

of the Waad Murad Fund, a reward system 

created by the Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce (CACC) for information 

that leads to the arrest and conviction 

of the perpetrators of these heinous 

crimes. Over 100 individuals in the 

community have been killed while simply 

trying to provide for their families. 

2006’s cover, “The Iraq Condition,” 

featured a story about what would 

happen in Iraq after the US pulled out 

(hint: a whole lot, and also nothing). 

2007 had the CN singing the “House 

Sale Blues,” about the weak housing 

market in metro Detroit, and 2008 

asked the question, “Who Are We?” 

That was the year that the CACC engaged 

Walsh College and United Way to 

conduct a survey on the Chaldean population 

in southeast Michigan. They 

had historically been undercounted in 

national surveys, and the leaders of the 

community, including Michael George, 

wanted to make sure that Chaldeans 

were being seen and counted. 

The survey results showed that 

the Chaldean population was younger 

than the general population, that their 

median income was higher than average, 

and that 61% of the adult population 

owned at least one business. The 

CACC engaged Walsh College to send 

out a survey again in 2023; the results 

show more of the same. 

In 2009, our cover featured some 

good sports from the Chaldean Church 

Volleyball League and Mother of God 

Church. In 2010, we issued a special 

Father’s Day edition titled, “Baba 

Knows Best,” and in 2011, we asked 

“Where are they now?” about previous 

newsmakers Carey Denha (Mega 80s), 

Joey Nibras (“The Wacky Iraqi”), Jason 

Antone (JROCK), Josephine Dabish 

Fermanian (Germs Begone and Detroit 

Organics), and Ken and Virginia (Yatooma) 

Kroiczyk (Gotbibs.com). 

Our 2012 cover featured the 7th Annual 

Chaldean Festival and 2013 gave 

advice on keeping kids active during 

the summer break. 

On the cover ten years ago was 

Mar Francis! Father Frank, as he was 

known then, became Bishop Francis 

Kallabat in 2014. How does he look 

younger now than he did then? 

In 2015, Katie Atto experienced a 

7.8 magnitude earthquake while climbing 

Mount Everest. Her story, “The Adventure 

of a Lifetime,” dovetails nicely 

into the 2016 cover story, “A Lasting 

Legacy,” about John Loussia, who had 

climbed Mount Kilimanjaro sporting 

his blue boxers in support of prostate 

cancer awareness. 

We were “Sprucing it up” in 2017 

and offered tips on home improvement 

from experts in the community. 

In 2018, there was “New Hope” with 

democratic elections taking place in 

Iraq and changes in immigration laws. 

In 2019, we celebrated some talented 

teens, including Michael Jonna, 

creator of the Ruru app, Michael Najor, 

a piano prodigy, and aspiring writer 

Maryam Ramzi. 

In 2020, we covered the “Class of 

COVID 19” and wrote about the year 

without a commencement. We had 

teamed up with the Chaldean Chamber 

and Foundation to host a virtual graduation 

ceremony. It was a tough year for 

everyone, but especially difficult for a 

community that likes to gather in large 

groups to celebrate. We definitely saw 

some outdoor Zaffa playing! 

We celebrated the graduates again 

in 2021. That year’s cover featured 

Adriana Mansour, who had suffered 

a great tragedy and physical impairment, 

but succeeded against all odds 

to graduate with her class. 

In 2022, we honored our fathers – 

not just our family patriarchs, but our 

Church patriarchs as well. 

And last year, we covered Chaldean 

Town’s “Last Man Standing,” about 

the holdout S&J Meats, who have been 

threatening to close their doors for 

decades but are still in operation on 7 

Mile in Detroit. 

We hope you have enjoyed these 

stories over the years! 


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FEATURE 

PHOTO BY DANY ASHAKA 

Detroit City Council member Coleman A. Young 

II gave the Chaldean Chamber a Spirit of Detroit 

Award at their Business Luncheon in October 2023. 

Industry Outlook panelists (from left) Saber Ammori, Rachel Stewart and Jordan Jonna share a laugh 

before the event on February 15, 2024. 

From the Outside 

Chaldean Americans are a uniquely 

close-knit community 

BY SARAH KITTLE 

In the vast landscape of America’s cultural mosaic, 

the Chaldean community stands out not only for its 

rich heritage but also for its remarkable closeness. 

Nestled within the broader spectrum of Iraqi Americans, 

which include Assyrians and Syriacs, Chaldean 

Americans have cultivated a distinct identity characterized 

by a deep sense of unity and familial ties. 

When I first interviewed for a position with the 

Chaldean American Chamber, I was asked what I knew 

about Chaldeans. Being closely associated with an 

amateur historian, I knew Chaldeans were Catholic, 

came from Iraq, and spoke a form of Aramaic. That was 

enough, and more than most people outside the community 

knew. But there was so much more to learn. 

As a Roman Catholic, I was familiar with the liturgy 

and core beliefs. I saw the Board of Directors hold 

hands and say the Lord’s Prayer together before and 

at the conclusion of each meeting, and it struck me 

that this community was unique. 

Proud of its rich cultural heritage which spans 

back to Babylonian times, Chaldeans are a special 

group. They have fought for their faith and their right 

to exist almost from their inception. 

In the first week of my employment with the 

Chamber, I attended (well, basically ran) an orientation 

presentation that taught new members a little 

bit about the Chaldean community, its history, and 

values. For instance, Chaldeans claim ancestry from 

Abraham, the “father of many” in the Bible, who was 

from Ur, and King Nebuchadnezzar, who built the 

Hanging Gardens of Babylon in 600 BC. 

A faith-oriented community who mostly resides 

within 10 miles of their parish, a Catholic Church of 

the Eastern Rite, united with Rome under the Pope but 

with their own Patriarch, currently in Iraq, Chaldeans 

are a singular people. Church is what separates Chaldeans 

from Assyrians and Syriacs, who have their own 

churches, although they all share the same roots. 

There are an estimated 2 million Chaldeans/ 

Assyrians/Syriacs throughout the world, with approximately 

one half million residing in the United 

States—nearly 200,000 in Michigan alone. 

Bustling Businesspeople 

Known for their extraordinary skill in starting and 

running businesses, finding new niches before they 

become trends, and inventing new ways of doing 

things, Chaldeans have certainly affected the economy 

wherever they live. 

When they first came to Detroit, following their Lebanese 

predecessors, they did what they knew. As farmers 

and merchants, they recognized the need for markets 

in the city even as others were moving out. At the 

Chaldean Chamber’s 2023 Business Luncheon, Detroit 

PHOTO BY NICO SALGADO 

City Councilman Coleman A. Young II recognized the 

great part that Chaldean gas station and convenience 

store owners played in the survival of the city. They 

stayed when everyone else packed their bags and left. 

Since cornering the market on the corner market, 

Chaldean investors have branched out to other industries, 

fulfilling various needs that they identified. 

Some of the biggest success stories of the community 

came from necessity. 

For instance, Saad Abbo, who founded the company 

US Ice, did so under pressure from his father 

to be a good ice supplier, one who didn’t make his 

clients wait or ignore them in favor of other clients. 

He suggested an ice supply company for his son because 

he was struggling to keep ice in his store. Saad 

recently sold US Ice for tens of millions. That’s one 

person who is glad he listened to his dad! 

Another example of identifying and fulfilling a 

necessity is the late John Loussia. John left a legacy 

for his children in many ways but one which stands 

out is the ownership of Value Wholesale Distributors. 

John saw all these small grocers in Detroit who struggled 

to keep fresh food in their stores and thought 

there must be a way to help them. So, he created a 

local wholesale grocery distributor and supplied not 

only Chaldean stores but any store in the area with 

fresh products at reasonable prices. That’s why they 

are still around today, and bigger than ever. 

Faith, Food & Family 

I was told Chaldean philosophy is centered on three 

things: faith, food, and family. 

Faith is certainly the cornerstone of the community. 

One must only witness the high regard that not 

only the congregation, but the entire population has 

for the Church to see that its leaders are some of the 

most respected members of the Chaldean community 

here in America. 

The clergy serves as a spiritual guidepost for the 

community, offering counseling on all topics from 

marriage to vocations to recovering from child abuse. 

The Chaldean Catholic Diocese in the United States is 

a powerful organization, one which lives in today’s 

world and addresses today’s problems. Forums on 

gambling, internet addiction, and marijuana have 

been conducted by clergy, seeking to meet the congregation 

where they are. 


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Respect for elders is another trait 

that is highly visible within the community. 

“Rabbi” is a term of endearment 

for a teacher, one I’ve heard often 

in the offices of the Chaldean News 

and Chaldean American Chamber. The 

closeness of the generations is lovely 

to behold, and many children grow up 

with both sets of grandparents being a 

big part of their lives. 

As I worked closely with and grew 

closer to individual Chaldeans, I began 

to see food preparation as an act 

of love. The time and patience required 

to cook and serve meals is no joke! 

Chaldeans offer strangers food, too, 

as a sign of respect and welcome. I have 

eaten my way through Iraqi Salad, Biryani, 

Dolma, Kufta, Amba, and Kleicha, 

warming up to the solid nutrition and 

the care packaged in each bite. 

As an “honorary Chaldean,” I 

am sometimes overwhelmed by the 

love and support lavished on me as a 

Chamber staff member and editor of 

this fine magazine. One of the things 

I love most about the community is 

the ability to laugh, even sometimes at 

your own expense. 

Laughter, I believe, is one of God’s 

gifts to His children. Martin Luther 

King Jr. said, “It is cheerful to God 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

when you rejoice or laugh from the bottom 

of your heart,” and Khalil Gibran 

is credited as saying, “In the sweetness 

of friendship let there be laughter and 

sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of 

little things the heart finds its morning 

and is refreshed.” 

It is the simple things — faith, family, 

comradery, laughter, home-cooked 

meals — that make this community 

special. 

This report is made possible with generous support from 

Michigan Stories, a Michigan Humanities Grants initiative. 

With their strong family ties and 

their entrepreneurial spirit, the Chaldean 

American community is a vibrant 

and dynamic force that continues 

to thrive and prosper in the United 

States. The Iraqi Prime Minister visited 

just this past April and was mightily 

impressed. He took back to Iraq a desire 

to replicate the community’s success 

in their homeland. 

From the busy streets of Detroit to 

the laid-back neighborhoods of San 

Diego, the connections binding Chaldean 

American families and individuals 

resemble the roots of a sprawling, 

ancient tree. Within this rooted network 

lies a narrative of shared history, 

cherished cultural customs, and steadfast 

solidarity, showcasing the unique 

and distinctive spirit of the Chaldean 

American community. 


FEATURE 

CCC Board members gave a special tour before the museum opened to the public. Pictured left to right: Judy Jonna, Francis Boji, Hani Mio, Bishop Ibrahim, Raad 

Kathawa, Bishop Francis, Mary Romaya, Hanna Shina, and Victor Saroki. 

Honoring History 

Birth of the Chaldean Cultural Center 

BY CAL ABBO 

When Chaldeans first came 

to Detroit, they struggled to 

integrate into American society 

and learn the language. They had 

their own unique culture, one that was 

different from that of other Americans 

and most immigrants. 

At first, this was a point of pride for 

Chaldeans. Their faith, family values, 

tight-knit community, and work ethic 

ultimately led to success in a foreign 

land. Chaldeans raised their families 

in the same traditions that they came 

from and passed down their culture 

successfully. 

At the same time, the children of 

the original immigrants were forced to 

acculturate to some extent. There were 

no Chaldean schools in Detroit at the 

time. Chaldean children often attended 

Roman Catholic or public schools. 

They learned English as their native 

language and began to Americanize in 

order to live, work, and play in a modern 

and diverse world. 

As time passed, fewer Chaldeans 

came from the homeland. Yet more 

were born in the United States, some 

even representing the second generation 

of American-born Chaldeans, 

many of whom don’t speak Sureth. 

This new perspective and way of life 

led to a concern that Chaldeans would 

lose their culture. Thus was born the 

urge for Detroit’s Chaldean population 

to preserve their culture and the idea 

for Chaldean Cultural Center (CCC). 

Mary Romaya is one of the CCC’s 

founders, and she served as its executive 

director for six years until her 

retirement in 2017. Ever since, she’s 

kept the organization on track when 

it needs her and assisted in the CCC’s 

move to the new Chaldean Community 

Foundation’s West Campus that is currently 

under construction. 

According to Romaya, the idea for 

the CCC was conceived around 2003 

in the famed and nostalgic rooms of 

Southfield Manor. “When I started 

with the CCC, I was the secretary and 

a founding board member,” she said. 

In March of 2003, the concept was 

there, a full two years before Shenandoah 

Country Club was purchased and 

opened. 

Shenandoah Country Club was 

purchased by the Chaldean Iraqi 

American Association of Michigan 

(CIAAM), a social organization that 

also ran Southfield Manor. As it was 

being renovated, CIAAM designed 

the club so that the CCC would have 

around 2,000 sq. feet of space for cultural 

programming and, eventually, a 

museum. 

“We were just a fledgling group,” 

Romaya said about the CCC. “We had 

no money. So we were not in a position 

to buy a building or rent a space. We 

knew we needed to preserve our heritage. 

By 2003, the Chaldeans had been 

here for more than a century.” 

According to stories Romaya heard 

from her own father, Chaldeans were 

discussing how to maintain and preserve 

their identity as early as the 

1920s. “They certainly didn’t want to 

lose the faith or the language,” she 

said about discussions her father had 

with other Chaldean pioneers. 

Her parents’ generation feared that 

their children who were born in America 

or brought here at a young age would 

become assimilated and integrated into 

American society and lose their unique 

Chaldean identity. As the generations 

CCC continued on page 26 


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FEATURE 

CCC continued from page 24 

became more Americanized, they 

would speak more English and eventually 

forget Sureth. For that reason, Romaya’s 

parents spoke Sureth to her. “I 

understand the language, but I would 

answer in English,” she said. 

There were no Chaldean schools 

back then. Most children went to Roman 

Catholic schools in the archdiocese 

of Detroit. Chaldeans are known 

for making up large portions of metro 

Detroit’s Catholic schools as well as 

funding them generously. Just last 

year, John, Jeff, and Chris Denha gave 

a generous donation of $500,000 to 

Brother Rice, a high school the brothers 

attended in the 1980s. They gave in 

honor of their parents, Nedal and Mike 

Denha. Today, nearly 30% of Marian 

High School’s students are Chaldean. 

These are only two recent examples of 

the impact Chaldeans have on Catholic 

schools in the metro Detroit area. 

The Chaldean pioneers were happy 

to live and raise their families in 

America, away from the hardship and 

persecution that plagued them in the 

Middle East. They didn’t, however, 

want to lose the tight-knit community 

that went along with the ethnic group. 

Romaya identifies as Chaldean- 

American. She desperately wanted her 

community to stay intact because she 

valued the rich, meaningful life it gave 

her. To that end, she and others created 

youth groups, which she attended 

throughout her 20s and early 30s, designed 

to intentionally stay together 

and maintain the community they were 

blessed with. “They encouraged us to 

marry within the community and socialize 

with other Chaldeans,” Romaya 

said about the generation of Chaldean 

pioneers. “If we didn’t, they hoped we 

would still marry a Catholic.” 

Until the birth of the CCC, most of 

the work Chaldeans did to preserve 

their culture, aside from attending 

and expanding the Church, revolved 

around creating social groups and 

gathering places. There were few, if 

any, organized efforts to archive cultural 

items and revive what had been 

lost for families who arrived in Michigan 

decades ago. 

As the CCC grew comfortable in its 

new space at Shenandoah, the board 

began planning programs to accomplish 

its goal. “The CCC celebrates and 

explores the extraordinary history, 

arts, traditions, and contributions of 

the Chaldean people from ancient 

times to the present, serving as a repository 

for our collected history and 

stories…” the mission statement reads. 

The CCC had a board of directors 

chaired by the late Rosemary Anton. 

The first executive director was Josephine 

Sarafa, a bilingual teacher 

in Birmingham Public Schools for 27 

years. Her pilot program was one of 

community outreach and cultural sensitivity 

training. 

Sarafa first contacted different police 

departments and their leaders to 

teach them about the Chaldean community. 

When a Chaldean person was 

pulled over, for example, there was often 

a language barrier between the officer 

and the driver. Other times, when 

someone got in trouble, they would 

send their father or a community leader 

to speak with the police. 

In addition, Sarafa approached 

school principals, superintendents, 

and teachers to visit the CCC and learn 

about the Chaldean culture so they 

can better accommodate their students. 

Previously, few efforts had been 

made to explain who the Chaldeans 

are to the rest of the world. 

Soon after these initial programs, 

the CCC created classes to restore lost 

traditions and encourage cultural continuity. 

Live cooking classes featured 

rich recipes and foods like Dolma, 

Baklawa, Kibbeh, and more. The CCC 

began to teach Sureth classes so Chaldean-Americans 

who grew up speaking 

English could learn their ethnic 

language as adults. 

As these plans unfolded and gave 

the organization confidence in their 

early successes, the CCC continued to 

expand its mission. Whereas the earliest 

programs focused on explaining 

Chaldean culture to the wider metro 

Detroit community, the CCC understood 

its duty to preserve the stories, 

Francis Boji taking measurements in the Today Gallery for an exhibit placement. 

traditions, and documents that show 

who Chaldeans are. 

This series is perhaps the CCC’s 

greatest treasure, according to Romaya. 

It began interviewing Chaldean 

pioneers, some of whom immigrated 

to the United States before the 1920s. 

“They started interviewing people, 

the pioneers, before they all passed 

away,” Romaya said. “We recorded 

their voices, and we have physical cassette 

tapes. Some spoke in English and 

some in Sureth.” 

What was it like, coming to America? 

Where did you sleep on that very 

first night? These are the kinds of 

questions posed by the interviewers to 

Chaldean pioneers. 

“Basically, it was a bus ride from 

New York to Detroit,” Romaya answered, 

based on her understanding of 

the interviews. “One Chaldean woman 

ran a boarding house where you could 

sleep and eat for five dollars per week. 

The women would do your laundry and 

feed you until you got a job and could 

find your own place to live.” 

As a result of this digging, the CCC 

began collecting dozens of historic 

documents from their subjects that 

they could keep and preserve. Passports, 

immigration papers, or deeds 

to some of the first Chaldean stores 

were very common. Romaya said she 

doesn’t remember who came up with 

the idea, but eventually, the group realized 

they needed a museum to house 

and show off their collection. 

Nowadays, visitors see the museum 

as the main feature of the CCC because 

of its beauty and glamor. It didn’t open 

until 2017, however, and the CCC was 

plenty busy before that. “The CCC is 

more than just a museum,” Romaya 

said. “We consider ourselves the archivists 

for the Chaldean community.” 

The CCC wanted a real museum to 

honor and preserve the Chaldean culture. 

As far as Romaya knew, they were 

the first in the community to ever build 

a museum. The group ventured locally 

to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Arab- 

American Museum, and the Holocaust 

Memorial Center. They travelled as far 

as Washington, DC to see the Smithsonian 

Museums and the National 

Museum of the American Indian. They 

went to Virginia to see how professionals 

warehouse artifacts and how to 

preserve them properly. It was diligent 

study and hard work like this that led to 

the grand accomplishment that is the 

museum embedded in the CCC. 

As they completed their initial discovery, 

the next step for the CCC was to 

find a firm to build the museum. In the 

process, they hired a creator, Sanan 

Media, who produces high-tech exhibits 

and engaging video. 

The CCC was close to finalizing the 

museum when the Great Recession 

wrecked the global economy. According 

to Romaya, “Funding dried up. 

People who were willing to give us 

money were now struggling to hang on 

to their own businesses,” she said. “I 

heard many stories of people who were 

barely surviving. Banks were calling in 

their loans. So, we totally stopped.” 



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FEATURE 


Around the same time, the CCC ran 

into an even larger problem. Shenandoah 

Country Club as a whole could not 

meet its financial obligations as a result 

of the downturn. According to the terms 

of its loan, the club had to maintain a 

certain number of members, otherwise 

the bank could call it in and look for a 

new buyer to purchase the club. 

As the recession drew on, several 

interested buyers presented themselves, 

but the CCC’s presence helped 

save the club and keep it in the Chaldean 

community. When Shenandoah 

was initially purchased, CIAAM added 

the CCC to the deed of the property. 

This meant that any future owners 

would need to keep the CCC inside, 

since this organization did not have 

any obligation to the bank. According 

to Romaya, this deterred multiple potential 

buyers from closing a deal. 

After it was clear nobody would 

buy Shenandoah while the CCC remained, 

its loan was greatly reduced. 

“Shenandoah survived, therefore, we 

survived,” Romaya said. They began 

actively constructing the museum 

around 2013. 

The CCC’s current museum consists 

of five exhibits: Ancient Mesopotamia, 

Faith and Church, Village Life, 

Journey to America, and Chaldeans 

Today. Each displays a significant portion 

of Chaldean history and uses interesting 

and unique forms to tell the 

story of the Chaldeans. 

The Ancient Mesopotamia exhibit 

displays authentic replicas as well as 

original artifacts retrieved from ancient 

cities. The main feature is a replica 

of the Stele of Hammurabi as well 

as a digital interactive that translates 

a few of the laws encoded on the stele. 

The Faith and Church gallery traces 

the origins and development of the 

Church of the East and, eventually, 

the Chaldean Church. It shows how 

important Chaldeans were for the development 

of the Church and, in turn, 

how deeply those traditions inform 

our cultural identity today. 

The section on Village Life gives 

geographic and detailed information 

about living in a village and where 

Chaldeans come from. It also draws in 

the audience with realistic displays and 

a holographic video showing Chaldean 

village traditions like bread-making. 

A hologram in the Village Gallery in which Hanna Shina, a founding board member, 

is portraying a grandfather showing his grandson how to use a slingshot. 

The Journey to America exhibit 

shows documents from some of the earliest 

Chaldean immigrants from Iraq. It 

also has an audio exhibit where you can 

hear stories from Chaldean pioneers. 

Take a few steps forward to enter an 

old-style grocery store that Chaldeans 

were famous for in the early 1900s. 

In the Chaldeans Today gallery, the 

museum explains the local and recent 

history of Chaldeans as well as the rest 

of the diaspora around the world. It 

showcases some of the modern Chaldean 

success stories and community 

builders in a documentary-style video 

at the end of the tour. 

After opening the museum to the 

public, Romaya felt her work was done 

and wanted to find a suitable replacement 

as the CCC’s leader. “We had a 

museum now,” she said. “What we 

needed was someone who was there 

on a regular basis. My background is 

a historian and educator. We needed 

someone who was into programming 

and social media, someone who could 

really promote the CCC.” 

It wasn’t until 2019 when the CCC 

found Romaya’s long-term replacement. 

In the spring of that year, Weam 

Namou, who is the current Executive 

Director of the CCC, received a call 

from Judy Jonna, who served as the 

CCC board’s chairperson. 

Namou is a published author and 

filmmaker, among many other things, 

and had experience in the nonprofit sector 

working with artist organizations. 

Her mother had passed away recently, 

she said, which meant she was not looking 

for a job at that time, and didn’t think 

she would be interested in this particular 

role anyway. That is, however, until 

she stepped inside the museum. 

“I felt so deeply our culture and 

heritage and history through my whole 

body, reaching out to grab my attention,” 

she said. “I wasn’t expecting 

that. I went home that day thinking 

about it. Like so many others, I spent 

a lot of time complaining that we don’t 

value our heritage, we don’t try to preserve 

it, and we don’t spend enough 

time doing that.” 

That’s why Namou accepted the 

position. She worked with the CCC to 

premiere one of her films at the now 

closed Maple Theater, and soon after, 

began working as the executive director. 

“We had a gorgeous, beautiful 

museum, but we didn’t have any programming,” 

she said. To Namou, the 

museum was a true gem with lots to 

offer the community, but it hid behind 

the walls of Shenandoah. 

Shortly after she joined the CCC’s 

team, an administrator left the organization, 

which meant a lot more work 

for Namou. The first thing she did was 

apply for a certain grant that she expected 

to get with relative ease. To her 

surprise, her application was rejected, 

with a long list of reasons why the CCC 

was unqualified. 

“I literally took every single item 

they listed and addressed it,” she said. 

“A lot of it had to do with the website 

and our social media. There was a serious 

lack of activity. We needed to start 

posting and having activities.” 

As she revamped these programs, 

Namou also tried her best to involve 

other Chaldean communities besides 

those in West Bloomfield to interact 

with the CCC. Since Namou herself was 

from Sterling Heights, she knew for 

certain that the communities living far 

from the CCC needed to be made aware 

of it and could help expand its reach. 

“In the beginning, I didn’t see how 

far we would come,” she said. “When 

things got really hard, I had doubts 

in the back of my head. But I had this 

sense, deep down, that this place was 

very special. The meaning and significance 

just piled on.” 

Namou is proud of the work she 

did from the very beginning of her 

tenure as the executive director. Her 

goal was to teach as many people 

about Chaldeans and their culture as 

she could. To that end, she contacted 

every school within driving distance 

and offered to give a presentation. 

To her surprise, nearly everyone accepted, 

and within a few months she 

gave these presentations to dozens of 

schools and thousands of students. 

“I was so proud whenever I did 

these presentations to Chaldean students. 

They looked at me with wide 

eyes, trying to tell me they themselves 

were Chaldean,” she said. “These 

were the things that fed my spirit, seeing 

their reactions to the lesson about 

their heritage.” 

The other program she restarted 

was the digital storytelling, which 

resembles the original program that 

began almost 20 years ago. “We went 

out to senior homes and had elderly 

Chaldeans tell us their stories and do 

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FEATURE 


less you’re from back home because 

that’s how old they are,” Namou said. 

“We interviewed people in Australia, 

India, Iraq, and even Argentina. I believe 

this storytelling has a healing 

component. We had so many people 

shed tears because we gave them an 

opportunity to share things that have 

been stuck in their hearts.” 

One of the CCC’s goals, aside from 

its aim to preserve and document our 

culture, is to forge relationships with 

other cultural and educational institutions 

and to promote a greater understanding 

of the Chaldean culture among 

other communities. To accomplish this, 

Namou started the virtual discussion series, 

with which she connects and interviews 

people from all cultures. 

Bridging this gap and listening to 

others, which comes from her journalistic 

instincts, is crucial for fostering 

respect from other communities. “By 

reaching out to other communities, 

they get to learn about your heritage 

and you get to learn about theirs,” Namou 

said. “This program helps us step 

outside of ourselves. We can’t stay in 

our own bubble like we’re in Iraq.” 

The beautiful museum remains the 

CCC’s crown jewel. Although it is not 

even ten years old, the organization 

plans to move its space and expand on 

the galleries at the new Chaldean Community 

Foundation’s West Campus. 

“It was hidden,” Namou said about 

the current CCC museum. “Because of 

that, there’s not enough traffic for regular 

operating hours. When we move, 

the goal is to have a regular, 9-5 schedule 

and allow people to walk through 

the museum at any point.” 

Right when it was presented to her, 

Weam said, the move seemed like a 

perfect fit. Even members of Shenandoah 

who frequent the country club 

aren’t familiar with the CCC or the 

fact that there’s a museum located inside. 

She most looks forward to being 

neighbors with other organizations 

that have similar goals and being able 

to share resources. 

The CCF’s new campus will feature 

a Radio and Television studio for the 

Chaldean News virtually next door to 

the CCC’s museum. The CCF also plans 

to create the Bishop Ibrahim Library, 

which will contain delicate manuscripts 

written hundreds of years ago 

as well as modern-day books. Finally, 

the building has office and meeting areas 

as well as a large event space available 

to the CCC. 

The biggest addition to the museum 

will be the new Genocide Gallery. 

Namou thinks it’s a necessary addition, 

even though it’s an unpleasant 

topic. “It’s a responsibility now,” she 

said, adding that for a while, she didn’t 

want to look at the issue because it’s 

too painful. “I feel like I’m honoring a 

part of our history in a way that I never 

really saw before.” 

There are plenty of genocides in 

Chaldean history that need to be addressed, 

taught, discussed, and remembered. 

Throughout most of Muslim 

rule in the Middle East, Christians 

were persecuted at varying degrees of 

intensity depending on the age and 

the leader. The Mongol invasions left 

many Chaldean villages ravaged and 

destroyed. The stories are centuriesold, 

but these tragic deeds still ripple 

through time and affect the Chaldean 

community today. 

Other events are much more recent, 

including those that living Chaldeans 

remember vividly through their 

family stories. Throughout the 1800s, 

warlords in modern-day Iraq, Turkey, 

and Syria would frequently raid Chaldean 

villages. This kind of behavior 

culminated around the time of WWI 

in an event often called the Sayfo, or 

“Sword” in Sureth, or in academia, 

the Assyrian Genocide. Unfortunately 

for its victims, this genocide is often 

overlooked and grouped in with the 

Armenian Genocide, although its targeted 

community is entirely separate 

and suffered on its own. 

Namou began reading a book 

called “Shall This Nation Die?” written 

by Rev. Joseph Naayem. He recounts 

the events of the Sayfo, as witnessed 

by the subjects of his books, and 

pleads with his audience to make this 

event known so that it doesn’t fall into 

obscurity or happen again. “We owe 

him that,” Namou said. “Their stories 

will be told in the Genocide Gallery.” 

Of course, much more recent events 

One of the CCC’s goals, aside from its aim 

to preserve and document our culture, is to 

forge relationships with other cultural and 

educational institutions and to promote a 

greater understanding of the Chaldean culture 

among other communities. 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 

like the ISIS invasion completely destroyed 

or gutted plenty of Chaldean 

villages and towns. Tel Keppe, the 

village from which most of Detroit’s 

Chaldeans originate, was emptied of 

its residents by ISIS in the summer of 

2014, only ten years ago. Many Chaldeans 

have family or remember these 

events themselves. 

Certain areas of the Tel Keppe 

were vandalized, like the churches, 

which ISIS used as shooting ranges. 

Other places were totally destroyed, 

like the cemetery, which featured 

toppled headstones and disrespected 

deceased ancestors. Only a few Chaldeans 

returned to the village, which 

currently holds around 50 Christian 

families, compared to thousands that 

lived there prior. 

These events are fresh in the Chaldean 

cultural memory and need to be 

preserved for future generations, Namou 

argued. The new space will allow them 



to expand on the rest of the museum and 

include items relevant to the community 

and its history that happened since the 

CCC opened, like the ISIS invasion and 

the U.S. invasion of Iraq. 

For Chaldeans who know about it 

and have toured the museum, the CCC 

is a treasure. It has come a long way 

since its humble beginnings in 2003, 

establishing a cultural agenda that 

will influence the Chaldean community 

for years to come. 

Mary Romaya’s favorite memory of 

the CCC came when they filmed a promotional 

video of the museum. Sanan 

Media, which helped the organization 

before, asked Romaya to bring everyone 

she could for the shoot. She called 

all her friends and family until the museum 

was virtually at capacity. 

“It was February 2017, and the museum 

was basically built,” she said. 

“The grand opening was not until 

September. Sanan videotaped people 

walking through the museum, touching 

interactives, and learning about 

Chaldean culture.” The video, which 

was filmed seven years ago, is still featured 

on the CCC’s website. 

“When it was all over, my son 

hugged me and told me, ‘I am so proud 

to be a Chaldean.’ My heart just melted,” 

Romaya said, proving how important 

the museum and her own heritage 

are. “That is a moment in my life I will 

always treasure.” 

Namou appeals to her Chaldean 

community, imploring them to spend 

more time understanding their heritage 

and reading about their history, 

how special it is, and what we’ve contributed 

throughout history. 

“We have an amazing, powerful, 

and rich community,” she said. “Rich 

in history and wealth. I want us to use 

some of that, whether it’s time and 

energy or funds, to give a bit more attention 

to the CCC and preserving our 

culture in general.” 

Understanding our culture, according 

to Namou, will give us a better understanding 

of who we are today in the 

diaspora. “I used to travel to Europe. 

People who live in Rome don’t care 

about the Colosseum because they 

pass it every day,” she said. “I didn’t 

understand it, but now, I think sometimes 

we too ignore what we have. I 

hope we don’t neglect it because this 

history is a very powerful and important 

part of who we are.” 



FEATURE 

Mayor of Hamdaniya, Nineveh Speaks Out 

A candid conversation with Mayor Issam Behnam Matti 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

In celebration of the 21st Annual Awards Dinner 

hosted by the Chaldean American Chamber of 

Commerce (CACC) in Michigan, the organizers invited 

several dignitaries from Iraq. Among those that 

accepted and made the trip to the U.S. were the mayors 

of the Districts of Qaraqosh/Nineveh, Mayor Issam 

Behnam Matti, and Ankawa/Erbil, Mayor Ramy 

Noori Syawish. 

While they were here, the Chaldean Community 

Foundation (CCF) in Sterling Heights facilitated several 

meetings, including one with Mayor Syawish 

and Mayor Michael Taylor of Sterling Heights. Their 

discussions revolved around shared experiences, 

developing joint work, consolidating relations, and 

connecting bridges of communication between our 

people at home and abroad. The two mayors also 

discussed the possibility of creating a sister-city relationship. 

On Saturday, April 27, the CCF hosted the Governor 

of Nineveh for a Town Hall discussion. Participants 

discussed ways to support the minority community 

in Iraq (Mosul). CCF president Martin Manna 

addressed demographic changes, hiring community 

members for Iraqi government positions, and implementing 

Article 125, which provides for self-administration 

for Chaldeans and other minority communities 

in Iraq. Also present were the Iraqi General 

Counsel and the mayor of Al-Hamdaniya, Issam Behnam 

Matti Da’aboul. 

The Chaldean News staff took the opportunity 

while they were in town to have candid conversations 

with both mayors. The mayor of Al-Hamdaniya gave 

the CN an exclusive interview about the situation 

post-ISIS, the reconstruction process, and the coexistence 

of the individual components of the region. The 

mayor of Ankawa shed light on the challenges and 

opportunities facing the people in the Kurdistan Regional 

Government area and Nineveh Plain regions 

and discussed ways to support them. 

Mayor Issam Behnam Matti 

The mayor was born in Bakhdida in 1967 and was 

educated in his hometown and at Mosul University 

with a BS Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was 

married in 1998; his wife holds a master’s degree in 

physics and currently lectures at Hamdaniya University. 

His parents are Behnam Matti and Ammo Dano, 

and he has 4 brothers and 3 sisters. 

Issam worked for the Hamdaniya municipality 

and public works for 10 years but had to flee to 

France when ISIS rolled into the district in 2015. His 

house in Qaraqosh was used as ISIS headquarters. Issam 

returned after the district was liberated and participated 

in local elections. On February 27, 2018, he 

was elected as mayor of the District of Hamdaniya for 

a 4-year term by a majority of the district council (13 

out of 15) and has been in this position since, despite 

many attempts by local militias to remove him. 

Chaldean News: Tell us a bit about your district. 

Mayor Issam: Al-Hamdaniya is one of the large 

districts in Nineveh Governorate - northern Iraq. 

It includes three districts and several villages. Al- 

Hamdāniyya (Arabic) has three distinct names; its 

other names are Qaraqosh, which means “black 

bird” in Turkish, and Bakhdida (Aramaic). 

Qaraqosh, the city 33 kilometers from Mosul, was 

the heart of the Christian community in Iraq and the 

biggest Christian town in Iraq—with a population of 

about 60,000, most of them Syriac and Chaldean— 

before it was overrun by the Sunni Muslim jihadist 

group Islamic State (ISIS) in 2014. 

The heart stopped beating for 34 months when it 

was occupied by ISIS Caliphate. Its citizens faced a 

stark decision—convert to Islam or be killed. Thus, 

the district was emptied of its inhabitants in a matter 

of a few days. 

In 2003, the number of people in Qaraqosh was 

around 70,000, but 40% of the locals fled the area 

due to lack of security, demographic changes, and 

work opportunities over the years. The neighboring 

town of Bartella (Syriacs Orthodox) suffered the most 

significant demographic changes and the historic 

Chaldean town of Karmles lost 70% of its people. 

Before 2014, Qaraqosh was a bustling city and 

was home to the largest population of Christians in 

the entire country. The population of Bakhdida today 

is 25,000-30,000. The town is still being rebuilt and 

about half of its residents are said to have returned. 

The district was the breadbasket of the region, 

known for its rich fields, agriculture, and poultry 

farms. We had 190 poultry farms, enough to feed all 

of Kurdistan and part of Iraq! 

CN: How did ISIS change the district? 

Mayor Issam: In 2014, the Islamic State in Iraq and 

the Levant (ISIS) took control of the Hamdaniya District 

(southeast of Mosul) and damaged government 

buildings in the district center in addition to destroying 

and burning thousands of homes and religious 

sites. Their invasion forced nearly all of the city’s 

Christians to flee for their lives. 

The mayor’s neighborhood and house were first 

occupied by ISIS and were used as its headquarters. 

Their walls were filled with ISIS insignias, and names 

of its leaders Abou Talha Al-Almani (the German), 

Abou Fatuma, and others. 

The district was regained from ISIS control in 2017, 

but not all of the residents of the district returned to 

their homes. This was the most decisive front in the 

war against Daesh. In liberating Qaraqosh and Mosul, 

the military won a battle, but victory is still far 

off. Until the security situation, corruption, exploitation, 

and ignorance are defeated, the dark elements 

will always know where to go to find fresh blood for 

their cause. 

After the liberation of the district, the number of 

returning displaced persons began to gradually increase. 

At present 90-100% of the Arabs, Shabaks, 

Kakais, and Turkmen returned to the district because 

the judiciary administration is working to erase the 

effects of the ISIS war and provide the necessary services 

for the return of normal life to Al-Hamdaniya. 

The percentage of returning Christians to Bakhdida 

was 60 percent, meaning that 40 percent of them 

did not return because they were more damaged than 

others by the ISIS war. Bartella lost most of its Christian 

population, and Karmles lost 70% of its people. 

Most of the displaced people live in Ankawa and the 

KRG region. 

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FEATURE 

MAYOR continued from page 32 

CN: Are there accurate statistics and follow-ups 

on the damage caused by ISIS? 

Mayor Issam: Upon returning to 

their hometown of Qaraqosh, most 

Christian families found nothing but 

scorched buildings and decimated infrastructure. 

ISIS wreaked havoc on 

the city during their occupation. 

There are no accurate statistics to 

determine the extent of the damage, 

but some regions worked on this issue, 

and it became clear that there was 

considerable damage to government 

buildings in the district center (Bakhdida 

- Qaraqosh) in addition to the 

burning and destruction of five thousand 

homes. 

The service sector in the districts 

and villages of Al-Hamdaniya was also 

damaged. There were more than 180 

poultry farms in Al-Hamdaniya, more 

than 150 of which were destroyed, 70 

percent of which have not been restored 

yet. 

Electrical power transmission 

lines have been rehabilitated, but we 

suffer from the problem of scarcity of 

production like the rest of Iraq. As for 

drinking water, there is a single water 

project in Hamdaniya that previously 

supplied 50,000 people in the area 

with water, but now it is not enough to 

meet the needs of the population. 

CN: Rebuilding, how did you face this 

challenge? 

Mayor Issam: After the liberation, the 

deterioration of the service sectors was 

not the only problem we faced. The 

task was very difficult, but with the 

support of international organizations 

and following a solid plan to educate 

citizens, which included forming a 

group that included clerics from all 

components, as well as through education 

centers, we were able to restore 

peaceful coexistence to the region. 

One of the first activities was to 

conduct an extensive survey of the 

needs of the damaged towns and villages. 

The survey results showed that 

people require basic things like food, 

education, job training, counseling, 

and spiritual development. 

Education is a beacon of hope in 

Qaraqosh for the returning citizens. 

Education, schools, and teachers have 

been key in the district; teachers were 

its best contribution to early education 

in Iraq. Academic formation and 

education about living together peacefully, 

they need community and they 

need schools for every subject and 

every grade, but especially for the 

youngest group. 

CN: Define the infrastructure issues, 

(i.e., lack of services, poor roads, etc.) 

Mayor Issam: In the beginning, the 

government’s efforts were not at the 

required level; however, with time and 

through the governorates’ development 

budget, work was done on many 

water and electricity projects. I do 

not say that all services are available, 

40 percent of 

Christians did not 

return to Bakhdida 

because of damage 

from the ISIS war. 

but the service aspect now is better in 

comparison to the period before the 

arrival of ISIS. 

The administrative changes in 

Mosul, especially after the change 

of the governor (in 2019), were a major 

change with reconstruction campaigns 

launched in all sectors, especially 

the restoration of public sector 

buildings. At present, we are discussing 

the issue of the return of the Investment 

Authority so that it has a role in 

the reconstruction. 

The main institutions in the district 

were repaired or rebuilt. For example, 

Al-Hamdaniya General Hospital is 

considered one of the best hospitals in 

Iraq. The hospital was rebuilt and rehabilitated 

by USAID. It is considered 

the best hospital in the Nineveh Plain 

region with over 1,800 employees and 

has various specialized departments 

(surgery, dentistry, optometry, kidney 

dialysis center, and other essential departments). 

The water lines and network are 

working well. The sewer system project 

was revitalized after liberation. 

Tunnels were used by ISIS to store 

weapons. Today it is considered the 

first major public work that was completed 

in Iraq. 

In the education sector, most 

schools have been renovated in addition 

to building new schools. We also 

have new private schools. The University 

of Hamdaniya is fully operational, 

it offers BS Degrees in different fields 

and its entire faculty is made of Iraqi 

academics. It plans to start master’s 

programs in 2025. 

The colleges of the university 

graduate 30-40 physicians and 40-50 

engineers every year; however, new 

graduates need workplaces. The agricultural 

sector which is the lifeline of 

the region is still weak and antiquated. 

It needs a new vision and 21st century 

farming strategies and new irrigation 

technologies. 

CN: What about rebuilding the churches 

and religious sites? 

Mayor Issam: The pope’s visit in 2023 

placed Al-Hamdaniya under the spotlights 

of international media. It was a 

historical marker where the people’s 

faith, resilience, and desire to stay in 

their ancestral towns were strongly evident. 

A campaign of restoration and 

rebuilding took place by foreign and 

local organizations. 

Unfortunately, not all churches 

and religious sites that were burned 

and destroyed by ISIS militants were 

restored. These important sites in the 

district were not given priority by the 

Iraqi officials. The main church (Al-Tahira 

- the Immaculate) in Hamdaniya 

and the Seminary was used as a shooting 

range and training arena by ISIS. 

We can see that the churches of 

Mosul have been rehabilitated with 

funds allocated to them by foreign 

organizations and hope that the Iraqi 

government will allocate a budget for 

the reconstruction of religious sites 

within its future budgets and plans. 

CN: How secure is the region? 

Mayor Issam: Before ISIS, we did not 

know exactly who was responsible for 

the security of the region. After the 

ISIL invasion on August 6, 2014, the 

town was under the control of ISIL until 

October 16, 2016. 

Since liberation from ISIS, the 

Nineveh Plain Protection Units 

(NPU) run the security profile in the 

city alongside the Iraqi Army. 

Several initiatives were introduced 

in 2021 to hire local police officers, federal 

police, and district military staff. 

By July 1, 2024, we expect that the 

federal government forces will be in 

charge of the security file completely. 

CN: Can you tell us about displacement 

and the return of refugees? 

Mayor Issam: I believe that the continuation 

of the assistance provided to 

citizens, especially farmers, will help 

them return, stay, and revive agricultural 

lands, and will contribute to the 

return of stability and coexistence. 

International community organizations 

played a notable role through 

their programs and granting small 

loans, such as those now granted to 

farmers, to pay attention to the agricultural 

sector in their regions. 

I believe that we have made great 

strides in this field, as evidenced by 

the fact that ISIS failed to create an 

incubating environment and carry out 

terrorist operations in the region after 

its liberation, except in some rare 

cases. This is evidence that the people 

of the region are cooperating with the 

security services. 

CN: What about the confiscation of 

land and demographic changes? 

Mayor Issam: Buying and selling 

land, homes, and properties was 

scarce before ISIS. The lands of Bakhdida 

were a red line for anyone who 

dared to touch them; however, Bartella 

was and continues to be a thorny 

issue where properties were sold to 

non-Christians. 

Bartella, in Iraq’s Christian heartland, 

is a complex problem with continuous 

feuds over the town’s identity. 

A historic Christian town, first mentioned 

in 1153 AD, Bartella is home to 

many Syriac Orthodox Christians and 

Shabaks, a group with a disputed ethnic 

origin but related to Kurds. 

When I assumed my post as mayor, 

I worked closely with the local 

political parties (Assyrian Democratic 

Movement, The Syriac Coalition 

Movement), departments of land records 

in Hamdaniya and Mosul, and 

enlisted the help of Article 23-B of the 

Iraqi Constitution and the interpretation 

of the Supreme Court (decision 

#65 of 2013) regarding the preservation 

of the land rights of minorities 

and components in their region and 

that settlement of outsiders must be 



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with obtaining the necessary legal approvals. 

Resisting demographic changes 

and upholding the law requires grit 

and administrative will. I considered 

the Supreme Court decision as a central 

law and opinion against demographic 

changes. A recent example 

was the case of a Shabak person who 

purchased a residential property from 

another Shabak without due process 

and sued me in Mosul Court. The Integrity 

Court of Mosul threw the case 

and sided with me in a historic opinion 

dated April 15, 2024. 

CN: What of the wedding fire in Qaraqosh? 

What did the investigation find? 

Mayor Issam: A massive fire broke 

out in Al-Haitham wedding hall in Al- 

Hamdaniya district, on September 26 

or 27, 2023, that resulted in the death 

of 122 people and the injury of dozens. 

Safety standards are often to blame 

and poorly observed in Iraq, which 

has been plagued by decades of mismanagement 

and corruption. The 

wedding hall that burned in Al-Hamdaniya 

had a capacity of 500, but twice 

the number was inside when the blaze 

started. It was also “devoid of emergency 

doors.” Safety instructions are 

often not followed in Iraq, especially 

in the construction and transportation 

sectors, which frequently leads to fires 

and other deadly disasters. 

The official line about the tragedy 

that occurred in late September was 

that it was “accidental and 100% an 

act of God” and that the main cause 

of the accident was the launch of 

fireworks inside the hall at a height 

exceeding four meters from four machines. 

The investigation committee concluded 

that these fireworks led to the 

burning of the roof, which was built of 

“highly flammable” and “prohibited” 

materials, in addition to decorative 

materials and materials from which 

the hall’s curtains were made, all of 

which were highly flammable. The investigative 

committee also noted the 

presence of “large quantities of alcoholic 

beverages,” which helped speed 

up the spread of the fire. 

The results of the investigation 

were not satisfactory to the families 

of the victims and feelings were filled 

with doubts and anger. The investigation 

and conclusion were determined 

in haste by military personnel, without 

the participation of international 

experts. Our people believe that there 

was a cover-up, and that the investigation 

was tainted by influential political 

interest. 

Massive demonstrations took place 

in Qaraqosh, against political clientelism 

demanding a re-investigation of 

the tragedy and at the top of the list, 

investigating the files of the powers 

controlling the area’s security and that 

the security file be handled exclusively 

by members of the judiciary. 

In this tragedy, I lost one of my sisters 

plus 9 cousins and their wives. We 

have a large number of burned cases 

that cannot be treated. 

CN: Do you have anything you’d like to 

share with our readers? 

Mayor Issam: Fear is more powerful 

than weapons. This issue was one of 

the difficult challenges. The people are 

suffering from many problems, immigration 

and loss of population are the 

toughest challenges facing the town 

today. Security, local economy, and 

keeping the Nineveh Plain region away 

from local politics and militia forces. 

Our priorities are security, the rule 

of law, building community relationships, 

providing a stable business 

environment, developing the local 

economy, empowering the people, 

restoring hope, community collaboration, 

and government support. 

The current PM Al-Sudani government 

seems to be serious and organized 

and issued a decree 25-230 to 

form a committee that examines and 

resolves land disputes. After his recent 

visit to the U.S. in April, the PM 

issued an administrative decree #235- 

23 to implement the Supreme Court 

decisions and formed a new committee 

that deals with the component’s 

complaints. 

All in all, we can say that progress 

is taking place and 90 percent of government 

departments and institutions 

in the district have resumed their duties. 

The district continues to attract 

admiration and acclaim from local 

politicians and international visitors. 

SOURCES: ISSAM BEHNAM MATTI, ZAGROS TV - 

MUHAMMAD TALAL AL NUAIMI, DAVID GRITTEN, BBC 

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CULTURE & HISTORY 

مقابلة وحوار رصيح مع قائم مقام الحمدانية عصام بهنام متى دعبول 

بقلم د عضيد مريي،‏ 

احتفاالً‏ بحفل توزيع الجوائز السنوي 

الحادي والعرشين الذي استضافته 

غرفة التجارة الكلدانية األمريكية 

يف ميشيغان مساء 26 نيسان/ابريل 2024، ودعا 

املنظمون لحضورها العديد من الشخصيات البارزة 

من العراق،‏ والوالية،‏ والعاصمة،‏ واشنطن.‏ ومن 

بني الذين قبلوا الدعوة وقاموا بالرحلة إىل الواليات 

املتحدة،‏ رئيس بلدية الحمدانية/بخديدا/قرة قوش/‏ 

نينوى،‏ ‏)عصام بهنام متي(،‏ ورئيس بلدية عنكاوا/‏ 

أربيل،‏ ‏)رامي نوري سياويش(.‏ 

أثناء وجودهم هنا،‏ قامت مؤسسة الجالية 

الكلدانية برتتيب جملة من االجتامعات منها اجتامع 

قائم مقام عنكاوا مع عمدة مدينة سرتلنك هايتس 

‏)مايكل تايلور(.‏ ودارت نقاشاتهم حول تبادل الخربات 

وتطوير العمل املشرتك وتوطيد العالقات ومد 

جسور التواصل بني شعبينا يف الداخل والخارج.‏ كام 

ناقش رئيسا البلديتني إمكانية إنشاء عالقة توأمة بني 

املدينتني.‏ 

ويف يوم السبت 27 نيسان 2024، 

استضافت مؤسسة الجالية الكلدانية 

محافظ نينوى السيد ‏)عبد القادر 

الدخيل(‏ يف 

لقاء وندوة عامة مع أبناء الجالية ناقش املشاركون 

والحضور فيها سبل دعم مجتمع األقليات يف العراق 

‏)املوصل(.‏ تناول رئيس أبدى رئيس مؤسسة الجالية 

الكلدانية مارتن منا وعكس للمسؤولني عدد من 

االهتاممات التي تثري قلق الجالية واملكونات منها 

التغريات الدميوغرافية،‏ ورضورة تعيني أفراد من أعضاء 

املجتمع املسيحي املحيل يف مناصب حكومية عراقية،‏ 

وتنفيذ املادة 125 من الدستور العراقي،‏ التي تنص 

عىل اإلدارة الذاتية للكلدان واألقليات واملكونات 

األخرى يف العراق.‏ حرض الندوة سعادة القنصل العام 

لجمهورية العراق يف ديرتويت ‏)السيد محمد حسن 

سعيد محمد أملحرتم(‏ ورئيس بلدية الحمدانية عصام 

بهنام متى دعبول.‏ 

واغتنمت مجلتنا ‏)كالديان نيوز - أخبار الكلدان(‏ 

الفرصة أثناء تواجدهم يف ميشيغان إلجراء مقابالت 

مع رئييس البلديتني.‏ سلط رئيس بلدية عنكاوا الضوء 

عىل التحديات والفرص التي تواجه األهايل يف منطقة 

حكومة إقليم كوردستان ومنطقة سهل نينوى وناقش 

سبل دعمها،‏ وأجرى رئيس بلدية الحمدانية مقابلة 

حرصية حول الوضع بعد داعش،‏ وعملية إعادة 

اإلعامر،‏ والتعايش بني املكونات الفردية يف املنطقة.‏ 

وأدناه نص املقابلة التي أجراها كاتب هذه املقالة:‏ 

مقدمة:‏ رئيس البلدية عصام بهنام 

متي دعبول 

ولد قائم مقام الحمدانية ‏)بخديدا/قرة قوش(‏ عام 

1967 يف بخديدا وتلقى تعليمه األويل والثانوي يف 

مسقط رأسه وبعد ذلك يف جامعة املوصل وحصل عىل 

درجة البكالوريوس يف الهندسة امليكانيكية.‏ تزوج عام 

1998، وزوجته حاصلة عىل درجة املاجستري يف الفيزياء 

وتحارض حاليا كأستاذة يف جامعة الحمدانية.‏ والديه 

هام بهنام متي وعمو دانو،‏ وله 4 إخوة و‎3‎ أخوات.‏ 

عمل عصام يف بلدية الحمدانية واألشغال العامة 

ملدة 10 سنوات،‏ لكنه اضطر إىل مغادرة املدينة إىل 

فرنسا عندما دخلت عصابات داعش إىل املنطقة يف 

عام 2015. ومن نكد األيام ان تم استخدام منزله يف 

قرقوش كأحد مقرات داعش.‏ عاد عصام بعد تحرير 

املنطقة وشارك يف االنتخابات املحلية،‏ ويف 27 فرباير 

2018، تم انتخابه رئيساً‏ لبلدية الحمدانية ملدة 4 

سنوات بأغلبية أعضاء مجلس القضاء )13 من أصل 

15( وظل يف هذا املنصب منذ ذلك الحني،‏ عىل 

الرغم من املحاوالت العديدة والفاشلة التي بذلتها 

امليليشيات املحلية إلزالته من منصبة.‏ 

س - أخربنا قليالً‏ عن القضاء؟ 

ج - الحمدانية هي واحدة من أكرب األقضية يف 

محافظة نينوى - شامل العراق،‏ وتضم ثالث مناطق 

وعدة قرى.‏ والحمدانية باللغة العربية لها ثالثة 

أسامء متميزة؛ واألخرى التي تشتهر بها هي قره 

قوش والتي تعني ‏“الطائر األسود”‏ باللغة الرتكية،‏ 

وبغديدا ‏)باآلرامية(،‏ وهي تبعد 33 كيلومرتاً‏ عن 

املوصل،‏ وتعترب تاريخيا قلب املجتمع املسيحي يف 

العراق وأكرب مدينة مسيحية يف العراق إذ بلغ عدد 

سكانها حوايل 60 ألف نسمة،‏ معظمهم من الرسيان 

والكلدان – قبل أن تسيطر عليها الجامعات الجهادية 

السنية،‏ وتنظيم الدولة اإلسالمية ‏)داعش(‏ عام 2014 

توقف القلب عن النبض ملدة 34 شهرًا عندما 

احتلتها خالفة داعش،‏ وواجه مواطنوها قرارًا تعسفياً‏ 

صارخًا:‏ اما اعتناق اإلسالم أو القتل.‏ وبسبب ذلك 

حصل إخالء املنطقة من سكانها يف غضون أيام قليلة.‏ 

يف عام 2003، بلغ عدد سكان قره قوش حوايل 

60 ألف نسمة،‏ لكن 40% من السكان املحليني فروا 

تدريجياً‏ من املنطقة بسبب انعدام األمن والتغريات 

الدميوغرافية وانعدام فرص العمل.‏ وعانت بلدة 

برطلة املجاورة واغلبية سكانها هم من ‏)الرسيان 

األرثوذكس(‏ من أصعب التغريات الدميوغرافية،‏ كام 

وفقدت مدينة كرمليس الكلدانية التاريخية 70% من 

سكانها عىل مر السنني.‏ 

قبل عام 2014، كانت قره قوش مدينة مزدحمة 

وكانت موطنًا ألكرب عدد من السكان املسيحيني يف 

البالد بأكملها،‏ وكانت املنطقة سلة غذاء املنطقة،‏ 

واملعروفة بحقولها الغنية وزراعتها ومزارع الدواجن.‏ 

كان لدينا 190 مزرعة دواجن،‏ تكفي إلطعام إقليم 

كردستان بأكمله وجزء من العراق،‏ ولكن لألسف يبلغ 

عدد سكان بخديدا اليوم 25.000-30.000 نسمة.‏ وال 

تزال البلدة قيد إعادة اإلعامر،‏ وحوايل نصف سكانها 

قد عادوا اليها من مناطق نزوحهم داخل العراق.‏ 

س - كيف غريت داعش احوال 

املنطقة؟ 

ج - يف منتصف عام 2014، سيطر تنظيم الدولة 

اإلسالمية يف العراق والشام ‏)داعش(‏ عىل قضاء 

الحمدانية ‏)جنوب رشق املوصل(‏ وألحق أرضارًا باملباين 

الحكومية يف مركز القضاء،‏ باإلضافة إىل تدمري وحرق 

آالف املنازل واألماكن الدينية.‏ وأجرب غزوهم جميع 

مسيحيي املدينة تقريبًا عىل الفرار للنجاة بحياتهم.‏ 

واحتل داعش يف البداية منزيل وغريه يف الحي الذي 

اسكنه واستخدمه كمقر له.‏ وبعد التحرير والعودة 

وجدت جدران الدار مليئة بشارات داعش،‏ وأسامء 

قادتها مثل ‏)أبو طلحة األملاين(،‏ وأبو فطومة،‏ وغريهم.‏ 

متت استعادة املنطقة من سيطرة داعش عام 

2017، وكانت هذه الجبهة األكرث حسامً‏ يف الحرب 

ضد داعش.‏ ويف تحرير قرة قوش واملوصل،‏ حيث فاز 

الجيش العراقي يف املعارك الحاسمة،‏ لكن النرص التام 

ال يزال بعيد املنال.‏ وإىل أن يتم التغلب عىل الوضع 

األمني والفساد واالستغالل والجهل،‏ وبخالف ذلك 

ستتمكن العنارص املظلمة من االتجاه صوب دماء 

جديدة الستمرار فكرها املظلم.‏ 

وبعد تحرير املنطقة،‏ بدأ عدد النازحني العائدين 

يف التزايد تدريجياً.‏ ولكن مل يعود جميع سكان 

املنطقة إىل منازلهم.‏ ويف الوقت الحارض عاد إىل 

القضاء 90-100% من العرب والشبك والكاكائيني 

والرتكامن ألن إدارة القضاء تعمل عىل محو آثار 

حرب داعش وتقديم الخدمات الالزمة لعودة الحياة 

الطبيعية إىل الحمدانية واملناطق املجاورة.‏ 

ونسبة املسيحيني العائدين إىل بخديدا بلغت 60 

باملئة،‏ أي أن 40 باملئة منهم مل يعودوا ألنهم ترضروا 

ويأسوا أكرث من غريهم بسبب حرب داعش.‏ وفقدت 

برطلة معظم سكانها املسيحيني،‏ وفقدت كرمليس 

70% من أهلها.‏ ويعيش معظم النازحني يف عنكاوا 

ومنطقة إقليم كردستان..‏ 

س - هل هناك إحصائيات ومتابعات 

دقيقة لألرضار التي خلفها داعش؟ 

ج - عند عودتهم إىل مسقط رأسهم يف قره قوش،‏ 

مل تجد معظم العائالت املسيحية شيئًا سوى املباين 

املحروقة والبنية التحتية املدمرة،‏ إذ عاث تنظيم 



PRESCHOOL 

• For children ages 3 and 4 

• Helps young children to develop academically, 

socially, and emotionally 

• Teaches them new skills that will help later on, when 

they learn to read, write, and do math 

• Teaches phonemic awareness, communication and 

social skills 

• Encourages curiosity, creativity, and independence 

• Center-based activities that allow children to play, 

while still connecting them to the area of learning 

Little 

Scholars 

PRESCHOOL AND PRE-KINDERGARTEN 

September 9, 2024 – June 13, 2025 

2 OR 3 DAYS A WEEK BASED ON CHILD’S AGE 

Morning Session 8:45 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 

or Afternoon Session 12:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

PRE KINDERGARTEN 

• Helps young children transition into Kindergarten 

• Enhances the academic, social, and emotional skills 

learned in preschool 

• Learn concepts in reading, writing, math 

and science 

• Teaches specific phonics instruction and reading 

age-appropriate books 

• Encourages curiosity, creativity, and independence 

• Center-based activities, small group, and 

one-on-one instruction 

MONDAY – FRIDAY 

Morning Session 8:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. 

or Afternoon Session 12:45 – 4:15 p.m. 

$100 

REGISTRATION 

FEE 

WANT TO LEARN MORE? 

Please contact Rachel Hall 

at rachel.hall@chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253 




داعش خرابا يف املدينة خالل احتالله.‏ وال توجد 

إحصائيات دقيقة لتحديد حجم األرضار،‏ لكن 

بعض املناطق اشتغلت عىل تقييم هذا املوضوع،‏ 

وتبني أن هناك أرضاراً‏ كبرية لحقت باملباين 

الحكومية يف مركز القضاء ‏)بخديدا(‏ باإلضافة إىل 

حرق وتدمري خمسة آالف منزل.‏ 

كام ترضر القطاع الخدمي يف مديريات وقرى 

الحمدانية.‏ إذ كان يف الحمدانية أكرث من 180 

مزرعة دواجن،‏ ولألسف أصبح أكرث من 150 منها 

مدمراً،‏ و‎70‎ باملئة منها مل يتم ترميمها بعد.‏ 

وتم إعادة تأهيل خطوط نقل الطاقة 

الكهربائية،‏ ولكننا نعاين من مشكلة شحة اإلنتاج 

مثل بقية مناطق العراق.‏ أما بالنسبة ملياه الرشب،‏ 

فهناك مرشوع مياه واحد يف الحمدانية كان يزود 

يف السابق 50 ألف شخص يف املنطقة باملياه،‏ لكنه 

اآلن ال يكفي لسد احتياجات السكان.‏ 

س - كيف واجهتم تحديات إعادة 

البناء؟ 

ج - بعد التحرير،‏ مل يكن تدهور القطاعات 

الخدمية هو املشكلة الوحيدة التي واجهتنا.‏ كانت 

املهمة صعبة للغاية،‏ ولكن بدعم من املنظامت 

الدولية وباتباع خطة محكمة لتوعية املواطنني،‏ 

وتضمنت تشكيل مجموعة تضم رجال الدين من 

كافة املكونات،‏ وكذلك من خالل مراكز التعليم،‏ 

متكنا من إعادة التعايش السلمي إىل املنطقة.‏ 

كان أحد األنشطة األوىل هو إجراء مسح موسع 

الحتياجات البلدات والقرى املترضرة.‏ وأظهرت 

نتائج االستطالع أن الناس يحتاجون أشياء 

أساسية مثل الغذاء والتعليم والتدريب الوظيفي 

واالستشارة والتنمية الروحية والوظائف املستقرة.‏ 

التعليم هو منارة األمل يف قره قوش للمواطنني 

العائدين.‏ إذ كان التعليم واملدارس واملعلمني 

أساسيني يف املنطقة؛ وكانت مهنة التعليم تاريخيا 

أفضل مساهمة ملعلمي القضاء يف ريادة ودعم 

التعليم املبكر يف العراق.‏ ان التمكني األكادميي 

والتعليم اساسيان يف املصالحة والعيش معًا بسالم،‏ 

واملجتمع بحاجة اىل مدارس مختلفة وتدريس كل 

مادة وكل صف،‏ ولكن بشكل خاص املجموعة 

االبتدائية واألصغر سنًا.‏ 

س – أعطنا نبذة عن مشاكل البنية 

التحتية ونقص الخدمات،‏ وسوء 

الطرق،‏ وما إىل ذلك؟ 

ج - يف البداية مل تكن جهود الحكومة باملستوى 

املطلوب؛ ولكن مع مرور الوقت ومن خالل ميزانية 

تنمية املحافظات تم العمل عىل العديد من مشاريع 

املياه والكهرباء.‏ وال أقول إن كل الخدمات متوفرة،‏ 

لكن الجانب الخدمي اآلن أفضل مقارنة بالفرتة التي 

سبقت وصول داعش.‏ 

وأحدثت التغيريات اإلدارية يف املوصل،‏ بعد 2019، 

تغيريا كبريا يف جهود املشاريع مع انطالق حمالت 

إعادة اإلعامر يف جميع القطاعات،‏ وخاصة ترميم 

مباين القطاع العام،‏ وحالياً‏ نناقش موضوع عودة هيئة 

االستثامر ليكون لها دور يف ترسيع إعادة اإلعامر.‏ 

تم إصالح أو إعادة بناء املؤسسات الرئيسية يف 

املنطقة.‏ عىل سبيل املثال تم إعادة بناء مستشفى 

الحمدانية وإعادة تأهيله من قبل الوكالة األمريكية 

للتنمية الدولية،‏ ويعترب أفضل مستشفى يف منطقة 

سهل نينوى ومن أفضل املستشفيات يف العراق،‏ 

يعمل فيه أكرث من 1800 موظف ويحتوي عىل أقسام 

متخصصة مختلفة ‏)الجراحة،‏ طب األسنان،‏ البرصيات،‏ 

مركز لغسيل الكىل،‏ وغريها من األقسام األساسية(.‏ 

شبكة وخطوط املياه تعمل بشكل جيد،‏ وتم إعادة 

إحياء مرشوع شبكة الرصف الصحي بعد التحرير،‏ إذ 

استخدم تنظيم داعش األنفاق شبكة األنفاق الكبرية 

لتخزين األسلحة.‏ ويعترب هذا املرشوع األول من نوعه 

وأول عمل عام كبري يتم إنجازه يف العراق.‏ 

ويف قطاع التعليم،‏ تم تجديد وتأهيل معظم 

املدارس باإلضافة إىل بناء مدارس جديدة.‏ ولدينا أيضً‏ ا 

مدارس خاصة جديدة.‏ وتعمل جامعة الحمدانية 

اليوم بكامل طاقتها،‏ وتقدم درجات البكالوريوس يف 

مجاالت مختلفة ويتكوّن أعضاء هيئة التدريس فيها 

بالكامل من أكادمييني عراقيني.‏ والجامعة تخطط 

الستحداث وبدء برامج دراسة املاجستري يف عام 2025 

وتخرج كليات الجامعة 30-40 طبيباً‏ و‎40-50‎ مهندساً‏ 

كل عام؛ وهذا أمر إيجايب،‏ ولكن مع ذلك،‏ يحتاج 

الخريجون الجدد إىل وظائف وأماكن عمل.‏ 

وال يزال القطاع الزراعي الذي يشكل رشيان الحياة 

للمنطقة ضعيفاً‏ وقدمياً،‏ والزراعة والري تحتاج إىل رؤية 

جديدة وتطبيق اسرتاتيجيات زراعية حديثة ملواكبة 

تقنيات القرن الحادي والعرشين وتطوير تقنيات ري 

جديدة وتثقيف املزارعني يف رضورة تقنني استخدام 

املياه واإلمطار املوسمية وخزن وعدم هدر املياه.‏ 

س - ماذا عن إعادة بناء الكنائس 

واملواقع الدينية املدمرة؟ 

ج - زيارة البابا عام 2023 وضعت الحمدانية تحت 

أضواء وسائل اإلعالم العاملية وكانت عالمة تاريخية 

حيث كان واضحاً‏ للبابا فرنسيس مدى إميان الناس 

وصمودهم ورغبتهم يف البقاء يف مدن أجدادهم.‏ 

متت حملة ترميم وإعادة بناء بعض الكنائس 

من قبل املنظامت األجنبية واملحلية،‏ ولكن لسوء 

الحظ،‏ مل يتم ترميم جميع الكنائس واملواقع الدينية 

التي أحرقها ودمرها ارهايب داعش.‏ ومل تحظ هذه 

املواقع املهمة يف القضاء باألولوية من قبل املسؤولني 

العراقيني.‏ الكنيسة الرئيسية ‏)الطاهرة(‏ يف الحمدانية 

وبنايات الدير كانت تستخدم كميدان للرماية 

وساحات للتدريب من قبل عصابات داعش.‏ 

ومن املفرح أن نرى أن كنائس املوصل يتم إعادة 

تأهيلها باألموال املخصصة لها من قبل املنظامت 

األجنبية،‏ ونأمل أن تخصص الحكومة العراقية 

ميزانية إلعادة إعامر األماكن الدينية ضمن ميزانياتها 

وخططهااملستقبلية.‏ 

س - ما مدى أألمان واالستقرار يف 

املنطقة؟ 

ج - قبل داعش،‏ مل نكن نعرف بالضبط من هي 

الجهة املسؤولة عن مسك أمن املنطقة،‏ وبعد غزو 

داعش يف 6 أغسطس 2014، ظلت املدينة تحت 

سيطرة داعش حتى 16 أكتوبر 2016، ولكن منذ 

التحرير أصبحت وحدات حامية سهل نينوى متسك 

امللف األمني يف املدينة إىل جانب الجيش العراقي.‏ 

وتم تقديم العديد من املبادرات يف عام 2021 

لتوظيف ضباط الرشطة املحليني والرشطة الفيدرالية 

واملوظفني العسكريني يف املنطقة.‏ ونتوقع بحلول 

األول من يوليو 2024 أن تتوىل قوات الحكومة 

االتحادية امللف األمني بشكل كامل.‏ 

س - هل ميكنك أن تخربنا عن حاالت 

النزوح وعودة الالجئني؟ 

ج - أعتقد أننا قطعنا شوطاً‏ كبرياً‏ يف هذا املجال،‏ 

والدليل عىل ذلك هو فشل داعش يف خلق بيئة 

حاضنة جديدة وتنفيذ العمليات اإلرهابية يف املنطقة 

بعد تحريرها،‏ إال يف بعض الحاالت النادرة.‏ وهذا دليل 

عىل تعاون أهايل املنطقة مع األجهزة األمنية.‏ 

وبالتأكيد أن استمرار املساعدات املقدمة للمواطنني،‏ 

وخاصة املزارعني،‏ سيساعدهم عىل العودة والبقاء 

وإنعاش األرايض الزراعية،‏ وسيساهم يف عودة االستقرار 

والعيش املشرتك.‏ ولعبت منظامت املجتمع الدويل دوراً‏ 

بارزاً‏ يف هذا الشأن من خالل برامجها وخرباتها ومنح 

القروض الصغرية،‏ مثل تلك املمنوحة اآلن للمزارعني،‏ 

لالهتامم بالقطاع الزراعي يف مناطقهم.‏ 

س - ماذا عن مصادرة األرايض 

والتغيريات الدميغرافية؟ 

ج - كان رشاء وبيع األرايض واملنازل واملمتلكات 

نادرا قبل فرتة داعش.‏ وكانت أرايض بخديدا خطاً‏ 

أحمر لكل من تجرأ عىل املساس بها،‏ ولكن برطلة 

كانت وال تزال قضية شائكة حيث تم بيع العقارات 

لغري املسيحيني.‏ وبرطلة،‏ التي تقع يف قلب املنطقة 

املسيحية يف العراق،‏ هي مشكلة معقدة مع استمرار 

النزاعات حول هوية املدينة.‏ برطلة هي مدينة 

مسيحية تاريخية،‏ ذكرت ألول مرة يف عام 1153 بعد 

امليالد،‏ وهي موطن لكثري من املسيحيني الرسيان 

األرثوذكس والشبك،‏ وهم مجموعة ذات أصل عرقي 

متنازع عليه،‏ ولكنها عموما مرتبطة باألكراد.‏ 

عندما توليت منصبي كرئيس للبلدية،‏ عملت بشكل 

وثيق مع األحزاب السياسية املحلية ‏)الحركة الدميقراطية 

اآلشورية،‏ وحركة التحالف الرسياين وغريها(،‏ وتعاملت 

مع إدارات سجالت األرايض يف الحمدانية واملوصل،‏ 

واستعنت باملادة ‏-‏‎23‎ب من الدستور العراقي وتفسري 

املحكمة العليا ‏)قرار رقم 65 لسنة 2013( بشأن 

الحفاظ عىل حقوق األقليات واملكونات يف إقليمهم ويف 

األرايض التي تعود لهم،‏ وأن توطني الغرباء يجب أن 

يكون أن يكون فقط من خالل الحصول عىل املوافقات 

القانونية الالزمة من قائم مقامية القضاء.‏ 

إن مقاومة التغريات الدميوغرافية والتمسك 

بالقانون تتطلب العزمية واإلرادة اإلدارية.‏ وانا اعتربت 

قرار املحكمة العليا مبثابة قانون مركزي ورأي ثابت 

ضد محاوالت التغريات الدميغرافية.‏ ومن األمثلة 

الحديثة عىل ذلك حالة أحد الشبك الذي اشرتى عقارًا 

سكنيًا من شبك آخر دون اتباع اإلجراءات القانونية 

الواجبة ورفع دعوى قضائية ضدي يف محكمة 

املوصل.‏ ونرصة للحق والحقوق أسقطت محكمة 

نزاهة املوصل القضية وانحازت إيل جانبي يف رأي 

قضايئ تاريخي أصدرته بتاريخ 15 نيسان 2024 

س - ماذا عن حريق قاعة األعراس 

يف قره قوش وأين توصل التحقيق؟ 

ج - اندلع حريق هائل يف قاعة أفراح الهيثم يف 

ناحية الحمدانية،‏ بتاريخ 26 أو 27 سبتمرب 2023، 

وأدى إىل مقتل 122 شخصاً‏ وإصابة العرشات وكثرياً‏ 

ما يقع اللوم عىل معايري السالمة،‏ وال يتم مراعاتها 

بشكل جيد يف العراق،‏ الذي عاىن من عقود من سوء 

اإلدارة والفساد.‏ 

قاعة األفراح التي احرتقت يف الحمدانية كانت 

تتسع ل 500 شخص،‏ لكن ضعف العدد كان بداخلها 

عندما اندلع الحريق.‏ كام أنها ‏“خالية من أبواب 

الطوارئ”.‏ ويف كثري من األحيان ال يتم اتباع تعليامت 

السالمة يف العراق،‏ وخاصة يف قطاعي البناء والنقل،‏ 

مام يؤدي يف كثري من األحيان إىل حرائق وكوارث 

مميتة.‏ 

وكان الخطاب الرسمي حول املأساة أنها ‏“عرضية 

وقضاء وقدر الله 100%”، وأن السبب الرئييس 

للحادث هو إطالق األلعاب النارية داخل القاعة عىل 

ارتفاع يتجاوز أربعة أمتار من أربع آالت.‏ وخلصت 

لجنة التحقيق إىل أن هذه األلعاب النارية أدت 

إىل احرتاق السقف الذي بني من مواد ‏“شديدة 

االشتعال وممنوعة”‏ باإلضافة إىل مواد ديكور ومواد 

صنعت منها ستائر القاعة،‏ وجميعها شديدة االشتعال.‏ 

كام بينت لجنة التحقيق وجود ‏“كميات كبرية من 

املرشوبات الكحولية”‏ ما ساعد عىل ترسيع انتشار 

الحريق!‏ 

ويف الحقيقة مل تكن نتائج التحقيق مرضية ألرس 

الضحايا أبداً‏ وامتألت املشاعر بالشكوك والغضب،‏ 

سيام وأن التحقيق تم بصورة رسيعة واستنتاج 

النتيجة عىل عجل من قبل أفراد عسكريني،‏ دون 

مشاركة خرباء دوليني.‏ وشعبنا يعتقد أن هناك تسرتاً،‏ 

وأن التحقيق ملوث مبصالح سياسية مؤثرة وبسبب 

ذلك خرجت مظاهرات حاشدة يف قره قوش،‏ ضد 

القوى السياسية،‏ مطالبة بإعادة التحقيق يف حريق 

املأساة وعىل رأس القامئة التحقيق يف ملفات القوى 

املسيطرة عىل أمن املنطقة،‏ وأن يتوىل امللف األمني 

أعضاء السلطة القضائية حرصاً.‏ 

يف هذه املأساة فقدت إحدى أخوايت باإلضافة إىل 9 

من أبناء عمومتي وزوجاتهم.‏ ولغاية اليوم لدينا عدد كبري 

من الحاالت املحروقة التي ال ميكن عالجها يف العراق.‏ 

س - هل لديكم أي إضافة تريدون 

مشاركتها مع قراء مجلة اخبار 

الكلدان ‏)كالديان نيوز(؟ 

أشكركم للمقابلة وأود أن أقول ‏“ان الخوف أقوى 

من السالح”‏ وبسبب ذلك يعاين السكان املحليني من 

القلق املستمر والعديد من املشاكل التي سبسبها عدم 

االستقرار منذ 2003 وفرتات احتالل داعش،‏ وتعد 

الهجرة وفقدان السكان من أصعب التحديات التي 

تواجه املدينة اليوم إضافة اىل استتاب األمن وإنعاش 

االقتصاد املحيل وإبعاد منطقة سهل نينوى عن 

مناكفاتالسياساتاملحلية وسطوة قواتامليليشيات.‏ 

أولوياتنا هي األمن وسيادة القانون وبناء 

العالقات املجتمعية وتوفري بيئة أعامل مستقرة 

وتطوير االقتصاد املحيل ومتكني الناس واستعادة 

األمل والتعاون املجتمعي والعمل عىل الحصول 

عىل الدعم الحكومي.‏ ويبدو أن حكومة دولة رئيس 

الوزراء محمد شياع السوداين الحالية جادة ومنظمة 

وأصدرت القرار رقم 25-230 بتشكيل لجنة لدراسة 

وحل النزاعات عىل األرايض.‏ وبعد زيارته األخرية 

للواليات املتحدة يف أبريل،‏ أصدر رئيس الوزراء 

املرسوم اإلداري رقم 235-23 لتنفيذ قرارات املحكمة 

العليا وشكل لجنة جديدة للتعامل مع شكاوى 

املكونات يف القضاء.‏ 

وبشكل عام،‏ ميكننا القول إن التقدم يحصل وأن 

90 باملائة من الدوائر واملؤسسات الحكومية يف املنطقة 

عادت إىل عملها تستمر املنطقة يف جذب اإلعجاب 

واإلشادة من السياسيني املحليني والزوار الدوليني..و 

املصادر:‏ عصام بهنام متي،‏ تلفزيون زاغروس.‏ كتابات 

محمد طالل النعيمي،‏ ديفيد غرينت،‏ يب يب يس نيوز 



CHALDEAN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION 

GED 

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 – JANUARY 24, 2025 

In-person classes that allow students to learn the information 

to pass their GED test (General Education Development Test or 

high school equivalency). 

Offered in the four subjects needed to pass the GED: 

• Math 

• Science 

• Social Studies 

• Reading Language Arts 

Perfect for individuals hoping to advance in their careers or attend college! 


Books, materials, and testing costs included. 

To register, contact Rachel Hall 

at rachel.hall@chaldeanfoundation.org or call (586) 722-7253 

Math 

Monday – Thursday | 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Reading Language Arts 

Monday, Wednesday, Friday | 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. 

Winter semester: Science and Social Studies 




Left: The Hayyat tattoo on the 

left wrist says, “life” in Arabic. 

Above: Kurdish Dagga on a 

woman’s hand. 

From Grandma’s Daggas 

to Today’s Tattoos 

BY ADHID MIRI, PHD 

“ 

In Iraq, even tattoos have a conflicted 

past and present.” So 

starts a 2023 essay by Ahmed 

Windi titled, “Our Inked Grandmothers.” 

His two grandmothers had traditional 

tattoos and his mother – born 

in the 1960s – did not. So naturally, he 

had questions. 

The word “tattoo” is said to have 

originated from the Tahitian word 

“tatu,” which means to mark something. 

Lines and Dots 

In ancient Egypt, tattoos above the 

eyes were common because of the belief 

that they strengthened eyesight. 

The Greeks used them as evidence of 

treason; spies had identifying tattoos 

drawn on their bodies. The Romans 

also used them in wrestling arenas, 

where each wrestler was tattooed with 

Caption 

a figure of the animal he was wrestling. 

The Pharaohs have been familiar 

with tattoos for thousands of years. 

They were used on women for cosmetic 

purposes in the absence of colored 

powders, especially around the eyebrows 

and lips to darken and enlarge 

them and the neck, where they were 

pricked with needles in the form of a 

wide necklace. 

One of the most important benefits 

or benefits of the origin of tattoos is 

that they serve as a means of healing 

for religious people. For example, ancient 

Egypt and India used tattoos as 

healing techniques. It is believed that 

tattoos around the fingers and wrist 

area of the body chase disease away 

from the wearer. 

Tattooing moved from the Mediterranean 

basin to England, where it 

spread among members of the ruling 

family before the practice moved to 

mainland Europe. In the 19th century, 

sailors of the Royal Fleet used to tattoo 

the turtle on those who crossed 

the equator and the anchor tattoo on 

those who crossed the Atlantic. If they 

reached China, the dragon tattoo was 

the reward. 

The art of tattoo appeared in Japan 

around 500 BC, where it was used for 

cosmetic and religious purposes specific 

to the Japanese, or as a punishment 

for criminals. Russian tzars used 

to tattoo prisoners according to their 

crimes and punishments, just as the 

Nazis tattooed their prisoners with serial 

numbers in concentration camps 

during World War II. 

In Iraq 

Although many religions prohibit the 

practice of tattooing, most Chaldean 

grandfathers and grandmothers bore 

tattoos on their bodies even though 

they were deeply religious. Tattoos 

in Iraq were popular from the 1880s 

through the 1960s. Women used tattoos 

in lieu of makeup, and Iraqi men 

had limbs tattooed to lend strength to 

their arms and legs. 

Tattooing, or “Dagga” as it is called 

locally in Iraq, was a social phenomenon. 

“Dagga” or “Dakka” means 

“taps;” it stands for the actual act of 

tattooing, where the tattoo artists use 

a series of taps to puncture the skin so 

the color can penetrate. 

For a long time, mothers were 

keen to send their daughters to the 

“Daggaga” to get tattooed so that they 

would look beautiful and striking, and 

preserve the values of the tribe, which 

they saw as an adornment and a common 

custom. 

Dagga Al-Khaza’aliyah is a type 

of tattoo that was very widespread 

for women in southern Iraq. It is a 

stroke between the lower lip and the 

chin, or on their hands and eyebrows. 

Women from various tribes are distinguished 

by the types of Daggas they 

are adorned with. 

Social norms previously considered 

the phenomenon of tattoos or 

“Dagga” worn by women to be part 

of their identity and heritage, but this 

view began to decline, especially after 

the rise of the religious tide which 

greatly affected some customs and 

considered them forbidden. 

The most common tattoos for 

women pre-1960s were the “nonah,” 

a small circular shape between the 

eyes inspired by the Hindu “bindi;” 

marks on the tip of the nose, upper 

lip, and chin; a dotted mark from the 

chin down, called “the trail of ants;” 

or three dots in the form of a lineless 

triangle on the hand, representing life, 

family, and health. 

Men would typically get one or two 


Iraqi Folklore - Dagga Khaza’aliyah 

We often hear about “the beloved’s hand is an Al- 

Khaza’aliyah’s hand,” especially in old classic 

folklore songs. Why this proverb or song, and 

what was a specific story behind it or reason for naming it? 

Why did poets and artists sing it and why did they do so? 

Many stories exist in Iraqi folklore to explain the history 

of Dagga. A popular story is connected to the time 

of Prince Hamad Al Hamoud, Sheikh Al-Khaza’al clan in 

Southern Iraq, who was an opponent of the Ottoman occupation 

and fought many wars with the Turkish army 

during his time. The disputes went forth and back but in a 

decisive battle with the Ottomans, Prince Hamad achieved 

a brilliant victory. 

Every great battle or tribal fight is called in the Iraqi dialect 

“Al-Dagga;” poets celebrate victories, singers chant the heroics, 

and travelers claim that the songs celebrating the Battle of 

Bin Hamoud were a great defeat of the Ottoman army. 

Another story is that the British High Commissioner 

in Iraq considered Sheikh Khaza’al a troublemaker rather 

than an ally. A historic catastrophe occurred when a conspiracy 

was hatched between the British and Persians on 

a night in 1925. 

That night, the Persian military commander-in-chief, 

who had a personal friendship with Sheikh Khaza’al, conspired 

to host him on board a Persian boat (Khuzestan) 

decorated with flags and illuminated by lights. He 

charmed the Shiekh with sweet words that concealed betrayal 

and treachery, just as the boat concealed its departure 

from Shat Al-Arab port. The conspirators quickly led 

him into exile in Tehran. 

The British deception of Sheikh Khaza’al and the historic 

catastrophe became a popular example and a sad 

symbol of treachery and betrayal. Consequently, in the 

thirties, a tragic song was composed and sung by the singer 

Badriya Anwar. 

The poets said at first “Ya-Daggat bin Hamoud Dagga 

Khaza’aliya,” but it was later changed to “Ya -Daggat al- 

Mahboob Dagga Khaza’aliya.” 

Several famous artists have sung this beautiful song, 

such as Nazim Al-Ghazali, Salima Murad, Youssef Omar, 

Fouad Salem, Hamza Al-Saadawi, and many others, because 

of the beauty of the words and the sincerity of feelings. 

The pleading words of the song continue to echo to 

this day in Iraqi folklore to signal betrayal: “Khaia, Sister, 

the passer-by will not accept carrying my message” and “I 

do not want them, nor do I want to see them come to me, 

the beloved bench hurts too much” and thus it is “Dagga 

Khaza’aliya.” 

dots on the face, indicating a 

struggle, dots for each family 

member on the upper back, or 

name tattoos, sometimes religious 

(Allah, Mohammed, etc). 

The year 1963 marked a 

turning point in Iraq around 

the outlook on many ancient 

customs, a period of coups and 

turmoil that struck society together 

with the rise of religious 

trends that swept through society. 

The generations that used 

to get tattoos stopped doing so 

after the early sixties. 

After 2003 in Iraq, beauty 

centers and salons where tattoos 

could be attained were 

subject to closure due to the 

spread of extremist religious 

ideas. 

Tattoos and Religion 

Tattoos were used to expel spirits, 

fight the devil, eliminate 

black magic, protect against 

envy, and were used to treat 

some diseases. African tribes used 

them in the form of signs and symbols 

on the body as an identification test in 

societies that did not read. The tattoo 

was used to distinguish a person and 

introduce others to him and his tribe. 

It was used in ceremonies on some 

occasions, such as marriage, harvest 

holidays, and during wars. 

Tattooing was considered a primitive 

act committed by traditional societies. 

This emphasis and persuasion 

led to the gradual decline of tattooing 

in Europe. The significant decline was 

driven by Emperor Constantine’s banning 

of tattoos. He believed that the 

human body was created in the image 

and likeness of God and should not be 

destroyed by tattoos. 

The decline in tattoo geology has 

been attributed to Christian missionaries, 

who advocated against tattoo 

awareness in various circles. They 

convinced community members 

not to have their bodies 

penetrated, viewing tattoos on 

oneself as unholy deeds that 

should not be entertained. 

In the Holy Land 

In the Old City of Jerusalem, a 

centuries-old tradition of tattooing 

goes back in written records 

to at least the 1600s and 

quite possibly much earlier. 

The Razzouk family brought 

the art of tattooing with them 

from Egypt to Palestine five 

centuries ago. They came to 

the Holy Land for a pilgrimage 

but stayed for trade. Since this 

art has been in the family for 

700 hundred years, starting in 

Egypt, the family began tattooing 

pilgrims for a living. 

In the tattoo/coffin-making 

shop of Jacob Razzouk, you will 

find designs of wood blocks 

unique in character that were 

carved with various designs, 

mostly Coptic Christian. Prominent 

among them is, of course, the Jerusalem 

cross. Pilgrims to the Holy City 

have used it for centuries to commemorate 

their journeys – even pilgrims 

such as King Edward VII of England 

and King Frederik IX of Denmark. 

The Razzouk ancestors used tat- 

CULTURE 

continued on page 47 

A TTORNEYS & C O UNSELORS AT LAW 


FEATURE 

دكًة الجدات ووشم السيدات 

بقلم د عضيد مريي 

‏“يف العراق،‏ حتى الوشم له مايض وحارض 

متضاربان”‏ هكذا يبدأ مقال الكاتب أحمد ويندي 

الصادر عام 2023 بعنوان ‏“وشم جداتنا”،‏ إذ كان 

لدى كال جدتيه وشم تقليدي،‏ بينام مل يكن لدى 

والدته – املولودة يف الستينيات – أي وشم،‏ ومن 

الطبيعي أن هذا دعا اىل فضوله وتساؤالته؟ ويقال 

إن كلمة ‏“وشم”‏ نشأت من الكلمة التاهيتية ‏“تاتو”،‏ 

والتي تعني وضع عالمة عىل يشء ما.‏ 

الخطوط والنقاط 

يف مرص القدمية،‏ كان الوشم فوق العينني شائعاً‏ 

العتقادهم بأنه يقوي البرص،‏ واستخدمها اليونانيون 

كدليل عىل الخيانة؛ حيث كان لدى الجواسيس وشم 

مرسوم عىل أجسادهم،‏ كام استخدمها الرومان يف 

ساحات املصارعة،‏ حيث كان يتم وشم كل مصارع 

بصورة الحيوان الذي كان يصارعه.‏ 

لقد عرف الفراعنة الوشم منذ آالف السنني.‏ 

واستخدمت عىل النساء ألغراض تجميلية مع غياب 

املساحيق امللونة،‏ خاصة حول الحواجب والشفاه 

لتغميقها وتكبريها وكذلك حول الرقبة،‏ حيث تم 

وخزها بإبر عىل شكل قالدة واسعة.‏ 

ويف املعتقدات الطبية القدمية فإن من أهم 

فوائد أو فوائد أصل الوشم أنه مبثابة وسيلة شفاء 

للمؤمنني واملتدينني.‏ عىل سبيل املثال،‏ استخدمت 

مرص والهند القدمية الوشم كتقنيات عالجية،‏ وكان 

يعتقدون أن الوشم حول األصابع ومنطقة املعصم 

من الجسم يطرد املرض بعيدا عمن له وشم يرتديه.‏ 

انتقل الوشم من حوض البحر األبيض املتوسط 

إىل إنجلرتا،‏ حيث انترش بني أفراد األرسة الحاكمة 

قبل أن تنتقل املامرسة إىل قارة أوروبا ويف القرن 

التاسع عرش،‏ وكان بحارة األسطول املليك يرسمون 

وشم السلحفاة عىل من يعربون خط االستواء،‏ ووشم 

املرساة عىل من يعربون املحيط األطليس،‏ وإذا وصلوا 

إىل الصني،‏ كان وشم التنني هو املكافأة الثمينة عىل 

أجسادهم.‏ ويف البداية،‏ كان الوشم يف الواليات 

املتحدة عالمةاً‏ للبحارة والطبقات الدنيا.‏ 

وظهر فن الوشم يف اليابان حوايل عام 500 قبل 

امليالد،‏ حيث تم استخدامه ألغراض تجميلية ودينية 

خاصة باليابانيني،‏ أو كعقاب للمجرمني،‏ ويف روسيا 

اعتاد القيارصة الروس عىل رسم الوشم عىل السجناء 

بحسب جرامئهم وعقوباتهم،‏ متاماً‏ كام قام النازيون 

بوشم سجنائهم اليهود وغريهم بأرقام تسلسلية يف 

معسكرات االعتقال خالل الحرب العاملية الثانية.‏ 

يف العراق 

عىل الرغم من أن العديد من الديانات تحظر مامرسة 

الوشم،‏ إال أن معظم األجداد والجدات الكلدانيني كانوا 

يحملون الوشم عىل أجسادهم واجسادهن عىل الرغم 

من أنهم كانوا متدينني بشدة.‏ كان الوشم يف العراق 

شائعًا منذ مثانينيات القرن التاسع عرش وحتى ستينيات 

القرن العرشين.‏ استخدمت النساء الوشم بدالً‏ من 

املكياج،‏ وكان الرجال العراقيون يقومون بوشم أطرافهم 

إلضافة سامت القوة عىل أذرعهم وأرجلهم.‏ 

وكان الوشم،‏ أو ‏“الدكة”‏ كام يُطلق عليه محلياً‏ 

يف العراق،‏ ظاهرة اجتامعية،‏ حيث يستخدم فنانوا 

الوشم سلسلة من رضبات ووخز األبر لثقب الجلد 

حتى يتمكن اللون من اخرتاقه واالستقرار تحت طبقة 

الجلد.‏ ولفرتة طويلة،‏ حرصت األمهات عىل إرسال 

بناتهن إىل ‏“الدكًاكًة”‏ الخبرية لرسم الوشم حتى يبدوا 

جميالت وملفتات للنظر،‏ ويحافظن عىل قيم القبيلة 

التي يرونها زينة وعادات عامة ذات أهمية.‏ 

وتتميز النساء من مختلف القبائل يف انحاء 

العراق بأنواع وهندسة الدكًة التي يتزينن بها.‏ ومنها 

ال ‏“دكًة الخزعلية”‏ التي هي نوع من الوشم منترش 

بشكل كبري بني النساء يف جنوب العراق.‏ وهي عادة 

ثالثة نقاط ‏)نونه(‏ تقع بني الشفة السفىل والذقن،‏ أو 

عىل اليدين والحاجبني.‏ وكانت األعراف االجتامعية يف 

السابق تعترب ظاهرة الوشم أو ‏“الدكًة”‏ التي ترتديها 

املرأة جزءا من هويتها وتراثها،‏ لكن هذه النظرة 

بدأت يف الرتاجع،‏ خاصة بعد صعود املد الديني الذي 

أثر بشكل كبري عىل بعض العادات واعتربها محرمة.‏ 

كان الوشم األكرث شيوعًا للنساء يف فرتة ما قبل 

الستينيات هو ‏“النونة”،‏ وهو شكل دائري صغري بني 

العينني مستوحى من ‏“بيندي”‏ الهندوسية؛ وهي 

تشمل عالمات عىل طرف األنف والشفة العليا 

والذقن،‏ أو عالمة منقطة من الذقن إىل األسفل،‏ 

تسمى “ أثر النمل”‏ أو ثالث نقاط عىل شكل مثلث 

بال خط عىل اليد متثل الحياة واألرسة والصحة.‏ وعادةً‏ 

ما يضع الرجال عىل نقطة أو نقطتني عىل الوجه،‏ مام 

يشري إىل رصاع،‏ أو نقاط لكل فرد من أفراد األرسة 

يف الجزء العلوي من الظهر،‏ أو وشم باسم شخصية 

مهمة،‏ وأحيانًا دينية ‏)الله،‏ محمد،‏ إلخ(.‏ 

شكل عام 1963 نقطة تحول يف العراق حول 

تقييم النظر إىل العديد من العادات القدمية،‏ 

وهي فرتة تعدد فيها االنقالبات واالضطرابات 

التي رضبت املجتمع مع ظهور االتجاهات الدينية 

التي اجتاحت الحياة املجتمعية وتوقفت األجيال 

التي اعتادت الحصول عىل الوشم عن القيام بذلك 

بعد أوائل الستينيات،‏ وبعد عام 2003 يف العراق،‏ 

تعرضت مراكز التجميل والصالونات التي ميكن 

رسم الوشم فيها لإلغالق بسبب انتشار األفكار 

الدينية املتطرفة والتهديد والقتل.‏ 

الوشم والدين 

تم استخدام الوشم لتمييز الشخص وتعريف اآلخرين 

به وبقبيلته،‏ وكان يستخدم يف مراسيم االحتفاالت ويف 

بعض املناسبات كالزواج وأعياد الحصاد وأثناء الحروب.‏ 

وكان الوشم يستخدم لطرد األرواح ومحاربة الشيطان 

والقضاء عىل السحر األسود والحامية من الحسد،‏ 

ويستخدم لعالج بعض األمراض.‏ واستخدمتها القبائل 

اإلفريقية عىل شكل إشارات ورموز عىل الجسد كاختبار 

لتحديد الهوية يف املجتمعات البدائية التي ال تقرأ.‏ 

وكان الوشم يعترب عمالً‏ بدائياً‏ تقوم به املجتمعات 

التقليدية،‏ وأدى هذا الرتكيز واإلقناع إىل الرتاجع 

التدريجي للوشم يف أوروبا.‏ وكان الدافع وراء هذا 

االنخفاض الكبري هو حظر اإلمرباطور قسطنطني للوشم،‏ 

إذ كان يعتقد أن جسم اإلنسان مخلوق عىل صورة الله 

ومثاله وال ينبغي تدمريه بالعالمات والوشم.‏ 

يُعزى االنخفاض يف جيولوجيا الوشم إىل املبرشين 

املسيحيني،‏ الذين دافعوا عن مبادراتهم بالتوعية ضد 

وضع الوشم يف مختلف املحافل واالجتامعات وأقنعوا 

أفراد املجتمع بعدم اخرتاق األمور الغريبة أجسادهم،‏ 

واعتربوا الوشم عىل أنفسهم مبثابة أعامل غري مقدسة ال 

ينبغي تشجيعها والقيام بها.‏ 

يف األرض املقدسة 

يعود تقليد الوشم الذي تشري السجالت املكتوبة 

إىل القرن السابع عرش عىل األقل ورمبا قبل ذلك 

بكثري يف األرايض املقدسة والبلدة القدمية يف 

القدس وفيها يقع اليوم محل قديم عريق لفن 

الوشم/صناعة التوابيت التابع ليعقوب رزوق،‏ 

حيث جلبت عائلة رزوق فن الوشم معهم من 

مرص إىل فلسطني منذ خمسة قرون حني جاؤوا إىل 

األرايض املقدسة للحج لكنهم بقوا للتجارة.‏ 

ومبا أن هذا الفن موجود يف أجيال من األرسة 

منذ 700 مائة عام،‏ بدءًا من مرص،‏ بدأت األرسة 

لكسب لقمة العيش يف رسم الوشم للحجاج 

املقدسيني الذين يزورون القدس.‏ 

والزائر سيجد يف محل الوشم/صناعة التوابيت 

التابع ليعقوب رزوق تصميامت للكتل الخشبية 

فريدة من نوعها تم نحتها بتصميامت متنوعة أغلبها 

مسيحية قبطية،‏ وأبرزها بالطبع صليب القدس الذي 

استخدمه املقدسيني ‏)حجاج القدس(‏ إىل املدينة 

املقدسة ولعدة قرون كرمز إمياين إلحياء ذكرى 

رحالتهم ومنهم مشاهري مثل امللك إدوارد السابع 

ملك إنجلرتا وامللك فريدريك التاسع ملك الدمنارك.‏ 

استخدم أسالف رزوق الوشم لتمييز األقباط 

املسيحيني يف مرص بصليب صغري عىل الجزء الداخيل 

من املعصم ملنحهم إمكانية الوصول إىل الكنائس،‏ 

ومن ال ميلكها كان يواجه صعوبة يف دخول الكنيسة؛ 

لذلك،‏ منذ سن مبكرة جدًا ‏)أحيانًا حتى بضعة أشهر(‏ 

كان املسيحيون يقومون بوشم أطفالهم بالصليب 

الذي يشري إىل أنهم أقباط.‏ 

قوة هذه األوشام تأيت من القصص التي يعرفونها 

ويروونها ذات صلة بهم،‏ وهناك يشء سحري يف 

معرفة أن العمل الفني الذي يتم نقشه بشكل دائم 

عىل الجسد هو نفس العمل الفني الذي كان وشمهُ‏ 

وامتلكه شخص ما منذ مئات السنني أيضً‏ ا.‏ 

أحد أشهر انواع الوشم هو صليب القدس بسبب 

معناه التاريخي العميق،‏ حيث ميثل رمز الصليب 

املركزي مدينة القدس كمركز للعامل،‏ ومتثل زوايا األطراف 

األربعة عىل الصلبان املسيحية املنترشة يف أركان العامل 

األربعة.‏ وعندما يأيت املقدسيون من جميع أنحاء العامل،‏ 

ويتم وشمهم بعالمة الصليب يصبحون جزءًا من 

القدس،‏ وتصبح القدس جزءًا منهم.‏ 

الوشم اليوم 

عىل الرغم من أن الوشم الدائم محظور مبوجب 

الرشيعة اإلسالمية،‏ إال أنه خالل فرتات الحروب يف 

العراق،‏ قام العديد من الرجال بوشم أسامئهم عىل 

أجسادهم ألغراض التعرف عليهم يف حاالت الرضورة 

واملوت إذا مل ينجوا من الرصاع.‏ 

بعد الغزو األمرييك عام 2003، أصبح من املمكن 

رؤية نوع مختلف من الوشم عىل الشباب العراقي،‏ 

وأصبح فن الوشم،‏ املستوحى من العضلة ذات الرأسني 

املوشومة للجنود األمريكيني،‏ نوعًا مختلفًا من التعبري 

عن الذات وتقليد شائع.‏ ومن الظواهر املجتمعية 

الحديثة،‏ نجد بعض النساء العراقيات لديهن وشم 

للحواجب،‏ ووشم للشفاه،‏ وككحل للعيون.‏ 

األمور الفنية واملجتمعية تغريت اآلن،‏ نظرًا 

للتقنيات الحديثة ومستوى الوعي يف العرص الحديث 

وحقيقة أن حرفيي الوشم أصبحوا أكرث قدرة وفناً‏ 

وحرصاً،‏ فقد تحرك منط ولون ونوع الوشم ليصبح لوحة 

فنية واختيار فردي.‏ يف أوروبا الرجال أكرث تقبالً‏ للوشم،‏ 

وخاصة املشاهري منهم وأصبح الوشم الفرعوين شائعا 

بني مشاهري العامل بحسب صحيفة الحياة اللندنية.‏ 

الرتاث الشعبي العراقي - دكًة خزعليه 

كثريًا ما نسمع عن ‏“الدكًة الخزعليّة”،‏ خصوصً‏ ا 

يف األغاين الفلكلورية القدمية.‏ ومنا من يسأل،‏ ملاذا 

هذا املثل أو األغنية وما هي القصة املحددة وراءها 

أو سبب تسميتها وملاذا تغنى بها الشعراء والفنانون 

وملاذا فعلوا ذلك؟ 

توجد العديد من القصص يف الرتاث الشعبي 

العراقي لرشح تاريخ الدكة.‏ قصة شعبية ترتبط بزمن 

األمري حمد الحمود،‏ شيخ عشرية الخزاعل يف جنوب 

العراق،‏ الذي كان معارضاً‏ لالحتالل العثامين،‏ وخاض يف 

زمانه حروباً‏ كثرية ضد الجيش الرتيك،‏ دارت رحاها ذهابًا 

وإيابًا،‏ لكن يف معركة حاسمة مع العثامنيني،‏ حقق 

األمري حمد نرصًا رائعًا،‏ وبسبب تلك املعركة يقال إن 

كل معركة أو قتال عشائري تسمى يف اللهجة العراقية 

‏“الدكًة”.‏ فيحتفل الشعراء عادة باالنتصارات،‏ وينشد 

املغنون البطوالت،‏ وكانت أغاين االحتفال بالنرص يف 

معركة بن حمود مبثابة هزمية كبرية للجيش العثامين 

و”دكًة خزعليه”‏ كبرية نسبة لعشرية الخزاعل البرصية.‏ 

وقصة أخرى ‏“للدكًة الخزعلية”‏ تعود اىل حقيقة 

أن املندوب السامي الربيطاين يف العراق بعد الحرب 

العاملية األوىل اعترب شيخ املحمرة ‏)خزعل الكعبي(‏ 

مثريا للمشاكل وليس حليفا للتاج الربيطاين،‏ وتأسياً‏ عىل 

ذلك حدثت كارثة تاريخية لعربستان والشيخ خزعل 

عندما دبرت مؤامرة بني اإلنجليز والفرس عام 1925 إذ 

يف إحدى الليايل تآمر القائد العسكري الفاريس،‏ الذي 

كانت تربطه صداقة شخصية بالشيخ خزعل،‏ الستضافته 

عىل منت قارب فاريس ‏)خوزستان(‏ مزين باألعالم ومضاء 

باألضواء،‏ وسحر الشيخ بكالم معسول الستدراجه بينام 

هو يخفي الخيانة والغدر،‏ وأخفى تفاصيل نوايا وخروج 

وابحار السفينة من ميناء شط العرب،‏ ورسعان ما قاد 

املتآمرون الشيخ خزعل الكعبي امري عربستان واملحمرة 

إىل املنفى يف طهران.‏ 

وأصبح خداع الربيطانيني واإليرانيني للشيخ 

خزعل والكارثة التاريخية التي حلّت بأماراته منوذجا 

شعبيا ورمزا حزينا للغدر والخيانة،‏ وبالتايل،‏ يف 

الثالثينيات،‏ تم تلحني وغناء أغنية تراجيدية للمطربة 

بدرية أنور،‏ قال الشعراء يف البداية ‏“يا دكًة بن حمود 

دكًة خزعلية”‏ ثم غريت فيام بعد إىل ‏“يا دقة املحبوب 

دقة خزعلية”‏ وغناها فنانني مشهورين مثل ناظم 

الغزايل،‏ سليمة مراد،‏ يوسف عمر،‏ فؤاد سامل،‏ حمزة 

السعداوي،‏ ساجدة عبيد وغريهم كثري وذلك لجامل 

الكلامت وصدق املشاعر.‏ 

وال تزال كلامت وأصداء التوسل يف األغنية ترتدد 

حتى يومنا هذا يف الفلكلور العراقي للداللة عىل 

الخيانة املؤملة ويصدح بها املطربون”‏ خيّة أويص املار 

ما يقبل وصيّة – ويا دكًة املحبوب دكًة خزعلية”.‏ 

املصادر:‏ ويكيبيديا،الباحثالعراقي محمد عجاج 

الجمييل،‏ الجزيرة نت،‏ طاهر عبد،‏ أربعة قرون من تاريخ 

العراق/تعريب جعفرالخياط،‏ حميد رحيمالخزاعي،‏ 

ناجي جواد الساعايت،‏ جون كارسويل،‏ وجيسون هاريس،‏ 

وغادة عيل،‏ وحميد مجيد،‏ وعالء كًويل.‏ 


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FEATURE 

A Night of Culture 

Celebration is a highlight of the 

year-long Chaldean Story series 

BY CAL ABBO 

The Chaldean News and Chaldean Community 

Foundation hosted a “Culture Night” to celebrate 

and showcase Chaldean culture. 

More than 200 people attended the event, many 

of whom were not Chaldean. The guests enjoyed traditional 

Chaldean foods like potato chop and geymar, 

among others. 

“What struck me most was observing the number 

of people present from outside the Chaldean community,” 

said Alex Lumelsky, the Creative Director of 

the Chaldean News and a key organizer of the event. 

“There was a good balance of people from within the 

community and people of other backgrounds who 

seemed genuinely curious about the culture.” 

The event marked the end of a months-long grant 

series called the Chaldean Story. Last year, the Chaldean 

News received a grant from Michigan Humanities’ 

Great Michigan Stories, which is meant to highlight 

untold stories in Michigan. 

A few minutes after the event began, Omar Jarbo 

stepped up with his zurna and his drummer, Wesame 

Matlub. The bright and playful music inspired a group 

of attendees to break into traditional Chaldean dance, 

usually seen at weddings, called the Zaffa. This was 

further enhanced when sisters Caitlyn Hakim and Carly 

Hakim Babi brought out their traditional Chaldean 

clothes and began teaching dance moves to the crowd. 

Another popular feature was Helen Kassab’s 

PHOTOS BY DANIEL MOEN 

Clockwise from top of page: Omar Binno leads the 

music; guests enjoying the atmosphere; an exchange 

of information; guests soaking up culture; and 

Caitlyn Hakim demonstrating a traditional dance. 

breadmaking table. She and her squad showed each 

step to making traditional Chaldean bread. Guests 

watched with wonder and were able to eat the bread 

after it was made. 

The Chaldean Community Foundation put together 

a table featuring trinkets from the culture. It 

showed various pieces of visual art, mini sculptures, 

maps, and other items related to the culture. 

The event also featured a photo booth by Nashwan 

Taila of Picture Perfect Mirror Booth, in which guests 

could dress up in traditional clothes and take fun photos 

with their friends. Afterward, they received the 

photo via text message and printout. 

Guests were treated to Turkish coffee brought 

right to them. Dheyaa Kabo walked the room, 

asking patrons to try a shot of his delectable creation, 

showing off his creative pouring method 

that the guests seemed to love. 

Zofia Walska Haney, who is not Chaldean, 

attended the event because she was curious 

about the Chaldean culture. She moved to the 

metro Detroit area only a few years ago from her 

home country of Poland and has already made 

a few Chaldean friends. Ever since she first 

learned what a Chaldean person is, she wanted 

to experience the culture herself. 

“I was so excited to experience the Chaldean 

culture that my friends were talking about,” she 

said. “I loved the vibe and it felt really authentic. 

The food and dancing were my favorite parts.” 

Several local dignitaries also attended the 

event, including State Rep. Mike McFall, State 

Rep. Tom Kuhn, Macomb County Commissioner 

Don VanSyckle, Judge Douglas Shepherd, and 

Sterling Heights Police Chief Dale Dwojakowski. 

DJ Joe Sesi provided live music before and after 

Jarbo’s performance. 

Weam Namou and Zina Lumelsky attended to 

represent the Chaldean Cultural Center at another 

table, offering their wisdom and showing off the vast 

resources and archives of the CCC. Next to them, 

guests could get their name written in Sureth by CCF 

Jumhoria Kaskorkis. 

Namou spoke at the event. “While most people 

know that writing was invented in ancient Mesopotamia,” 

she said, “they don’t know that the first recorded 

writer was a woman from that region. Enheduanna 

was a princess, priestess, and the first writer 

in history who signed her name.” 

For Chaldean News Editor Sarah Kittle, seeing her 

name in the language was one of the coolest things 

there. “I was impressed by the number of young children,” 

she added, “and how excited they were for the 

music and dancing.” 

The celebration continues as the 20th anniversary 

of the Chaldean News moves forward. 

CHALDEAN 

STORY 




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CULTURE 

continued from page 43 

toos to mark Christian Copts in Egypt 

with a small cross on the inside of the 

wrist to grant them access to churches. 

Those without it would have difficulty 

entering the church; therefore, from a 

very young age (sometimes even a few 

months old) Christians would tattoo 

their children with the cross identifying 

them as Copts. 

The power of these tattoos comes 

from the story they tell. There is something 

magical about knowing that the 

artwork you’re about to have permanently 

inscribed on your body is the 

same artwork that someone hundreds 

of years ago had as well. 

One of the most popular tattoos 

is the Jerusalem cross, because of its 

meaning. The central cross represents 

Jerusalem as the center of the world. 

And four corner crosses represent Christianity 

spreading to the four corners of 

the world. Pilgrims come from all over 

the globe, and when they are tattooed, 

they become a part of Jerusalem, and Jerusalem 

becomes a part of them. 

Tattoos Today 

After the U.S. invasion in 2003, a different 

kind of tattoo could be seen on 

young Iraqis. Inspired by the tattedup 

biceps of U.S. soldiers, tattoo art 

became a different kind of self-expression. 

Although permanent tattoos are 

forbidden by Islamic law, during 

wartime in Iraq many men had their 

names tattooed on their skin for identification 

purposes should they not 

survive the conflict. 

Some non-Muslim Iraqi women 

have eyebrow tattoos, lip tattoos, and 

eyeliner tattoos, while in Europe men 

are more accepting of tattoos, especially 

celebrities, according to the London 

newspaper Al-Hayat. Pharaonic 

tattoos have become popular among 

world celebrities. 

Initially in the U.S., tattooing was 

an act for sailors and the lower classes, 

but now things have changed. Due to 

modern-day awareness and the fact 

that tattoo craftsmen have become 

more capable, tattoos have moved 

towards becoming the canvas of individual 

choice. 

SOURCES: WIKIPEDIA, IRAQI RESEARCHER MUHAM- 

MAD AJAJ AL-JUMAILI, AL JAZEERA NET, TAHER 

ABDEL, FOUR CENTURIES OF HISTORY OF IRAQ / 

ARABIZATION BY JAAFAR AL-KHAYYAT, HAMID RAHIM 

AL-KHAZAAI, NAJAF AL-ASHRAF, NAJI JAWAD AL— 

SAATI, JOHN CARSWELL, JASON HARRIS, GHADA ALI, 

HAMEED MAJEED, AND ALLA KULI. 


EVENTS 

PHOTO BY ALEX LUMELSKY 

Chamber Dinner 

The 21st Annual Chaldean American 

Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner 

was held on April 26, 2024, at Shenandoah 

Country Club in West Bloomfield. Designed 

to honor the individuals and businesses that 

make a positive impact on the Chaldean community, 

this year’s honoree was Frank Jonna of 

Jonna Construction, who was named Businessperson 

of the Year. The evening was sponsored 

by Citizens State Bank, Jonna Construction, and 

Swift Home Loans, among many others. 

Clockwise 

from above: 

Frank received a 

standing ovation from 

dinner attendees; 

Congresswomen 

Haley Stevens (left) 

and Elissa Slotkin; the 

Frank Jonna family; 

CACC President 

Martin Manna thanks 

dinner chairs Kevin 

Denha (left) and Ron 

Boji; 2022 honoree 

Mike Denha with wife 

Nedal and son Jeff; 

CACC Board member 

Wes Ayar with wife 

Christina and mother 

Hanan; the CACC 

logo in ice; Rep. 

John James, Bishop 

Ibrahim, and Raad 

Kathawa. 

People for Palmer Park 

Chaldean News staff Dr. Adhid Miri was invited to 

speak at a “Storytellers on Sunday” event held 

May 19 at Palmer Park Log Cabin. The cultural 

neighborhood event included a book swap and discussion 

(stories) with four guests, including Dr. Miri. 

Dr. Adhid Miri is a former professor of chemistry and 

cultural consultant with diverse professional experiences 

in Iraq, England, and the United States. Dr. Miri 

holds a PhD from Brunel University London and a Post- 

Doctoral fellowship from King’s College London. 

Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Adhid has been in the US 

since 1981 and has been an active member of the Iraqi 

American community in Michigan. He advocates for 

Christians and minorities and travels frequently to report 

on demographic changes of internally displaced 

persons in Iraq. He is our resident storyteller. 

Other speakers included Abriana Walton, also 

known as BrifromtheD, an eclectic multimedia journalist 

and producer hailing from a lineage of dreamers and 

artists. Her mission is to ignite positive change in her 

community by sharing relatable yet aspirational stories. 

Speaker Larry Gabriel’s story is called The Banjo, A 

Love Story. He is a fourth-generation musician who plays 

tenor banjo in the Gabriel Traditional Jazz Band. Larry is 

also a poet and journalist who has been an editor at Detroit 

Metro Times, UAW Solidarity and Detroit Free Press. 

The fourth storyteller, Maureen McDonald, is a longtime 

journalist and author who lived in Palmer Park in 

the 1970s. 

Attendees shared their stories about the neighborhood 

in the 70s, many commenting on the good relationship 

they had with Chaldean store owners. 

Dr. Miri’s presentation followed an arc, beginning 

with a brief history of Chaldeans in Iraq, their migration 

to North America, then the U.S. and Detroit in particular. 

He then focused in on “Chaldean Town,” the 7 Mile and 

Woodward Avenue neighborhood and shared some wonderful 

stories about times in Palmer Park specifically. 

Palmer Park is one of thirteen regional parks in the 

City of Detroit parks system. One of the largest parks in 

Detroit, just southwest of 7 Mile and Woodward, it has 

281acres of woodlands, meadows, recreational areas, 

and athletic fields. Over the past 4 years the city, together 

with various foundations and community partners, 

has invested in major improvements. 

Treasured as a public park for more than 125 years, it 

has been the site for magical memories, stories, and experiences 

for children and their families who played and 

explored. It features a log cabin from the 1800s, where 

the storytelling event was held. 


HIRING 

WE ARE 

Do you possess a passion for bettering the lives of others? 

Join our ever expanding team! 

Behavioral Health Therapist Career Services Case Worker 

Case Worker Immigration Coordinator 

Receptionist 

Advocacy 

Acculturation 

Community Development 

Cultural Preservation 

For More Information 

HR@chaldeanfoundation.org 

586-722-7253 

www.chaldeanfoundation.org/careers 


PHOTO COURTESY JOE MATTI 

FROM THE ARCHIVE 

6 

PHOTO COURTESY FAIZA MANGO 

Clockwise from top left: 

1. Pete Essa’s grandfather 

with aunts and uncles, 

Iraq in the early 1900s. 

2. Pioneer Family: Joe Acho 

with wife and four sons, 

taken in the late 1940s. 

1 

PHOTO COURTESY ZINA LUMELSKY 

5 

2 

3 

PHOTO COURTESY PETE ACHO PHOTO COURTESY PETE ESSA PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSEMARY SARAFA 

3. Family of Elias Jamil. 

Baba! 

In honor of Father’s Day, we celebrate the role that 

dads play in our families. They carry us daily. Beyond 

providing financial support, they offer guidance, support, 

and wisdom, shaping our values, beliefs, and aspirations. 

Fathers often serve as role models, demonstrating 

strength, resilience, and integrity, while also fostering a 

sense of security and stability within the family unit. Their 

presence, involvement, and love are instrumental in nurturing 

confidence, self-esteem, and a sense of identity in 

their children, ultimately laying the foundation for healthy 

relationships and personal growth. 

7 

4. George Jonna (seated), 

his wife Hania (seated), with 

six of his seven children and 

two daughters-in-law. Hania 

is pregnant with baby Pete 

Jonna (Jonna Construction). 

U.S. circa 1950-1951. 

5. Hikmat Bahrou, with his 

daughter Zina, in Baghdad, 

Iraq, 1974. 

6. Ibrahim family (Joe 

Matti’s mother’s family). 

The photo was probably 

taken in the early 1900s in 

Telkeppe. Father is seated, 

his wife standing, and five 

children. 

7. A father and his daughters. 

The Chaldean Cultural Center and Museum owns 

a collection of captivating images from our vibrant 

community that we are delighted to share with the 

Chaldean News. If you have photographs that you 

would like us to incorporate into our archive, kindly 

reach out to us at info@chaldeanculturalcenter.org 

or call 248-681-5050. 

4 


From the Office of Wayne County Treasurer 

Eric R. Sabree 

If you are facing foreclosure and need assistance in starting 

a Wayne County Probate Court Case because a property is 

in the name of a deceased family member, please contact 

one of the following community partners for assistance: 

Michigan Legal Services: 313-774-1527 | 313-725-4890 

United Community Housing Coalition: 313-405-7726 

Legal Aid & Defender: 313-967-5800 

Contact the Wayne County 

Probate Court by calling: 

313-224-5706 

We are here to help! 

www.Treasurer.WayneCounty.com 

313-224-5990

JUNE 2024

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