Assyria Liberation PartyStatement on the situation around the village of Bahetme

The Assyria Liberation Party is deeply concerned about the situation around the village of Bahetme. The regional government's decision to confiscate 1,400 dunams of land from the village's municipality and transfer it to the construction of cottages for Peshmerga soldiers.

In light of recent events in the region, we view this decision as illegal and a direct infringement on the property rights of Iraq's indigenous Assyrian population.

The Assyria Liberation Party calls on the Iraqi central authorities to halt the expropriation of rural land by the Erbil regime and to stop infringing on the property rights of Bahetme residents. If the rights of the villagers are ignored, this matter will be referred to the Iraqi judicial system.

The Assyria Liberation Party views the actions of the Erbil authorities as a sign of disrespect and an attempt to implement a creeping and illegal policy of demographic transformation in the region.

The Assyria Liberation Party calls on the newly elected members of the Iraqi parliament from the Christian quota to express their position on this issue and to refute reports and speculation about the cession of lands in the village of Bahetme in exchange for your seats in the Iraqi parliament. It is no secret that the victory of three representatives from the Christian quota was made possible thanks to the votes of Kurdish security forces representatives.

Assyria Liberation Party

January 21, 2026