Assyrian Chaldean SYriac Student Union (ACSSU) of Canada
Lecture 3 in the 2009 Series – Professor Hannibal Travis
Ashorina Shamoun, B.A.Sc.
On September 18, 2009 the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac Student Union (ACSSU) of Canada held its third lecture in its series for the 2008/2009 academic year. The honoured lecturer for the event held at the South Common Community Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, was Professor Hannibal Travis, from Florida. Professor Travis received his law degree from Harvard Law School and is now an Associate Professor of Law at Florida International University.
Professor Travis’ discussion focused on new laws affecting the Assyrians (also known as Chaldean or Syriac) in the Middle East with respect to three main categories; Election Laws, Cultural Property Law, and Refugees Law. These three categories are most applicable to the Assyrians due to recent events, which have resulted in the unbalanced representation in government, thousands of refugees fleeing persecution, and the destruction and theft of countless cultural properties.
Election Law: As the constitution entails, Assyrians are guaranteed certain quotas in regional and national elections. These quotas and rights have been obtained and guaranteed within the new Iraqi constitution.
Refugee Law: Assyrians who have fled their homeland due to land seizures, destruction of communities, blackmail, murder, and other forms of victimization have the right to ask for reparations or the return/restoration of their property from national governments. This would alleviate the refugee crisis currently faced by Assyrians who have either been internally displaced within Iraq or have fled and are now living as refugees in Syria and Jordan. Professor Travis gave several examples where this law has been used in court cases and the victims have been successful including those living in the Diaspora, including the Jewish, African American, and Native American communities.
Cultural Property Law: Assyrians have the right to request the return of cultural property that will allow the Assyrian culture, language, and heritage to perpetuate for future generations. This law states this property belongs to the Assyrian people as they are the rightful owners since they are descendents of the ancient Assyrian people of Mesopotamia. This would include art work, literature, structures, etc. that are now in the hands of museums, universities, associations, and governments. Professor Travis provided a real time example of where this law was applicable; the trial between the Mor Gabrial Monastery versus the local Turkish government where the Turkish government claims the Monastery illegally took possession of the land and the local Turkish inhabitants whereas the Monastery existed on the land long before a local government was established. Professor Travis also displayed articles where Jewish and Native American individuals and organizations applied this law successfully to reclaim art works illegally taken and put into museums.
The lecture concluded with a presentation of a gift on behalf of ACSSU presented by ACSSU President, Ms. Lema Yousif to Professor Hannibal Travis. ACSSU of Canada would like to thank Professor Hannibal Travis for donating his time to hold this very informative lecture for the Assyrian Canadian community and wishes him luck on all of his future endeavours.