 | |
| Use | Ethnic flag |
|---|---|
| Adopted | 1990s/2000s (by International Chaldean Association of Professional Visual Artists) |
| Design | White field with two blue lines situated on the left and right, with a star in the middle. Blue circle surrounded by a larger yellow circle, with red rays extending from the yellow circle. Blue, wavy lines in bundles of three appear in between the red rays. |
| Designed by | Amer Hanna Fatuhi |
The Chaldean flag (Syriac: ܐܬܐ ܟܠܕܝܐ ʾāṯā ʾkaldāyē) is the ethnic flag designated for the Chaldeans, intended to represent their nation and homeland as well as the Chaldean diaspora. The flag was created by Amer Hanna Fatuhi, an artist and self-proclaimed historian who currently resides in the Metro Detroit area, where a considerable portion of Assyrians of the Chaldean Catholic Church live.
Visuals and Symbolism edit
The two blue lines on the left and right represent the rivers of native lands which encompass Chaldean-Assyrian villages and establishments, the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. In the middle of the flag, an eight-fold Mesopotamian star can be seen with two inner circles of yellow and blue, with eight sets of wavy blue lines radiating from the star. The yellow and blue circles represent the Sun and Moon, respectively, a nod to the contributions that the ancient Chaldeans made to astronomy. The yellow circle, alongside the red triangles and wavy blue lines, also represent goodness, justice, equality, and civilization.[1]
Controversy edit
Since it's inception, and similarly to the Aramean-Syriac flag, the Chaldean flag has generated controversy due to its associations with Assyrian separatism. Criticisms are levied towards the symbolism of the flag, with claims stating that Chaldean Catholics are not descendants from Chaldea, nor do they have any long-lasting connection to ancient Babylon. The Chaldean name itself is known to designate professionals in astrology, of which Chaldean culture has never had anything to resemble.[2] Additionally, former patriarch of the Chaldean church, Raphael I Bidawid and current patriarch Louis Raphaël I Sako, have both made public statements embracing Assyrian identity.[3] [4] [5]
Additional criticism has been levied towards the copyright of the flag, with observers having noted a Letter of Authorization that declares Fatuhi as "the sole designer and owner of the Chaldean National Flag in all its versions...", and copyrights in place since the late 20th-century in Iraq and the United States.[6] The statement goes on to read that any use of the flag in advertising resulting in a profit exceeding $1,000 USD holds a person liable for compensation, suggesting that the flag is backed by a means of profit.
Certain issues regarding the origins of the Chaldean flag have come to light in court case involving Amer Fatuhi and Sarhad Jammo, a bishop for the Chaldean Catholic Church in San Diego.[7]
The flag sees most prominent use in the Assyrian diaspora, including English-speaking areas such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. In the Assyrian homeland, the flag can be seen sparsely in Ankawa, Erbil, and is designated the official flag of the Babylon Movement led by Rayan al-Kildani.
Gallery edit
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![Chaldean flag, adopted sometime between the 1990s and 2000s[8]](//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Chaldean_flag.svg/120px-Chaldean_flag.svg.png)
Chaldean flag, adopted sometime between the 1990s and 2000s[8] -
Randa Markos, a UFC fighter from Canada, holding the flag
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Amer Hanna Fatuhi. "Chaldean National Flag A-Z 1985-Present". Retrieved April 21, 2024.
- ^ Roux 1992, pp. 61, 299.
- ^ Parpola, Simo (2004). "National and Ethnic Identity in the Neo-Assyrian Empire and Assyrian Identity in Post-Empire Times" (PDF). Journal of Assyrian Academic Studies. 18 (2). JAAS: 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 17, 2011.
- ^ Mar Raphael J Bidawid. The Assyrian Star. September–October, 1974:5.
- ^ Sako, Louis (October 9, 2013). "The Chaldean Church Story of Survival". Chaldean Patriarchite. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Amer Hanna Fatuhi. "Letter of Authorization". Retrieved April 24, 2024.
- ^ Amer Shendaj v. Chaldean Federation of America and Sarhad Jammo (United States District Court, Southern Division for Eastern District of Michigan January 3, 2002), Text
- ^ "Chaldeans (Iraq)". Crwflags.com. Retrieved April 24, 2024.