Assyrian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

The Assyrians are an ancient people of Mesopotamia, whose homeland lies in parts of modern Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey. They are Christians, belonging to churches such as the Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church and the Syriac Orthodox Church. Many speak Neo-Aramaic, a descendant of the language of Jesus.

The community in numbers

The 2021 Census does not publish a separate Birmingham figure for the Assyrian community, which is counted within the census's figures for people born in Iraq, Iran, Syria and Turkey. By any measure it is one of the city's smaller communities, which makes the ties between its members all the closer.

Working for Birmingham

Assyrians in Birmingham work in healthcare, engineering, business, trades and education, and many families came to Britain seeking safety from conflict and persecution. The community is known for its resilience, its strong family ties and its support for new arrivals.

Every community that has settled in Birmingham has helped to shape it. Newcomers have filled gaps in the workforce, opened shops and restaurants, and raised children who have gone on to become the city's doctors, teachers, engineers and entrepreneurs. The Assyrian community is part of that tradition of hard work and ambition, and of the city's own motto: Forward.

Culture and community life

Kha b'Nisan, the Assyrian new year on 1 April, is celebrated with parades, music and dance. The Aramaic language and ancient church liturgies are treasured, and dishes such as dolma, kubba and kada, a sweet bread, are shared at gatherings. The khigga line dance is part of every celebration.

Birmingham's strength lies in its variety, and the Assyrian community is a welcome part of it. As the city continues to grow and change, that contribution will remain part of the story of a place that has always looked forward.