Assyrians in Belgium

Belgium's Assyrian diaspora is concentrated in the Flemish cities of Mechelen and Antwerp, although there are also significant numbers living in Liège and Brussels.

The majority of the Assyrian diaspora living in Belgium are of Turkish descent, mostly from the towns of Bohtan (Beth-Qardu),[1] Tur-Abdin and Hakkâri.

[3] Following the First Gulf War, the majority of Assyrian immigrants have come to Belgium from Iraq and Syria.

Additionally, politicians of Assyrian descent take part in Belgian politics: municipal councillors of Assyrian descent have taken office in Brussels, Etterbeek, Liège and Mechelen, including Ibrahim Erkan (Saint-Josse-ten-Noode, Christian Democrats), Sandrine Es (Etterbeek, Liberal Party) and Ibrahim Hanna (Etterbeek, Christian Democrats).

New Flemish Alliance councilman Melikan Kucam is featured in Mechelen aan de Tigris (Mechelen on the Tigris), a book by Flemish author August Thiry about Assyrian refugees from Hassana in the southeastern Turkish district of Silopi.