Toma Tomas (Syriac: ܬܐܘܡܐ ܬܐܘܡܐܣ) (1924-1996) also known by his nom de guerre Abu Joseph, was an Assyrian politician and the leader of al-Ansar, a communist, Marxist–Leninist militia in Iraq during the 1960s and 1970s which fought on behalf of the Iraqi Communist Party against the Iraqi government.
Toma Tomas was an ethnic Assyrian born in Alqosh, in 1924, he was an adherent to the Chaldean Catholic Church. He witnessed the Simele massacre first-hand when Assyrians escaped the massacres to Alqosh. This event was crucial in shaping his political ideas in the future.[1]
After finished elementary school in Alqosh, he moved to Mosul where he finished high school and joined the Iraq Levies. He later found his way to Kirkuk to work at an oil company. There he learned about communism and joined the Iraqi Communist Party in the early 1950s.[2]
Struggle against the central governmentedit
Toma Tomas with another Assyrian fighter in winter 1964.
He moved to his home town after the 14 July Revolution, which brought the Qasimists (who were allied with the Iraqi Communist Party) to power. The situation didn't last long however, the Arab nationalists revolted and the prime minister Abd al-Karim Qasim was executed. The communists where summarily executed and some led by Toma Tomas fled to the mountains of northern Iraq where they formed armed communist guerilla’s known as the Ansar and fought alongside the Kurds and Iraqi dissidents in their struggle against the central government.[3]
For almost 30 years Toma Tomas led the Ansar in many battles against the Iraqi army in the region stretching from the Turkish borders to Telkepe to the south.[2]
Deathedit
He died in Syria on 15 October 1996 and was buried at the Chaldean cemetery in Nohadra. His remains were reburied in his home town Alqosh in 2010.[4]
Referencesedit
^. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
^ abالأصيل توما توماس , لم يكن للكراهية مكانا في قلبه.[permanent dead link], NirgalGate (in Arabic)
^في الذكرى الثامنة لرحيل ( توما توماس - ابوجوزيف ) 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine, Ankawa.com (in Arabic)
^نقل رفاة البيشمركة الانصاري توما توماس لمسقط راسه بعد اكثر من عقد على وفاته Archived 2012-07-18 at archive.today, AKnews (in Arabic)
External linksedit
Toma Tomas' diaries, Zahrira (in Arabic)
January 01, 1970
toma, tomas, syriac, ܬܐܘܡܐ, ܬܐܘܡܐܣ, 1924, 1996, also, known, guerre, joseph, assyrian, politician, leader, ansar, communist, marxist, leninist, militia, iraq, during, 1960s, 1970s, which, fought, behalf, iraqi, communist, party, against, iraqi, government, ܬܐܘ. Toma Tomas Syriac ܬܐܘܡܐ ܬܐܘܡܐܣ 1924 1996 also known by his nom de guerre Abu Joseph was an Assyrian politician and the leader of al Ansar a communist Marxist Leninist militia in Iraq during the 1960s and 1970s which fought on behalf of the Iraqi Communist Party against the Iraqi government Toma Tomasܬܐܘܡܐ ܬܐܘܡܐܣتوما توماسToma Tomas in his seventiesBorn1924Alqosh IraqDied15 October 1996 aged 72 Damascus SyriaNationalityIraqiOther namesAbu JosephOccupationGuerilla leaderKnown forGuerilla leader Contents 1 Early life 2 Struggle against the central government 3 Death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life editToma Tomas was an ethnic Assyrian born in Alqosh in 1924 he was an adherent to the Chaldean Catholic Church He witnessed the Simele massacre first hand when Assyrians escaped the massacres to Alqosh This event was crucial in shaping his political ideas in the future 1 After finished elementary school in Alqosh he moved to Mosul where he finished high school and joined the Iraq Levies He later found his way to Kirkuk to work at an oil company There he learned about communism and joined the Iraqi Communist Party in the early 1950s 2 Struggle against the central government edit nbsp Toma Tomas with another Assyrian fighter in winter 1964 He moved to his home town after the 14 July Revolution which brought the Qasimists who were allied with the Iraqi Communist Party to power The situation didn t last long however the Arab nationalists revolted and the prime minister Abd al Karim Qasim was executed The communists where summarily executed and some led by Toma Tomas fled to the mountains of northern Iraq where they formed armed communist guerilla s known as the Ansar and fought alongside the Kurds and Iraqi dissidents in their struggle against the central government 3 For almost 30 years Toma Tomas led the Ansar in many battles against the Iraqi army in the region stretching from the Turkish borders to Telkepe to the south 2 Death editHe died in Syria on 15 October 1996 and was buried at the Chaldean cemetery in Nohadra His remains were reburied in his home town Alqosh in 2010 4 References edit Papers of Toma Tomas Archived from the original on 2016 10 18 Retrieved 2016 10 15 a b الأصيل توما توماس لم يكن للكراهية مكانا في قلبه permanent dead link NirgalGate in Arabic في الذكرى الثامنة لرحيل توما توماس ابوجوزيف Archived 2016 03 04 at the Wayback Machine Ankawa com in Arabic نقل رفاة البيشمركة الانصاري توما توماس لمسقط راسه بعد اكثر من عقد على وفاته Archived 2012 07 18 at archive today AKnews in Arabic External links editToma Tomas diaries Zahrira in Arabic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Toma Tomas amp oldid 1209492426, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
