CHICAGO — November 9, 2026 — Assyrian National Broadcasting (ANB), an Assyrian media organization based in Iraq, has published a strongly worded criticism of the Assyrian National Council of Illinois (ANCI), raising serious concerns over the organization's decision to eliminate its longstanding electoral process and what it characterizes as an effort by the current leadership to consolidate control over an institution established to serve the Assyrian people.
According to the report, the current ANCI leadership, represented by Mr. Auger Malik Ismail, took steps effective November 4, 2026, to bring an end to the elections that had historically provided Assyrians in Illinois with an opportunity to participate in determining the organization's leadership.
ANB describes the decision as an arbitrary departure from the democratic principles upon which the organization was established. In particularly strong language, the report characterizes the move as an attempt to transform the ANCI into a "private shop" and a personal asset serving the interests of a limited group rather than the broader Assyrian community.
The report recalls that the ANCI was established in 1981, with the blessing of the late Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV and the support of the Assyrian national movement. Its original purpose was to provide a democratic community institution, assist Assyrian families with governmental and other matters, and serve as a source of support and inspiration for successive generations of Assyrians in the diaspora. For many years, the ANCI was the most successful Assyrian organization in Illinois, and perhaps even in the US.
ANB argues that eliminating elections represents a fundamental departure from that original mission. The report states:
"The current leadership has chosen to betray this great legacy by abolishing the foundational constitution, blocking the path for the energy and potential of the youth, and consolidating unilateral control over the organization's resources and the aid intended for the community."
Growing Outrage Among Assyrians
The controversy surrounding the ANCI's decision has reportedly generated considerable concern and outrage among Assyrians, both within Illinois and throughout the broader Assyrian diaspora. Numerous individuals have expressed their dissatisfaction and are raising complaints with various Assyrian organizations, churches, and governmental institutions regarding what they perceive to be an abuse of authority and the elimination of democratic participation within an organization that was established to represent and serve the community.
For many Assyrians, the issue extends beyond an internal organizational disagreement. It concerns the fundamental question of whether an institution established through decades of community involvement, sacrifice, and collective support can be transformed into an organization whose leadership is no longer accountable to the people it was intended to serve.
The elimination of elections also raises important questions about the authority under which such a decision was made, the legal status of the organization's governing documents, and whether the current leadership has the authority to discontinue a democratic process that has been part of the ANCI's history for decades.
Of particular interest to many in the community is the legal advice upon which the ANCI leadership is relying. Assyrians are asking who the attorneys advising the organization are, what legal opinions they have provided, and what constitutional or statutory authority they believe permits the elimination of elections and the restructuring of an organization with such a longstanding institutional history.
These are legitimate questions that deserve transparent answers, particularly given the potential implications for the organization's membership, governance, and continued accountability to the community.
Questions Regarding Governance, Membership, and Financial Accountability
Beyond the elimination of elections, ANB raises additional concerns regarding the organization's governing structure, board eligibility requirements, and financial affairs.
The report alleges that the current leadership has effectively displaced the organization's foundational constitutional framework and introduced restrictive requirements that could prevent significant segments of the Assyrian community from participating in its governance.
Among the concerns identified are alleged restrictions affecting Assyrians originating from Turkey and Iran, as well as those born in Western countries. The report also questions language requirements, including mandatory fluency in both Arabic and English, which it argues could unnecessarily exclude otherwise qualified Assyrian candidates.
ANB characterizes these measures as exclusionary and inconsistent with the inclusive character of the Assyrian people, whose communities encompass individuals originating from Iraq, Turkey, Iran, Syria, and throughout the Western diaspora.
The report also raises serious financial allegations, referring to approximately $35 million allegedly controlled by influential individuals and questioning whether organizational resources and funds intended for public and community benefit have been used appropriately. It further alleges that funds may have been directed toward private investments and projects in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, including arrangements involving influential political entities such as the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).
These are serious allegations that warrant independent examination and appropriate documentation. ANB's report does not, by itself, establish financial wrongdoing, and those implicated should be afforded an opportunity to respond to the allegations.
An Institution's Legacy at Stake
The controversy is particularly significant because the ANCI has occupied an important place in the history of the Assyrian community in Illinois. For decades, it served as a recognized community institution whose existence was connected to the broader aspirations of the Assyrian people and the efforts of successive generations to preserve their identity, institutions, and collective interests.
The late Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV's involvement in its establishment gave the organization an additional historical and spiritual significance. Its legacy, therefore, extends beyond the individuals who happen to occupy leadership positions at any particular time.
ANB's report concludes with an appeal to Assyrian intellectuals, community leaders, and members of the diaspora to examine what is taking place and to demand accountability.
As the report states:
"What is unfolding today at 'METWA' represents a blatant violation of our people's hard-won achievements and history."
It further calls upon the Assyrian community in Chicago and throughout Illinois to reject what it describes as an institutional takeover and to oppose policies that could undermine the organization's historic role.
The Community Deserves Answers
The central question now facing the ANCI is straightforward: How can an organization established to serve the Assyrian people through the democratic process discontinue decades of elections without providing a clear, transparent, and legally defensible explanation to the community?
If the organization was established through the collective efforts of Assyrian leaders, religious authorities, and community members, its governance should be approached with an understanding that its institutional legacy does not belong to any particular individual or group but to the entire Assyrian community of Illinois.