Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party
Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party ܓܒܐ ܕܝܡܘܩܪܛܝܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܢܗܪܝܢ | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Romeo Hakkari |
| Founder | Sargon Dadesho |
| Founded | 21 March 1974 |
| Headquarters | Ankawa, Iraq |
| Military wing | Nineveh Plain Forces |
| Ideology | Assyrian nationalism Minority rights Self-determination Populism |
| Political position | Centre-right |
| Colours | Blue |
| Seats in the Council of Representatives of Iraq: | 0 / 325 |
| Seats in the Kurdistan Region Parliament: | 0 / 105 |
| Website | |
| www.bet-nahrain.org | |
The Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party (Syriac: ܓܒܐ ܕܝܡܘܩܪܛܝܐ ܕܒܝܬ ܢܗܪܝܢ, romanized: Gaba Demoqrataya d-Bet-Nahrain), usually abbreviated as BNDP, is an Assyrian political party based in Iraq. For much of its lifespan and involvement in politics, the party has been led by Romeo Hakkari. One of the party's goals was to create an autonomous Assyrian administrative region within the Assyrian homeland, through the framework of the Iraqi constitution.
The BNDP has a long history stretching back 50+ years, and has participated in Assyrian politics in Iraq since the US invasion. The party also founded the Nineveh Plain Forces in the wake of ISIS, and has since joined the Athra Alliance alongside several other Assyrian political parties.
Although Assyrian nationalist from its founding, the BNDP has been known to opt its stance towards the Kurdish Regional Government, often in opposition to parties like the Assyrian Democratic Movement who prioritized the Federal government of Iraq. The party has also previously been under scrutiny due to its affiliation with the ruling Barzani family of the KRG and the Kurdistan Democratic Party, under the leader of Hakkari.