Joseph Yacoub

Joseph Yacoub (born 1944 in Hassaké or Al-Hasakah, Syria) is a historian and political scientist of Assyrian origin. His family moved from Salmas-Urmia, district in Iranian Azerbaijan and took refuge in Georgia (country of Caucasus area) during the First World War. From Tiflis/Tbilissi his family migrated to Syria which was during this time under French Mandate. His mother tongue is Aramaic (or Syriac) and his first environment language is Arabic. His working language is mostly French.

Biography Following French secondary schools in Lebanon and after completing his course of learning at Lyon's University (France), where he achieved two Doctorates in the field of contemporary history (the second on Assyro-Chaldean Question between the two World wars: 1908-1938 ), he has been teaching Political Science and International Relations at Catholic University of Lyon, from July 1975 to October 2011, mainly at the Institute of Human Rights, who is one of the founders.

He was Holder of the UNESCO Chair: ”Memory, Cultures and Interculturality” of the mentioned University and Editor-in-chief of its Academic review: “Etudes interculturelles” (Intercultural Studies) from 2007 to 2011. He continues to be member of its orientation committee and its editorial review.

He was granted rewards, amongst them the Cross of the Assyrian Church of the East by the late Mar Denkha IV. Since April 2006, his name is mentioned on the Wall Fresco of Lyon’s people as writer.

Specialist on ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic minorities, Indigenous peoples, Human Rights and Christians of Middle East, he is translated into several languages.

Actively involved in the commemoration of the centennial of the Assyrian genocide in France, Europe and abroad (Lebanon, Armenia, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, United-States, Canada ... ), Joseph Yacoub has published his first articles on Assyrian genocide on the beginning of 1984.

He took part to numerous colloquia and international conferences over the world in order to make known Assyrians, to promote understanding among peoples, Intercultural and Interreligious dialogue on international scale. His books are regularly reviewed and submitted to analysis. Historian David Gaunt states that Yacoub's book Year of the Sword is a valuable source of primary accounts but that Yacoub's limited source base and lack of source criticism preclude him from understanding why the Sayfo happened.