It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Rabi Daniel Odishou Crisby. He passed away on April 1, a day of special significance as it coincides with Kha b’Nissan, the Assyrian New Year. Daniel Odishou Crisby leaves behind a legacy marked by a lifelong commitment to the Assyrian nation and its rights.
Daniel Crisby was born in May 1936 in Habbaniyah, Iraq, to parents who had survived the 1914 Assyrian genocide in Iran. Daniel, his parents, and his siblings moved back to Iran in the mid-1940s once the situation had stabilized. They moved around there a few times before finally relocating to Sweden. During his youth in Iran, Daniel and many of his friends became involved in the Assyrian movement, where they printed Assyrian books, poetry collections, language teaching materials, and more. They also organized dance evenings and started sports clubs for girls and boys. It was also in the early 1960s that Iranian Assyrians, including Daniel, hosted the constitutional meeting of the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA). The “one-name” policy was adopted within the AUA, and among other things, the Assyrian flag and important commemorative days, such as Martyrs’ Day, were established.
Daniel's career was as diverse as it was significant:
- Diplomatic career: He became Iran’s first Assyrian deputy ambassador to Sweden in the late 1970s.
- Political activism: As a leading figure in the Assyrian Universal Alliance (AUA), he helped push through the “single-name policy” and the adoption of the Assyrian flag.
- Educator and community educator: After his diplomatic career, he taught Assyrian and Persian in Stockholm schools, driven by a passion to preserve his native language and promote literacy among his people.
The Assyrian National Federation extends its deepest condolences to the family and deeply mourns this great loss for the entire Assyrian nation. His tireless work on behalf of our people will live on as an inspiration for future generations.
Read more: A complete biography of Rabi Daniel’s life and his 90-year passion for Assyria can be read in full in the attachment below. The biography was written by his nephew, Nardin Crisbi
