Assyrian Riders: The Brotherhood Our Community Needed

Melinda Khubiar
Sep 14
6 min read

I don’t even know how to start this or why I felt inclined to write. But writing heals the soul, and right now so many of us need healing and understanding. This piece is about brotherhood, a brotherhood that I was so humbly honored to experience firsthand last year in Sweden. Let me give you some context on how I even managed to get to Sweden.

How a Friendship Sparked a Collaboration

A dear friend of mine, Hormus, had the bright idea while we were visiting Assyria together, for Ancient and Assyrian Riders to do a collaboration for the 10-year anniversary gathering happening in June 2024. Let me pause here, and mention how incredible it is to build friendships that are rooted in the motherland. A happiness only some get to experience—the kind of joy in saying, ‘see you in the homeland for Kha b’ Nisan (Akitu). It becomes a meeting place for so many, a place to truly build relationships with such a foundation of nationalism and pride. A relationship established in the motherland is like none other and many can attest to that. It’s a different bond, a different conversation.

I met Hormus in Assyria during our Akitu (Kha b’ Nisan) celebrations a couple years back. You could hear his laugh from a mile away. We shared a few laughs and stories that I can’t share publicly, but it bonded us. We shortly after became great friends and he held a special place in my heart (as he did for everyone he met). Fast forward to 2024, back in Assyria, while we were sitting together after all the celebrations. He had this bright idea that I join the 10-year anniversary gathering in Sweden and do a collab with Assyrian Riders. He connected me with 2 gentlemen, Ferit and Robert, and the rest was history. In typical Hormus fashion, he’d call me every day to make sure I spoke with them and if everything was moving forward. He was a pure soul. No ill intention ever. And always wanted the best for everyone around him.

Who Are the Assyrian Riders?

Now, how do I know about Assyrian Riders? I had met some of the riders during Assyrian convention in America a couple times. Outstanding men who always took care of me because I’d set up the Ancient shop in the bazaar alone all weekend at convention. They’d check on me multiple times throughout the day, made sure I wasn’t left unfed, they’d help me pack up and just being good protective men that sometimes goes unappreciated in modern society. These are the men that when they are around, I know I’ve got eyes on me quietly to make sure I am protected. Let me not digress.

A Brotherhood Across Borders

Assyrian Riders have fulfilled the need for brotherhood. What started in Sweden with one or two men has expanded across 5 countries and over 100 members:

-Sweden - Stockholm, Botkyrka, Södertälje, Jönköping, Nässjö

-USA - Chicago, Arizona, California, Michigan

-France

-Germany

-Assyria - Tur Abdin

It’s not just a fun club where the guys ride together when it’s convenient, there is strict conduct and laws that need to be abided by. Everyone is held accountable, there’s a hierarchy system, and there’s honor and respect. They are charitable—constantly raising funds to give back to the Assyrian community. They have their annual Ride for Seyfo to honor the memory of the victims and raise awareness about the 1915 Seyfo genocide.

I compare this brotherhood to what existed in our villages and still does exist there. The daily reminder that someone is there for you and how all of your actions are held with dignity to hold honor. This world is not meant to be lived alone. And what was created in Assyrian Riders is something some might never experience. I was humbled to be able to experience this brotherhood firsthand for a couple of days. Riders coming in from all over the world. Bikes shipped in on trailers from different parts of Europe. Men, good, kind, men who were so happy to be with their brothers. There was so much laughter shared, dancing, guys being guys, pulling pranks on each other, members driving the leaders crazy with their shenanigans, bonding (so much deep bonding between them).

What I found incredible was the light switch each member would turn on when they’d prepare for riding. They went on several rides throughout the few days. Each one was extremely organized, each member had his own placement in the chain link, there was a specific anchor and lead. Specific members in specific places to make sure things would run smoothly. There were delegated members who would pull over and block traffic to make sure the chain was never broken.

That chain in the rides reflected the chained brotherhood they have to one another, that to keep the chain together, each member should be accounted for or the chain breaks.

I followed behind them in a large food truck with one of the members to make sure they had food and water during their breaks. The best part of this all, my friend’s dad baptized me with my new Assyrian name, Atra.

Brotherhood, Protection, and Community

Even though I was the one female intruding on this brotherhood, they all took care of me as if I was their mother or sister. Not once did I feel like I was intruding on this celebration. These are the men that hold our community together. And what I witnessed the most fascinating was how each rider was thriving being around his brothers. Something that is missing from modern society. Our wonderful and strong protectors also need their community to thrive.

Remembering Hormus Mesho

This piece is dedicated to Hormus Mesho who heartbreakingly departed us on Tuesday, September 2. A man who touched every life he came into. I only pray that you knew how loved you were. The whole nation is grieving your departure. I pray you felt appreciated, I pray you felt the brotherhood you were a part of, I pray you fly over Assyria to protect it, from the heavens. Thank you for the laughs, the beautiful FaceTime calls with your cat, the endless voice messages of your loud but so contagious laughter, how you made sure to always remember our birthdays and sing us a song, your videos you’d send so full of life, your uncontained energy, your smile, thank you for your heart. Thank you for always being so comforting. May you drive the heavens crazy with your energy <3. And my goodness, may you witness the love your nation had for you.

When the elders depart–it hurts, but it’s expected and we can kind of cope with that death. When the young depart so suddenly and tragically, it stops you in your tracks and for a short while, time stops completely all around you and you can’t really decipher if this is reality or some type of dream you are walking through. You realize nothing materialistic matters, no problem matters, other than the loss of the departed.

I leave you with this, don’t be frightened to love and be loved, appreciate the ones around you (vocally), leave people energized from your presence, be empathetic, love people for who they are because each of us is so special and beautifully unique, don’t talk bad about others, and more importantly live life as if it was a gift. We really don’t know what happens after our soul leaves our flesh, something quite incomprehensible to our human brain, but we have faith, faith that this isn’t the end. We have faith that our soul is comforted and in a better place. Be affectionate, hug, laugh, smile, cry together, comfort each other. Humans need humans, we need community.

Thank you for reading this. Thank you Assyrian Riders for creating a brotherhood for our men of our nation that is indispensable. There is something so beautiful knowing this exists in our community—knowing that Hormus’ family will be taken care of because of this brotherhood.