Iraq’s Christians vote to safeguard constitutional rights
AINKAWA, Kurdistan Region - Turnout in Iraq’s parliamentary election is expected to be low, but in Erbil’s predominantly Christian suburb Ainkawa, voters say the election is important to protect the rights of the dwindling minority.
"I will definitely go to the polling station and cast my vote," said Fahdi Maji, a resident of Ankawa. “This is going to be very important for Christians. We have five quota seats. We do not want to miss out on them so the rights of Christians will not be lost.”
Following the US-led invasion of 2003, sectarian warfare prompted followers of Iraq’s multiple Christian denominations to flee and attacks by ISIS in 2014 further hit all minority communities. According to Erbil’s Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda, there were more than one million Christians in Iraq before 2003. Fewer than 300,000 remain today.
Sena Yaaqub is running for parliament where he said he will defend the constitutional rights of Christians. “We are going to fight for these rights. We will defend our constitutional rights. We want the rights enshrined in the constitution to be materialized,” he said.
In Iraq, minorities are given designated quota seats in the parliament: five for Christians, and one each for Yazidis, Shabaks, Faili Kurds, and Sabeans.
Translation by Zhelwan Zeyad Wali
Video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed
"I will definitely go to the polling station and cast my vote," said Fahdi Maji, a resident of Ankawa. “This is going to be very important for Christians. We have five quota seats. We do not want to miss out on them so the rights of Christians will not be lost.”
Following the US-led invasion of 2003, sectarian warfare prompted followers of Iraq’s multiple Christian denominations to flee and attacks by ISIS in 2014 further hit all minority communities. According to Erbil’s Chaldean Archbishop Bashar Warda, there were more than one million Christians in Iraq before 2003. Fewer than 300,000 remain today.
Sena Yaaqub is running for parliament where he said he will defend the constitutional rights of Christians. “We are going to fight for these rights. We will defend our constitutional rights. We want the rights enshrined in the constitution to be materialized,” he said.
In Iraq, minorities are given designated quota seats in the parliament: five for Christians, and one each for Yazidis, Shabaks, Faili Kurds, and Sabeans.
Translation by Zhelwan Zeyad Wali
Video editing by Sarkawt Mohammed