ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Monday reaffirmed the Region’s commitment to protecting religious and ethnic diversity, calling for legal safeguards for Christian endowments and rights during a speech at the Catholic University of Erbil’s annual conference.
“The topic of managing endowments and church properties, which is being discussed at this conference, is of great importance. Christian endowments are not just property but are part of important and valuable heritage and civilizational, cultural, and spiritual wealth of this region, as well as a guarantee for the continuity of Christians and their living role in Kurdish and Iraqi society,” President Barzani said during a speech at the Church Endowments Administration Conference, hosted by the Catholic University in Erbil.
“From this perspective, we reaffirm our full support for expediting the passage of a law specific to Christian endowments, in a way that aligns with the spirit of the Iraqi constitution and these properties are protected from any interference or encroachment,” he added.
Archbishop Bashar Warda told Rudaw on Monday that “the management of Christian endowments is a constitutional demand of Iraq and is clarified in Article 43 that every religion and sect is free in its management.” According to Warda, the importance of passing this law lies in the fact that “first the property of churches and then all Christians will be protected.”
Warda said Iraq currently has no law to protect church endowments and Christian properties.
Without such a law, “a mixture of concepts is created, and other laws might be misused, or Christian properties might be seized and sold due to migration and displacement,” Archbishop Warda said. “Therefore, if there is a law, church and Christian wealth will be protected, and the property will be secured.”
Archbishop Warda explained the current legal gap leaves Christian properties vulnerable, especially amid displacement and migration affecting Christian communities in Iraq. The proposed law would offer legal clarity and safeguard against potential seizure or unauthorized sale of Christian properties.
During his speech, Barzani said protecting this heritage - land, property, or wealth - provides assurance for their future and sends a clear message to Christians that the legacy of their ancestors is safe in this country.
“I want to emphasize again that Christians and other components, from whatever religion and ethnicity they may be, are not guests in Kurdistan, but rather owners, partners, and an essential and authentic part of this land and this homeland. We assure everyone that Kurdistan, which has embraced everyone throughout history, will forever remain a country of diversity, tolerance, and freedom,” Barzani emphasized.
“Kurdistan is the homeland of all of us. Without discrimination, it brings us all together under its sky and on its soil. It has rights over all of us, and we all have rights in it. We must protect and defend it. This land is recognized by bringing together all religious and ethnic components, through mutual acceptance and peaceful coexistence that has existed among all components for thousands of years,” President Barzani said during a speech at the Church Endowments Administration Conference, hosted by the Catholic University in Erbil.
The Kurdistan Region is home to a diverse range of ethnic and religious communities that have long coexisted in peace and mutual respect, despite the turmoil and challenges the region has faced.
The Kurdistan Region is predominantly Muslim but takes pride in its commitment to religious freedom. In addition to its Muslim population, the region is home to diverse faith communities, including Christians, Yazidis, and Kakais.
“The diversity and existence of religious and ethnic components has become a source of strength, wealth, and stability for Kurdistan. Therefore, we remain forever loyal and devoted to this authentic culture,” emphasized Barzani.
He also said that when violence erupted in Iraq in 2003 and the Islamic State (ISIS) attacks devastated areas like Shingal (Sinjar), Mosul, and the Nineveh Plains a decade later, Christians, Yazidis, and other religious groups faced severe hardship. During this time, “the Kurdistan Region stood as a safe haven for those seeking freedom, dignity, and safety.”
ISIS seized control of swathes of Iraqi land in 2014. The group was declared territorially defeated in 2017, but it continues to carry out bombings, hit-and-run attacks, and abductions.
Recognizing the significance of preserving cultural and religious heritage, President Barzani emphasized the crucial role of managing Christian endowments and church properties.