پەرلەمانی کوردستان
Erbil, Kurdistan Region
May 26, 2025
This evening, President Nechirvan Barzani participated in the annual conference of the Catholic University in Erbil. The President gave a speech during a ceremony, which was attended by Christian and Muslim religious leaders, as well as academics and guests from Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and other countries.
The following is a readout of his speech:
Good evening
His Holiness Patriarch Mar Awa,
Esteemed participants and guests,
Esteemed members of the clergy,
Welcome all.
I am very pleased that we are all here together to participate in the opening ceremony of the second annual conference of the Catholic University in Erbil on the management of endowments and church finances. My presence here today reflects our strong commitment to supporting all communities in Kurdistan, especially our Christian citizens, who are an integral part of our shared society and history in Kurdistan and Iraq.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Kurdistan belongs to all of us. It unites us beneath its sky and on its rich soil, without distinction. It holds rights over all of us, and we, in turn, possess rights within it. We are obliged to safeguard and defend this land. For millennia, this territory has been recognized for its ability to unite diverse religious and ethnic groups, fostering mutual acceptance and peaceful coexistence among all communities. All of us bear the duty and responsibility to contribute to its development, protection, and promotion.
Protecting communities and defending their rights is not just a slogan; it is a deeply held principle we believe in. Since the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government and Parliament, we have advocated the participation and representation of the communities in the political and administrative spheres.
Kurdistan has demonstrated this throughout the years, which has contributed to its strength. The diversity of its religious and ethnic groups has emerged as a source of strength, prosperity, and stability for Kurdistan. Consequently, we shall remain devoted and committed to this ancient culture for all time.
Following 2003, regrettably, violence spread across numerous regions of Iraq. When ISIS launched assaults on Sinjar, Mosul, and the Nineveh Plain, the Christian community, alongside the Yezidis and other groups, faced an extremely challenging predicament and endured significant suffering.
During these delicate times, the Kurdistan Region, along with its leadership and citizens, has demonstrated its commitment and obligation to serve as a sanctuary for anyone in pursuit of freedom, dignity, and humanity. For individuals who have encountered peril due to their beliefs, faith, or nationality, Kurdistan has transformed into their alternative home. It has evolved into a beacon of hope and perseverance. Therefore, we unite today and collaborate to create a future that honors diversity and safeguards the rights of everyone.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The topic of endowment management and church finances, which will be addressed at this conference, holds significant importance. Christian endowments represent not merely property, but also constitute a crucial, valuable, and rich civilizational, cultural, and spiritual heritage of this region. They serve as a guarantee for the ongoing existence of Christians and their active role within Kurdistani and Iraqi society.
In this regard, we reiterate our full support for the expedited enactment of a law on Christian endowments, in a manner that is in line with the spirit of the Iraqi constitution and protects these properties from any violation and encroachment. This legislation will send a clear message that Christian property in Kurdistan and Iraq is safeguarded, and that their national participation is guaranteed through stable political, legal, and constitutional protections.
By maintaining this heritage, whether it pertains to land or property, we are safeguarding their future and conveying a message of reassurance to Christians that the legacy of their forebears is upheld.
It ensures the ongoing presence of Christians by safeguarding endowments allocated for financing church activities, supporting its staff, and assisting the impoverished.
It also defines the rights and authorities of the endowment managers, enabling them to cultivate the endowments, and grants the church the authority to possess and oversee the endowments.
All of this holds significance as, following a century marked by political transformation, oppression, and hardship, the existence of Christians in their country and on their native land relies on the establishment of genuine security and the assurance of their future.
I believe it is crucial to revisit the Christian Personal Status Act, which was the focus of your conference last year. We must approach this matter with the utmost seriousness as it is both significant and sensitive. I appreciate your efforts in this area. I urge the clergy and church leaders in Kurdistan and Iraq to persist in a spirit of unity to finalize the drafting of this essential law that honors the unique characteristics of Christians and safeguards their rights.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I wish to emphasize that Christians, along with all other communities irrespective of their faith and nationality, are not simply visitors in Kurdistan; they hold legitimate rights, contribute significantly, and constitute an integral part of this land and nation.
We assure that Kurdistan, a region that has embraced all throughout its history, will always be a place defined by diversity, tolerance, and freedom.
Protecting diversity and rights cannot be achieved merely through goodwill; it necessitates a legal framework, efficient institutions, and robust cooperation among all sectors of society. I am hopeful that the outcomes of this conference will contribute to the attainment of these commendable goals and improve the conditions for Christians.
I would like to thank the Catholic University of Erbil, the Presidency of the University, His Excellency Archbishop Bashar Matti Warda and all those who participated in organizing this conference.
Together, we shall persist in advocating for a Kurdistan characterized by tolerance and harmonious coexistence, while also engaging in the construction of a fair and diverse Iraq where the lives, dignity, and rights of all communities are safeguarded.
Thank you very much. I wish you a good day.
