USCIRF Commissioner Maenza visits Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union in Ankawa, Iraq, calls on U.S. to recognize Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria

ANKAWA, Iraq — Head of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (HBA) Yusuf Yaqoub Matti received Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Nadine Maenza at the party’s headquarters in Ankawa, Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

During the visit, Matti and Maenza discussed the rights of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in Nineveh Plains and the prospects for an autonomous administration in the region.

During her visit to the region, which included touring North and East Syria, Maenza recommended the U.S. recognize the Democratic Autonomous Administration (DAA) of North and East Syria as a legitimate governing body in the region, believing that such recognition would be beneficial for both parties and be a step in the right direction to solve the Syrian crisis.