IRAQ: Security and religion committee formed to protect Christians’ property in Nineveh

NINEVEH, Iraq — To limit the manipulation of the property rights of the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people in Mosul, a committee was formed to handle requests from Chaldeans–Syriacs–Assyrians who have lost their property after having to flee the Islamic State (ISIS)..

Director of the Nineveh Joint Center for Security and Intelligence revealed that about 55 properties in Mosul have been returned to their owners which may contribute to the Christians’ return.

“Many documents were forged, and some properties of Christians who so far have not returned were seized,” Archbishop of Mosul Najib Mikhail stated. “We demand official government intervention to restore the rights and implement the needed procedures.”

Director of the Joint Center for Security and Intelligence in Nineveh Major General Abdul-Khaleq al-Khikani declared that, “Through seminars, they informed the mayors to report about any Christian property which is taken and inhabited without the permission of the owner.”

The Church in Mosul gave approvals to use some Christian properties to preserve them from abuse or exploitation.

The head of the Syriac Catholic churches of Mosul, Father Raed Adel, stated, “We dealt with many manipulation issues. We hope that law will be enforced in Nineveh Governorate and all Iraq.”

Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people have experienced security and political challenges during the past years, including displacement and property seizure, which reduced their numbers from about 1,000 families to only 70 families inside Mosul.