Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian MP Fareed Yaqoob calls for fair treatment for Christian people in next Kurdistan Region of Iraq elections

ANKAWA, Iraq — Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Member of Kurdish Parliament for the Al-Rafidain Party Fareed Yaqoob has demanded fair treatment and justice for Christians in the upcoming elections of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). He made his statements on Monday in a meeting with the heads of the various parliamentary blocs to discuss the upcoming parliamentary elections. The MPs discussed the possibility of holding the elections later this year. They were originally planned to be held in 2022 but had been postponed by a year due to the crippling national political situation in the KRI and Iraq.

According to a statement issued by the Assyrian Democratic Movement, all heads of parliamentary blocs agreed to commit to holding elections this year, agreed on ways and formulas for amending the election law, and for the establishment and working procedure of the Independent High Electoral Commission.

MP Yaqoob affirmed the commitment of Al-Rafidain to amending the election law governing the allocation of seats to minority communities. A draft amendment of the law was submitted to the parliament in March 2021 that provides for the creation of registers of voters in represented minority communities and the allocation of designated polling centers and boxes and a list of quota candidates so minority communities, including the Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people, can freely exercise their constitutional right and choose their representatives themselves.

There was controversy following elections in 2021 after four of the five Christian Quota seats went to the Shia Islamist Badr Organization-backed Babylon Movement. Former Syriac Member of Iraqi Parliament and Deputy President of the Beth Nahrin Patriotic Union (Huyodo Behnahrin Athroyom, HBA) Josef Sliwa stated at the time:

“Some parties are trying to dominate minority voices and exploit them for their own benefit. And this is not new. The Kurds, in particular the Kurdistan Democratic Party and some Shiite parties are trying to control votes of minorities in the Nineveh Governorate, Nineveh Plain, Kerkeslokh [Kirkuk], and other areas in which minorities compete.”

The Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian people are officially recognized in the Iraqi constitution and their language is officially acknowledged as the Syriac language. 

In the parliament of the KRI, there are five seats allocated to Chaldeans–Syriacs–Assyrians: Klara Odisho (Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Popular Council), Fareed Yaqoob Eliya (Rafidain), and Romeo Hakkari, Robina Litari, and Janan Jabar Boya of the National Union Coalition.