Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk), Iraq face mass displacement and migration

KERKESLOKH, Iraq —  “Stolen lives, stolen houses: the plight of Iraqi Christians,” with these words, the Iraqi Shafaq News Agency reported the situation of Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people in their land of ancestors.

The report included extensive information on the effects of wars in Iraq on Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people.

The report touched on the attacks on Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian churches and monasteries, as well as kidnappings and murders of clergy by authoritarian forces.

Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian people were displaced from their areas of origin, especially during the control of the Islamic State (ISIS) of the Nineveh Plain, which was completely evacuated. In addition to ISIS threats to end the Christian presence in the region.

The report added that the church in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk) and Sulaymaniyah played a key role in protecting the people and sheltering hundreds of displaced families.

The report spoke about a Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian women who remained for 2 years as a refugee.

“My house is in the Karada neighborhood in Baghdad. Upon my return to Baghdad, I was surprised that my house was sold to other people, and I was forced to move out of it,” she stated.

Emad Matti, the media official of the Chaldean Church in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk), told Shafaq News that in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk) alone, 89 properties have been seized by individuals, influential people, and parties. One party is still occupying a Christian’s house and refuses to leave.

“The church has managed to recover 63 properties, which are houses and lands abandoned by their owners after they left and traveled outside Iraq. We are working to recover the remaining properties that have been seized in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk) and return the rights to their Christian owners,” he added.

He declared that the Chaldean Church is working to prevent any violations of the properties of displaced Iraqis in Kerkeslokh (Kirkuk) and other provinces, from those who are working with influential parties to sell the properties of Christians.