Rallies in Ankawa about more than bars and brothels, residents fear systematic demographic change

ARBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — In the historically Christian town of Ankawa, located on the outskirts of Arba’ilo (Erbil) in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), local residents are raising concerns about what they perceive as a systematic campaign to undermine the cultural and demographic integrity of their community. Prompted by a series of late-night disturbances and contentious real estate developments, the town’s predominantly Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian Christian population is organizing protests to safeguard their community from what they see as existential threats.

The growing unrest revolves around what residents describe as a rise in “unethical practices.” These include an influx of unfamiliar outsiders engaging in illicit activities during late-night hours, an unexplained proliferation of hotels and nightclubs, and the acquisition of local properties by non-Christians under allegedly questionable legal circumstances. Many fear these developments are not random but part of a larger, state-supported agenda to alter the town’s demographic makeup.

In a strongly worded statement, media outlet ANB SAT accused Kurdish broadcaster Rudaw of misrepresenting the protests. According to ANB SAT, Rudaw framed the demonstrations as a rejection of nightlife establishments, thereby neglecting the broader issue of demographic displacement.

“What Rudaw seeks to obscure is the real issue at hand,” the outlet stated. “The protests are not merely about nightclubs. They represent a stand against systematic demographic change carried out through dubious investment projects, directly backed and facilitated by authorities.”

The outlet stressed that many Ankawa residents perceive these projects — hotels, entertainment venues, and real estate transactions — not as genuine economic development but as “tools for reshaping the region’s identity and erasing its national, religious, and cultural character.” It further described these initiatives as part of “a long-term policy aimed at depopulating the town of its original inhabitants.”

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“The upcoming demonstrations are not solely about preserving moral values,” the statement concluded, “they are about defending our land, our identity, and our existence.”

These concerns were echoed in a public statement by Dr. Muna Yaqo, Chair of the Independent Human Rights Commission in the KRI. In a detailed Facebook post, Dr. Yaqo voiced her alarm over what she characterized as a deepening crisis in Ankawa, one that transcends individual grievances and signals a broader erosion of the town’s cultural and moral foundations.

Dr. Yaqo described how the once-quiet streets of Ankawa have become unrecognizable after midnight, with unfamiliar individuals engaging in immoral behavior openly in front of residents. She highlighted the unchecked proliferation of hotels, many of which are being constructed at a rate far exceeding the town’s actual needs. Some of these establishments, she noted, are situated within residential neighborhoods and are allegedly being used for activities that breach both legal and ethical standards.

The situation is further worsened by incessant noise from event halls operating late into the night, depriving students, the elderly, and the sick of much-needed rest. Additionally, Dr. Yaqo observed a growing pattern of behavior among visitors that clashes with the community’s conservative traditions, including the wearing of provocative clothing in public spaces.

She also expressed concern about the troubling spread of liquor stores, massage parlors, and nightclubs, many of which have been established within residential areas, leaving families worried about their children’s safety. Most alarming, according to Dr. Yaqo, is the increasing transfer of property ownership to non-Christian outsiders. These transactions, often facilitated through legal loopholes, directly threaten the demographic composition of Ankawa and, in her view, violate both the constitution and existing laws.

“All of this is unacceptable,” Dr. Yaqo wrote. “We must take serious steps to address these issues in a manner that truly serves the people of Ankawa. This town, long celebrated as a city of coexistence and peace, deserves protection. I commend the youth of Ankawa for their dedication and wholeheartedly affirm my support for them.”

She also urged local authorities to uphold the rule of law and ensure that all future projects comply with legal and regulatory standards.

As Ankawa braces for what may become one of the most vocal protests in its recent history, its residents are not merely opposing nightclubs or hotels. They are confronting what they perceive as an existential threat to their heritage, identity, and their right to remain rooted in the land they have called home for generations.