Ankawa Protest Committee vows global demonstrations against land seizures and cultural violations

ANKAWA, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — Amid growing outrage over land confiscations and cultural erosion in the Christian-majority town of Ankawa and surrounding villages in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), the Ankawa Protest Committee announced a series of coordinated global demonstrations. The initiative aims to address what activists describe as a systemic campaign of marginalization targeting Iraq’s indigenous Christian communities.

The Committee stated that logistical details of the protests would remain undisclosed to prevent potential infiltration. Organizers claim the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) will be “taken aback” by the extent of Christian dissatisfaction, which they attribute to years of discriminatory policies and land encroachments.

This call to action reflects mounting frustration over the systematic seizure of historic Christian lands in the Nohadra (Duhok) and Ankawa regions, often facilitated by politically connected individuals. Activists argue these violations go beyond property disputes, highlighting a broader cultural and political disregard for Christian communities’ rights and heritage.

Global demonstrations are being organized in Europe, the United States, and Australia, aligning with protests and a general strike planned in Ankawa. Organizers indicate the protest will persist until two key demands are met: 1) the guaranteed right for Christian youth to remain on their ancestral lands and 2) the removal of nightclubs and bars from the town, which residents perceive as a desecration of their religious and cultural identity.

Joseph Sliwa, leader of the Beth Nahrain Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA), expressed support for the protests but urged a broader perspective. “This movement should not focus solely on Ankawa,” he said. “It is about securing the full spectrum of rights for an entire people — rights that are political, cultural, and historical.”

In recent months, religious leaders, political figures, and civil society groups have increasingly voiced concerns over what they describe as “unchecked violations” in Ankawa. These grievances extend beyond property issues, encompassing the proliferation of entertainment venues — bars, casinos, and nightclubs — that they argue erode the moral fabric and cultural heritage of the community.