Patriarch Mar Louis Sako Presses al-Hakim for Genuine Christian Quota in Parliament

BAGHDAD— Patriarch of the Chaldean Church and Cardinal in the Catholic Church Mar Louis Raphaël Sako met Tuesday with Ammar al-Hakim, leader of the National Wisdom Movement, to press for meaningful Christian representation in Baghdad’s fractious legislature.   

Opening their discussion at the patriarchal residence, Patriarch Sako began by offering his Eid al-Adha greetings to al-Hakim. He then turned to the plight of Iraq’s dwindling Christians, decrying what he called the “hijacking” of the parliamentary quota reserved for Christians. “Our rightful place in this assembly,” he told Mr. al-Hakim, “remains under threat unless we secure genuine, community-based voting for our seats.” 

Al-Hakim welcomed the patriarch’s concerns and pledged to work within his bloc and with coalition partners to ensure that only voters from the Christian community cast ballots for those quota seats—an arrangement advocated last month by the former electoral “Atra” alliance of four Chaldean-Syriac-Assyrian parties, including the Bethnahrin Patriotic Union (Huyodo Umthoyo D’Bethnahrin, HBA). The alliance has argued that exclusive voting rights are essential to prevent outside interference, fraud, or manipulation. 

The meeting, which lasted over an hour, comes as Iraq’s political class prepares for an election expected early next year amid rising sectarian tensions and economic challenges. Christians, who once comprised nearly 10 percent of the population, now account for less than 2 percent, largely as a result of decades of war, persecution, and mass emigration.   

“This is not only a matter of seats,” Mar Louis Sako said afterward. “It is a question of our community’s dignity and our ability to contribute fully to Iraq’s future.” al-Hakim reaffirmed his commitment to “protecting every minority’s voice” and agreed to convene talks with his parliamentary colleagues in the coming days.   

As Baghdad balances competing demands from Kurds, Sunnis, Shiites and smaller components, the outcome of these negotiations could determine whether Iraq’s Christians—long caught between larger factions—retain a meaningful platform in their homeland.