Christian MP in Kurdistan Region of Iraq Ramy Siawash warns of ongoing Arabization in Nineveh Plains

ARBA’ILO, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian community in Iraq, particularly in Nineveh Plains, continues to endure systematic violations that extend far beyond looting, land seizures, forced displacement, and targeted killings. Political factions in Iraq, in coordination with groups claiming to represent this community — notably the Babylon Movement led by Rayan Kildani — stand accused of driving demographic changes in historically Chaldean–Syriac–Assyrian-majority areas to serve partisan agendas.

Ramy Siawash, a Christian member of the Kurdistan Regional Parliament, told BasNews on Saturday that the Arabization of Christian towns and villages in Nineveh Plains has become a “daily affair.”

“The purpose of these efforts is to Arabize and alter the demography of Nineveh Plains, whose population is predominantly Christian, followed by our Yezidi brothers, in order to transform it into an Arab-inhabited region,” Siawash said.

He accused the Babylon Movement of spearheading this campaign, exploiting the region’s harsh economic conditions to pressure Christian youth into identifying as Arabs in exchange for employment or financial assistance.

Siawash also revealed that a Christian political party had recently sent a strongly worded letter to the Iraqi Prime Minister, urging immediate action to halt these practices, particularly in light of the upcoming elections.

“It is deeply troubling that our people — an ancient people of this land — are now, after all these years, being compelled to identify as Arabs. This is a grave crime,” Siawash concluded.