Religion

President Masoud Barzani discusses religious coexistence in Kurdistan Region with USCIRF Chair

“Honored to meet with his excellency President Masoud Barzani to talk about religious freedom and the many issues facing the region.”

Dler S. Mohammed 2022/01/16 15:32

KDP President Masoud Barzani meeting with Nadine Maenza, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Jan. 16, 2022. (Photo: President Masoud Barzani's Office)

Kurdistan Masoud Barzani Nadine Maenza religious freedom in Kurdistan Region USCIRF

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani received the Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Nadine Maenza in Erbil on Sunday and discussed religious coexistence in the Kurdistan Region.

“We spoke about the important role the KRG (Kurdistan Regional Government) has in the region and many other topics including the fight against ISIS, how they welcomed fleeing religious minorities, and the current situation in Syria,” Maenza told Kurdistan 24.

“Honored to meet with his excellency president Masoud Barzani to talk about religious freedom and the many issues facing the region,” she tweeted following her meeting with the Kurdish leader.

Honored to meet with His Excellency @masoud_barzani to talk about #ReligiousFreedom & the many issues facing the region. Thankful to KRG for fight against ISIS, welcoming fleeing religious minorities & all they continue to do like placing Ankawa under Christian Admin control. pic.twitter.com/gwgtKP5izg
— Nadine Maenza (@nadinemaenza) January 16, 2022

Maenza praised Barzani’s policy and role in deepening the religious coexistence and protecting the rights of different religious and ethnic groups in the Kurdistan Region.

She also praised the Peshmerga for their sacrifices in the war against ISIS and the generosity and hospitality of the people of the autonomous region, who provided hundreds of thousands of refugees and displaced persons sanctuary throughout that war.

The political situation in northeast of Syria the humanitarian situation there was also discussed in the meeting.

The USCIRF on June 15, 2021 elected Nadine Maenza as its Chair to lead the Commission for 2021-2022.

According to the USCIRF website, Maenza was first appointed to the Commission in 2018 by then President Donald J. Trump and was reappointed in May 2020. She served as Vice-Chair on the Commission in 2019-2020.

With additional reporting from Wladimir van Wilgenburg

Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani in meeting with Nadine Maenza, Chair of Bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Jan. 16, 2022. (Photo: President Masoud Barzani's Office)