KRG Minister of Transportation and Communications discusses minority rights with US official
"We had an in-depth dialogue about the challenges facing our people, especially amid the current situation in the region," Abdoka stated. "The KRG remains dedicated to defending the rights of all components in Iraq and the Middle East."

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Ano Abdoka, the Minister of Transportation and Communications of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), met with Mariah Mercer, Deputy Director of the Office of International Religious Freedom in Washington, on Friday to discuss the challenges facing ethnic and religious minorities in Iraq and the Middle East.
In his statement, Abdoka emphasized that the meeting, held alongside the KRG's representative in Washington, focused on the difficulties encountered by Chaldeans, Assyrians, Syriacs-Aramaic, Armenians, and other indigenous minority communities in the region. He highlighted concerns over laws enacted without consideration for the rights of religious and ethnic minorities, stressing the KRG’s unwavering commitment to protecting religious and ethnic freedoms and promoting a culture of tolerance and mutual understanding.
"We had an in-depth dialogue about the challenges facing our people, especially amid the current situation in the region," Abdoka stated. "The KRG remains dedicated to defending the rights of all components in Iraq and the Middle East."
After the meeting, Abdoka presented Mercer with a gift symbolizing the rich heritage of the Chaldean, Assyrian, and Syriac-Aramaic civilizations in Kurdistan and Beth Nahrain, underscoring the region's historical and cultural significance.
The KRG continues to advocate for the rights of minorities and religious freedom, reinforcing its position as a defender of diversity and coexistence in the region.