KRP Barzani, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Discuss Christian Rights, Regional Stability
Both sides addressed the pressing difficulties confronting Christians in the region, including displacement, security concerns, and the need for stronger efforts to preserve their cultural and religious identity.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region President (KRP) Nechirvan Barzani met with His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to discuss the challenges facing Christian communities in Iraq and Syria, as well as broader regional stability and interfaith coexistence.
During the meeting, both sides addressed the pressing difficulties confronting Christians in the region, including displacement, security concerns, and the need for stronger efforts to preserve their cultural and religious identity.
They also explored avenues to bolster initiatives aimed at fostering peace and coexistence among the region’s diverse religious and ethnic groups.
Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani reaffirmed the Kurdistan Region’s unwavering commitment to religious tolerance and inclusivity, highlighting efforts to protect the rights of Christians and other minority communities.
He emphasized that the Kurdistan Region remains a safe haven for persecuted religious groups and continues to provide support for Christian refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs).
“The Kurdistan Region has long been a model of coexistence, where different religious and ethnic communities live together in mutual respect and harmony,” KRP Barzani stated. “We are dedicated to ensuring that all communities, particularly Christians who have faced immense challenges in recent years, feel secure and valued in our society.”
His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II expressed his appreciation for the Kurdistan Region’s role in safeguarding Christian communities and acknowledged the efforts made by Kurdish authorities in providing sanctuary to those fleeing persecution.
He praised the region’s leadership for setting an example of peaceful coexistence and urged continued international support for minority rights and protection.
In addition to the conditions of Christians in Iraq and Syria, the discussions covered broader geopolitical developments, including the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and the importance of sustained regional and international engagement to support stability and reconciliation efforts.
The Kurdistan Region has played a key role in sheltering Christians displaced by conflicts in Iraq and Syria, particularly in the wake of ISIS’s brutal persecution of religious minorities.
As regional tensions persist, Kurdish leaders have consistently advocated for stronger protections for minority communities and greater international attention to their plight.
The meeting between Kurdistan Region President Barzani and Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II underscores the Kurdistan Region’s proactive stance on religious freedom and its enduring efforts to promote unity and stability in an increasingly complex Middle Eastern landscape.