Christian Alliance Files Official Complaint Against Baghdad Over Salary Cuts, Citing Grave Human Rights Violations

By Ahora Qadi

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a powerful condemnation of Baghdad’s decision to halt public sector salary transfers to the Kurdistan Region, the Christian Alliance in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region has submitted an official complaint to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, calling the move a “blatant violation of constitutional and human rights.”

The complaint, lodged on Friday, and endorsed by several Christian political and community organizations, denounces the federal government's May 20 decision to suspend financial entitlements as “a dangerous abuse of power,” which, according to the Alliance, has placed thousands of families at risk of “poverty, illness, and deprivation.”

“We Are Not Asking for Privileges—But for Rights”

Secretary-General of the Christian Alliance, Ano Jawhar Abdoka, voiced sharp criticism of Baghdad’s conduct, stating that the issue goes beyond budgetary disputes and directly assaults the dignity and livelihood of the people in the Kurdistan Region.

“When people’s livelihoods are used as a political bargaining chip, we cross a dangerous moral line that no self-respecting state should ever approach,” Abdoka said. “We are not asking for privileges, but for constitutional and human rights that are non-negotiable.”

The Alliance emphasized that public employees in the Kurdistan Region—regardless of political differences—are Iraqi citizens and must not be penalized for disputes between Erbil and Baghdad. The statement also reaffirmed that targeting civilians’ financial stability is an act of institutional discrimination, and contradicts Iraq’s democratic commitments.

Constitutional and International Violations

In its complaint, the Christian Alliance cited several constitutional breaches, specifically:

• Article 14: guaranteeing equality before the law and prohibiting discrimination,
• Article 30: ensuring a decent life and the right to social and health security,
• Article 31: affirming the right to healthcare.

Moreover, the Alliance accused the federal government of violating the 2023 Federal Budget Law, which obliges the Ministry of Finance to transfer funds to the Kurdistan Region. The statement also underscored breaches of Iraq’s international commitments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), which guarantees basic human needs such as food, healthcare, housing, and education.

Demands for Urgent Action

Calling for an immediate response to the crisis, the Christian Alliance put forward a four-point demand:

1. Launch an independent investigation into the humanitarian impact of the salary cut,
2. Recommend immediate suspension of the decision,
3. Submit a formal report to the United Nations and international human rights organizations,
4. Seek judicial accountability through Iraq’s legal system.

The Alliance further warned that should the situation remain unaddressed, it would escalate the matter internationally, involving members of the UN Security Council and other rights-focused institutions.

A United Christian Front for Justice

The Christian Alliance comprises a range of influential groups, including the Chaldean National Congress Party, Chaldean Democratic Union Party, Syriac Movement Gathering Party, the Chaldean International League, Shlama Trend, the Armenian Association, and the Administrative Council of the Armenian Orthodox Community in Erbil.

In closing, Abdoka affirmed that the Alliance will pursue every legal and humanitarian route to protect the people of Kurdistan:
“Our efforts will not stop with this complaint. We will reach out to our friends in the international community, human rights organizations, and permanent members of the UN Security Council to defend the constitutional and human rights of the citizens of the Kurdistan Region – Iraq.”