The first Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast was held on Wednesday in Erbil, attended by senior Kurdish officials – including Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, President Masoud Barzani, and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani – alongside religious leaders, diplomats, and international guests from Iraq, the United States, Europe, and beyond.
Today we held the first Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) April 23, 2025
Our vision for Kurdistan is clear: a region where people of all faiths and nationalities can live freely, contribute fully, and find hope in a shared future. pic.twitter.com/b6UIDmgfHc
“Our vision for Kurdistan is clear: a region where people of all faiths and nationalities can live freely, contribute fully, and find hope in a shared future,” Prime Minister Masrour Barzani posted on X.
“From the dawn of civilization, Kurdistan has been a cradle of cultures, religions, and nations. The plains, valleys, and mountains of our homeland have witnessed the rise and coexistence of various beliefs, nations, and communities. Here, faith has flourished in its many forms, and people of different ethnic backgrounds have lived side by side with mutual respect and dignity,” Prime Minister Barzani underlined at the event.
“Today, the KRG remains committed to this sacred duty. We are not only rebuilding homes and cities, but renewing our promise to protect freedom of religion, promote coexistence, and foster peace in every corner of our land,” he added.
“We are proud that the city of Ankawa, here in Erbil, stands as the only growing Christian city in the Middle East, with a population that has more than doubled since 2011 – a testament to our commitment to diversity and coexistence,” Prime Minister Barzani said, adding that the KRG is investing in the restoration and development of Yezidi holy sites, as well as preserving mosques, churches, and temples for all communities.
Ankawa, a Christian-majority suburb of Erbil, was turned into a separate district in 2021 by the Ninth Cabinet under the leadership of Prime Minister Barzani, to respect the local Christian community in the area.
“This initiative plays an important role in supporting the vision of the Kurdistan Region to promote a culture of coexistence and mutual understanding. It offers a comprehensive platform for spiritual and human dialogue among communities, free from conflict and division,” Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani statedduring the Kurdistan Prayer Breakfast.
In 2014, the Kurdistan Region hosted hundreds of thousands Yezidis, Christians and Sunnis after the rise of ISIS. “They were received with compassion and welcomed into an atmosphere defined by tolerance and coexistence,” he added.
“All of this was made possible under the direct guidance of President Masoud Barzani. The Kurdistan Region has hosted more than two million refugees, resulting in a population increase of over 33%. Today, approximately one million of them remain.”
“Throughout history, when Kurdistan was attacked, aggressors made no distinction between Muslims, Christians, Yezidis – they burned down all villages, massacred entire communities, and committed atrocities,” President Masoud Barzani said.
“Most recently, during the war with ISIS, they made no distinction either, committing grave crimes against all. In response, our brave peshmerga forces defended everyone with great sacrifice, breaking the myth of ISIS at a heavy cost: nearly 12,000 martyrs and wounded.”
During the event, many Christian religious leaders also thanked the Kurdistan Region and President Masoud Barzani for hosting Christian refugees fleeing ISIS and promoting religious coexistence. Among the attendees was Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq.
Ano Jawhar Abdoka, KRG Minister of Transport and Communications and the President of the Christian Alliance, underlined that the leadership of President Masoud Barzani has been a shining beacon in the darkest times.
“During the war against ISIS, when the world trembled, President Barzani stood firm, declaring: ‘Either we live together in Kurdistan, or we die together.’ This was not a mere slogan, but a covenant of solidarity and sacrifice – one that shaped the spirit of the nation for this generation and generations to come,” Minister Abdoka said. “It was this wise leadership that led the heroic peshmerga forces to victory in their fight against ISIS, defending all components of the Kurdistan Region and offering thousands of lives in martyrdom, injury, and sacrifice.
“Today, as we gather in Kurdistan, we pray not only for our nation, but for all nations. That the walls of hatred may fall, and the roots of peace be firmly planted. We pray to God Almighty, each according to their faith and spiritual convictions, that we may rise above fear and draw our strength from our unity.”
Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Aphrem II, who traveled from Syria to attend the event, underlined that the Kurdistan Region sets a good example by keeping religion out of politics and providing a safe haven for fleeing Christians.
“This historical event taking place in Erbil, the first in the entire region, will only not continue every year, but will hopefully inspire other governments in the region to organize similar events for the sake of humanity.”
Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Erbil-based Assyrian Church of the East, also underlined that religious leaders should play a role in promoting religious coexistence, in particular in Kurdistan.
