Chaldean Patriarch Cardinal Louis Sako on March 6 briefed U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Victoria Taylor in Ankawa, Erbil on the situation of the Christian community in Iraq during her visit to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, including Baghdad’s decision to stop recognizing him as the head of the Chaldean Church.
His Beatitude, Patriarch Cardinal Sako briefed Deputy Assistant Secretary Taylor on the situation of the Christian community in Iraq. The United States supports Iraq’s religious and ethnic minorities, essential components of Iraq’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. pic.twitter.com/sl8XJXRMrL
— U.S. State Dept - Near Eastern Affairs (@StateDept_NEA) March 6, 2024
“The United States supports Iraq’s religious and ethnic minorities, essential components of Iraq’s rich and diverse cultural heritage,” the official X account of the U.S. State Department - Near Eastern Affairs said.
On July 3, 2023, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked a decree recognizing Cardinal Sako as the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church. Moreover, on November 14 that year the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq rejected a complaint by the Patriarch against the decision.
Additionally, Rayan al-Kildani, the head of the Babylon Movement and the Iran-backed Babylon Brigades militia, has targeted Cardinal Sako and has attempted to seize Christian properties, parliament seats, and endowments of the Church.
The Chaldean Patriarchate views Iraqi President Rashid’s decision as influenced by al-Kildani, an attempt to undermine the Chaldean Church for resisting his influence in the disputed territories where Christians live and in Baghdad.
Al-Kildani’s party also recently won the quota seat for Christians in Kirkuk during the Iraqi provincial elections held on December 18, 2023, while the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq abolished 11 quota seats for religious and ethnic components in the Kurdistan Region on February 21.
Pope Francis holds a private audience with Cardinal Louis Raphaël I Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church and Archbishop of Baghdad. pic.twitter.com/f0DT03JjYv
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) October 21, 2023
Al-Kildani was sanctioned by the U.S. government on July 18, 2019, for serious human rights abuses and corruption. According to a report published on September 8, 2023, by the Washington Institute, Pope Francis refused to meet al-Kildani in the Vatican due to his mistreatment of Cardinal Sako.
Seeking refuge
“During the meeting, there was discussion of the suffering of Christians, their harassment, and their marginalization especially by one family claiming to be Christian,” the Chaldean Patriarchate said in a press release about Cardinal Sako’s meeting with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Taylor in a reference to al-Kildani.
“The dialogue also addressed the issue of withdrawing Decree (147) in an illegal and humiliating manner, and the ruling authorities’ monopolisation of selecting and appointing the head of the Endowments Office for the Christian, Yazidi, and Sabian-Mandaean religions.”
“This head is in fact not a candidate from the Chaldean Church and the other seven churches, but rather belongs to Babiliyun (Babylon Movement).”
“They have also stripped the bishops of their powers, in that they have forced their certificates to be authenticated by the office,” the statement added.
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Commissioner Stephen Schneck said the USCIRF welcomes U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Taylor’s meeting with Cardinal Sako in the Kurdistan Region, which has offered him refuge.
“As U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Taylor pointed out in her remarks at USCIRF’s latest hearing on Iraq, many faith communities such as Chaldean Catholics and other indigenous Christians face abuse from state-affiliated and Iran-aligned militias, including many brigades of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF),” he said.
“We remain deeply concerned over reports that PMF leaders, including U.S.-designated abusers of religious minorities, have played a role in Baghdad’s decision to deny Cardinal Sako’s administrative authority. While the Iraqi government recently announced a committee to hear religious minorities’ property-related claims, we encourage Iraq to take further steps to ensure the country’s diverse religious communities have meaningful political representation and other rights.”
Due to the decision by Baghdad, Cardinal Sako decided to move from Baghdad to Erbil in July 2023. He met with several senior Kurdish leaders on his arrival, including Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
We warmly welcome Patriarch Louis Sako to Erbil, the capital of peaceful coexistence for all religions and groups.
— Masrour Barzani (@masrourbarzani) July 22, 2023
The Kurdistan Region, and the alchemy of coexistence that thrives here, is a source of pride to us all.
We condemn the treatment directed towards the Patriarch.
“The Kurdistan Region and the alchemy of coexistence that thrives here are sources of pride to us all. We condemn the treatment directed towards the Patriarch,” Prime Minister Barzani posted on X on July 21, 2023.
Read More: Kurdistan Region Welcomes Chaldean Church Leader
In an interview in August 2023 with Kurdistan Chronicle, Cardinal Sako called the decision of the Iraqi president “wrong” and not “legal.”
“He not only offended the Chaldean community, but all Christians. This is a kind of persecution.”
Important talks with Victoria Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary at @StateDept_NEA, covering H.E. @masrourbarzani ‘s visit to #Washington D.C., ongoing political/security developments in #Iraq, concerns over the federal government’s decision on #IDPs camp closure, and obstacles… pic.twitter.com/WLjC5jH1nV
— Rêber Ahmed (@RayberAhmed) March 6, 2024
In addition to meeting Cardinal Sako, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary Taylor also met with Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani and KRG Minister of Interior Reber Ahmed to discuss the security situation in Iraq.
During the meeting, KDP President Barzani expressed concern over the February 21 decision by the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq to remove minority quota seats from the Kurdistan Region Parliament, calling it a decision that violates the rights of religious communities.
