Ano Jawhar, the leader of Christian political party Hammurabi Coalition, announced on May 13 that the newly formed Christian Alliance had filed a lawsuit in the Federal Supreme Court of Iraq regarding the rights of Armenian, Assyrian, Syriac, and Chaldean Christians in the Kurdistan Region after their quota seats were abolished.
The (Christian Alliance) files a lawsuit at the Federal Supreme Court regarding the rights of Armenian, Assyrian, Syriac, and Chaldean Christians
— Ano Abdoka ܐܢܘ ?آنو (@AnoAbdoka) May 13, 2024
The representatives of the allied parties within the Christian Alliance granted legal procuration to the esteemed lawyer Ayad Kakayi… pic.twitter.com/weYlgjvUoU
“The representatives of the allied parties within the Christian Alliance granted legal procuration to the esteemed lawyer Ayad Kakayi whom today filed a lawsuit in Baghdad at the Federal Supreme Court regarding the demands to submit the rights of Armenian, Assyrian, Syriac, and Chaldean Christians and their special seats under the quota system at the upcoming Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections,” he posted on X.
Jawhar, a Chaldean Christian politician from the Kurdistan Region, is also the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Minister of Transport and Communications.
ولادة (التحالف المسيحي)
— Ano Abdoka ܐܢܘ ?آنو (@AnoAbdoka) May 10, 2024
في مقر الرابطة الكلدانية العالمية في عنكاوا اجتمع مساء يوم الجمعة ١٠/٥/٢٠٢٤ المجلس السياسي لائتلاف حمورابي والمتكون من حزب المجلس القومي الكلداني وحزب حركة تجمع السريان والرابطة الكلدانية العالمية وحزب الاتحاد الديمقراطي الكلداني وتيار شلاما لشؤون… pic.twitter.com/9NZyzCmtQJ
The Christian Alliance was formed on May 11, and includes representatives from Armenian, Chaldean, Syriac, and Assyrian parties.
“Thrilled to see the new Christian Alliance in Kurdistan Region of Iraq advocating for community rights! A positive step towards peace and dignity,” David Muller, a key advocate for religious freedom in Iraq representing the German non-profit ojcos foundation, posted on X.
On February 21, 2024, the Federal Supreme Court abolished 11 quota seats for Turkmen, Christians, and Armenians, and reduced the Kurdistan Region Parliament’s seats to 100.
On March 18, the Political Bureau of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) announced that the KDP would boycott the Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections that were planned for June 10.
The June 10 elections were delayed until an unknown date after the Federal Supreme Court on May 7 issued an administrative order suspending the elections until it can decide on a lawsuit filed by KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
Read More: Kurdish Leaders Share Election Concerns With US Ambassador
In a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Alina Romanowski on March 30, KDP President Masoud Barzani underlined that the elections cannot be held without the participation of the Kurdistan Region’s religious communities.
Mohammed Salih, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Foreign Policy Research Institute, told Kurdistan Chronicle that the lawsuit comes amid speculation about a possible measure by the Federal Supreme Court to set up a new system for minority quota seats in the Kurdistan Region Parliament.
“The Court’s initial abolition of minority representation in the Kurdistan Region Parliament went against both existing precedent and practice in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region’s recent history, and was undemocratic and unjust,” he said.
“Reinstating and ensuring minority representation is necessary, regardless of the internal political bickering in the Kurdistan Region or Baghdad.”
