On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, the President of the Republic of Iraq, Barham Salih met with His Holiness Mar Awa III(Royel|) Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East. The meeting was held at al-Salam Palace in Baghdad.
At the outset of the meeting, President Salih congratulated His Beatitude the Patriarch on being elected as the head of the Assyrian Church of the East in Iraq and the world and wished him further success in discharging his tasks.
Christians are a part of the parcel of Iraqi society, the Iraqi President said, and have significant national contributions to the history of Iraq and are proud of their nationality and their country as well.
It is, therefore, they should be allowed to have further meaningful participation in political, social and cultural life, he added.
However, displaced persons of people of the Christian faith must be allowed to return home, Mr. Salih emphasized, the Iraqi government has to work to ensure the voluntary and safe return of the overseas migrants.
Furthermore, he highlighted that the aggressions committed against the Christians are rejected and condemned by the Iraqi society in all their backgrounds.
His Holiness Mar Awa III(Royel|) appreciated President Salih for supporting Christians and for His Excellency’s diligent efforts to enhance the bonds of national cohesion among all the people of Iraq.
