Religious Minorities and Governance in Iraq
Dec 07
Dec 7th 10:30am
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Hearing
Religious Minorities and Governance in Iraq
Thursday, December 7, 2023
10:30 am – 12:00 pm ET
Virtual
Hearing Transcript
Hearing Summary
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a virtual hearing that examined current conditions in Iraq affecting freedom of religion or belief, under both the Iraqi federal government (IFG) and the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The hearing also identified ways the U.S. government can work with the IFG and the KRG to address religious freedom concerns, especially for the country’s vulnerable religious minorities.
Despite the diminished presence of the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), religious freedom for all Iraqis remains precarious in the face of recent political instability and religious division; the increasing power of government-affiliated militias and other armed groups; and the continued displacement and political disenfranchisement of vulnerable religious minorities, including those ISIS targeted for genocide in 2014.
Witnesses discussed the status of religious freedom and related official and civil society initiatives throughout Iraq, and made recommendations for how U.S. government policy can support efforts to ensure freedom of religion or belief for all Iraqis.
- Abraham Cooper, Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks - Frederick A. Davie, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Written Remarks - Frank Wolf, Commissioner, USCIRF
Written Remarks
Pre-Recorded Remarks
- Victoria Taylor, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Iraq & Iran), Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, U.S. Department of State
- Gretchen Birkle, Team Lead for Religious and Ethnic Minority Programs, Bureau for the Middle East, U.S. Agency on International Development (USAID)
Panel
- Dr. Michael Knights, Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Written Testimony - Salah Ali, General Coordinator, Iraq Religious Freedom and Anti-discrimination Roundtable
Written Testimony - Dr. Alda Benjamen, Assistant Professor, University of Dayton
Written Testimony - Abid Shamdeen, Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor, Nadia’s Initiative
Written Testimony
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. Members of the media should register online and can email [email protected] for any questions or to schedule an interview. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions, please contact [email protected].