Amid protests, Iraqi archbishop calls for ‘equal rights and dignity’ for Christians

In a discussion with a U.S Congressman, the Archbishop of Erbil shared the importance of an active role which is required of Iraqi Christians in order to create a unified Iraq. Reflecting on large-scale protests which have captured the nation recently and an increased effort to fight corruption in the government, Archbishop Bashar Warda pointed to the hope that he holds for young Iraqis who are a major part of the anti-corruption protests. “So young people, they see that there is no light at the end of the tunnel, so they said ‘okay, enough is enough, and we need reform,’” he said. In looking at the protesters, he observed that they “want a respectful relationship with all the international community respecting the sovereignty of Iraq in all its levels, political, social, religious, everything. So the protests are, in a way, protesting for a better Iraq, not just for one community in that sense,” he said, “a better Iraq which has a place for everyone, respecting the diversity and the richness of the Iraqi nation as such.” The Church, Warda said, supports this call for “change” and he encouraged citizens, especially the youth of Iraq, to show solidarity and push for a unified Iraq where Christians can enjoy equal rights and dignity. “It reflects the needs and the demands of the young people, everyone, to make an actual change and to fight and to make the needed reform, to fight corruption, to provide jobs and better life,” In September, USAID awarded $6.8 million to Catholic Relief Services, which partnered with the Archdiocese of Erbil to provide housing assistance for displaced families.