At the invitation of His Excellency Dr. Rami Joseph Aghajan, Head of the Bureau of Endowments for Christian, Yazidi, and Mandaean Sabian Religions, an important meeting was held today, Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the Armenian Orthodox Archdiocese in Baghdad. The gathering brought together the heads and representatives of Iraq’s Christian communities to discuss proposed amendments to the Bureau Law.
His Holiness Patriarch Gewargis III Younan, Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East in Iraq and worldwide, honored the meeting with his gracious presence and active participation.
During the meeting, the proposed amendments were thoroughly discussed and carefully reviewed with the aim of serving the Christian communities and strengthening their rights and standing in Iraq. Once deliberations are complete, the proposals will be submitted to the relevant authorities to proceed through the appropriate legal channels, ultimately leading to the drafting of a more just and equitable law.
It is worth noting that the Head of the Bureau had introduced the initiative to amend the law to the three religions after more than twelve years since its enactment, with the aim of updating it to meet current needs and better serve the various communities and faiths.
This process will continue with the review of proposals from representatives of the Yazidi and Mandaean Sabian faiths once their perspectives have been fully presented, ensuring that the law is inclusive of all communities.
This step reflects the spirit of religious pluralism and embodies the true values of citizenship in our beloved Iraq.
The meeting was also attended by Mr. Adsan William Klyana, Director General of the Legal Department at the Bureau, and Engineer Balsam Amer Mikhael, Deputy Director General of the Christian Affairs Department.
The Bureau’s leadership extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to all who contributed to the success of the meeting, as well as to the Armenian Orthodox Archdiocese in Baghdad for its gracious hosting of the event.
