The Assyrian Democratic Organization
Baghdad, Iraq – UPI — Iraqi Christians are growing concerned over their diminishing political voice in the country as their rights of representation fade, officials said.
Several Iraqi lawmakers, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, have expressed concern over the decision to exclude minority representation in the provincial elections law. The Iraqi Parliament in September passed the measure without earlier provisions for minority religious representation, though it did set aside a certain number of seats for females.
The Rev. Louis al-Shabi with the Chaldean church in Baghdad said despite the mass exodus of Iraqi Christians from the country, there is a growing call for an active role in the political process, Christian Today reported Tuesday. “We do not want to immigrate to the United States or Britain,” he said. “We want to stay in Iraq and have our representatives in both the provincial councils and the legislature.
We want to be treated equally as Iraqis living with the Muslims and other nationals in a united brotherly spirit.” Though Christians represent less than 3 percent of the population in Iraq, President Jalal Talabani pledged to push for amendments to the provincial elections law.
The Iraqi Parliament Tuesday was scheduled to debate the matter.
