Statement Supporting Iraqi Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako

By Coptic Solidarity –

Coptic Solidarity led an initiative to gather signatures for the statement below, signed by 87 non-profit organizations, parliamentarians and former legislators, and a wide variety of individual experts, urging the immediate reinstatement of Patriarch Sako to his position as head of the Chaldean Church.

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We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, are writing to express our shock and condemnation of decree No. 31 of 2023, issued by Iraqi president, Abdul Latif Rashid. Without any justification, it revokes Republican Decree No.147 of 2013, which had recognized Iraqi Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako as Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq and worldwide.

We also condemn the relentless smear campaign and character assassination strategies, implemented by State-controlled media in Iraq, against the Patriarch. We denounce the collusion between the State and a known militia leader—one internationally accused of committing crimes against humanity—specifically against Patriarch Sako.

The undersigned further believe that the Presidential decree and concomitant campaign are ultimately intimidation tactics employed against Iraqi Christians—designed to drive them into forced migration in order to seize their properties. It is also reflective of an attack on religious freedom, which is protected by Iraq’s constitution, per Articles 42 and 43.

We, the undersigned, would also like to express our wholehearted support for Patriarch Sako—for speaking truth to power, defending his persecuted community, and safeguarding the properties of Iraqi Christians, and those of the Chaldean Church. Patriarch Sako is also known to have always promoted freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief for all.

In sum, we believe that what Patriarch Sako and Christians have experienced in Iraq is an extension of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria’s (“ISIS”) coercive strategies initiated in 2014, which were designed to drive Christians into forced migration and seize their properties. The State, it would seem, has co-opted and is employing these very same tactics.

Based on all the above, the undersigned ask the Iraqi government:

1. To revoke Republican Decree No. 31 issued on July 3, 2023.
2. To ensure the safe return of the Patriarch to his seat in Baghdad and provide him with due protection so that he can fulfill his religious and spiritual role, as well as his administrative duties in overseeing the properties of the Chaldean Church.
3. To remember its sworn duty to protect the lives and properties of religious minorities, including the Christian community; and to return the properties that have been seized since 2014, so that forcibly displaced individuals can return to their homes and businesses.

The action taken by the Iraqi president is unprecedented in Iraqi history. We stand in solidarity with Patriarch Sako and the Christians of Iraq, to ensure that they obtain full religious freedom and citizenship rights, including the ability to worship in their historical land.

Signatures

International

1. Coptic Solidarity – Statement Sponsor
2. Chaldean League
   Name of Authorized person: George Mansor
3. Christian Freedom International
4. Conference of Arab Christians
5. International Christian Concern
6. Knights of Columbus
7. Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI)
8. Middle East Freedom Forum
9. Al Kalma Center For Human rights
10. Freedom Seekers International
    Name of Authorized person: Deana Brown, CEO

Parliamentarians

11. Abdel-Wali Abdo Hassan Al-Jabri – Member of Parliament Yemen
12. Lord David Alton – House of Lords, UK
13. Ahmed Fatfat – former Member of Parliament and former Minister of Interior, Lebanon
14. Frank Christian Hansel – Member of Parliament, Berlin-Germany

Australia

15. Saint Maratken Community Society Inc. Melbourn
16. St. Virgin Mary Chaldean Organization

Canada

17. Ahwazian Arab Red Crescent
18. Canadian Iraqi Human rights Center
19. Chaldean Association of Windsor
    Name of Authorized Person: George Mansor
20. Chaldean Society of Mar Oraha
    Name of Authorized person: Imad Oraha
21. Dearborn Society Of Canada
22. Iraqi Components Charity
23. Ladies of Hope
    Name of Authorized person: Bushra Hanna
24. Radhi D. Mohammed
25. The Arabic Cultural Council
    Name of Authorized person: Alaa Ahmed

France

26. Association D’entraide Aux Minorites D’orient
27. Association of Assyrian-Chaldeans in France
28. Coordination des Associations et des Particuliers pour la Liberté de Conscience
29. Coordination Chrétiens d’Orient en danger
30. Middle East Transparent, Paris
31. Organisation Franco-Egyptienne pour les droit de l’homme

Iraq

32. Assyrian Democratic Movement
33. Iraqi Christians in Need ICIN
34. Revival Oriental Heritage Foundation
    Name of Authorized person: Sohaib Jajju
35. Soraya Foundation For Culture and Media Erbil-Iraq

Sweden

36. Set My People Free

UK

37. Aid to the Church in Need, London
38. Christians Without Home
39. Mesopotamia Association

USA

40. Advocates for Faith & Justice
41. Arab Social Association
42. Asian Children’s Education Fellowship
    Name of Authorized person: Bryan Nerren, President
43. Chaldean American Association
44. Chaldean League of California
45. Chaldean Radio and Television Association
46. Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
47. Culture and Arts Association
48. In Defense of Christians
49. Iraqi American Friendship Association
50. Jubilee Campaign USA
51. Law and Liberty Trust
    Name of Authorized person: Lauren B. Homer, President
52. Mar Oraha Chaldean Organization
53. Mosques Gathering in San Diego
54. Organization of Christian and Islamic congregations in San Diego
55. Saint Adda Community Center
56. Saint Peter Chaldean Cathedral Diocese
57. Save the Persecuted Christians
    Name of Authorized person: Dede Laugesen, Executive Director
58. St. Micheal Organization
59. Syrian Christians for Rights and Dialogue
60. Telliskuf Chaldean Organization

Vietnam

61. Minh Lê, Advocates for Faith and Justice in Vietnam

Individual Experts in Academia, Policy, Journalism, and Activism

62. Hassan Abboud – University professor
63. Jackie Abramian – Founder, Global Cadence
64. Pierre Akl – editor-in-chief of Middle East Transparent
65. Elie Al-Hajj – Lebanese journalist
66. Bassam Al-Khoury – Lebanese businessman
67. Shaheen Al-Khoury – Lebanese intellectual
68. Lina Al-Tanir – Professor at the American University
69. Tobia Atallah – Lebanese businessman
70. Ann Mahjar Barducci – Italian Journalist and Author
71. Zuhair Basbous – Journalist, Paris
72. Robert A. Destro – Professor of Law, The Catholic University of America
73. Mona Fayyad – Lebanese political activist and professor
74. Ralph Germanus – former military prosecutor
75. Tony Habib – Lebanese politician
76. Mayad Haidar – Lebanese author
77. Fayrouz Joudieh – Lebanese businessman
78. Ruba Kabbara – University professor
79. Khairallah Khairallah – Lebanese writer and journalist
80. Elie Kyrillos – Lebanese lawyer
81. Nadine Maenza – President, Internacional Religious Freedom Secretariat
82. Scott Morgan – Co-chair Africa Working Group, International Religious Freedom Roundtable
83. Loan Nguyen, Boat People SOS
84. Rodrigue Novel – Lebanese politician
85. Norma Rizk – University professor
86. Fares Saeed – Former Vice President of the National Council to End the Iranian Occupation
87. Bahjat Salama – University professor

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Photo Credit: Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako. | Daniel Ibanez/CNA.