Prime Minister Masrour Barzani shaking hands with Patriarch Mar Awa III. (Photo: KRG)

Ishtartv.com - kurdistan24.net

In a powerful reaffirmation of the Kurdistan Region’s commitment to religious pluralism and peaceful coexistence, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Tuesday welcomed Mar Awa III, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East worldwide, for a meeting in Erbil.

The discussions, held on Tuesday, focused on the current conditions of Christian communities in the Kurdistan Region, as well as across Iraq and the broader region.

Both sides underscored the importance of nurturing a culture of mutual respect, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among the region’s diverse ethnic and religious communities.

Prime Minister Barzani praised the historical contributions of Assyrian Christians to the cultural and social fabric of Kurdistan, reaffirming the Kurdistan Regional Government’s ongoing efforts to protect religious freedom, safeguard minority rights, and promote peaceful intercommunal relations.

For his part, Patriarch Mar Awa III expressed gratitude for the security, freedom, and respect that Christian communities have found in the Kurdistan Region, noting that it remains a sanctuary for many fleeing violence and persecution in other parts of Iraq and the Middle East.

The meeting comes just weeks after Mar Awa III delivered a powerful address during the National Prayer Breakfast Day in Erbil, where he hailed the Kurdistan Region as a beacon of religious tolerance, unity, and democratic development.

Speaking before an audience of Iraqi, Kurdish, and international leaders, the Patriarch had lauded Kurdistan as a “rare and advanced example of peaceful coexistence and religious pluralism,” praising its leadership—particularly that of Prime Minister Barzani—for creating an inclusive environment that brings together various ethnicities and faiths.

In that speech, the Patriarch emphasized that promoting tolerance is a shared responsibility—not only of political leaders but also of religious figures and civil society. He noted the region's unique democratic development and described the Kurdistan Region as a hopeful model for neighboring areas struggling to uphold basic freedoms.

Tuesday’s engagement between Prime Minister Barzani and Patriarch Mar Awa III therefore marks not just a political meeting but a continuation of a deeper, sustained dialogue about the values that underpin the Kurdistan Region’s social fabric.

At a time when regional instability threatens minority communities, the Kurdistan Region continues to stand as a bastion of safety, dignity, and coexistence.

As interfaith dialogue gains further momentum in Kurdistan, the visit of the Assyrian Patriarch serves as a strong endorsement of the Region’s policies and its international image as a pluralistic and harmonious society in a divided region.