Assyrian, Chaldean, Syriac parties meet with Iraqi federal court head following quota ruling, per ADM

The Word | Feb. 29, 2024

Representatives from six Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac parties met with the head of Iraq’s top court Thursday following a ruling eliminating quota seats in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq’s (KRI) parliament.

According to a statement from the Assyrian Democratic Movement (ADM), also known as Zowaa, its secretary general Yacoob Yaco led the delegation of leaders from  ADM, the Bet-Nahrain Patriotic Party, the Bet-Nahrain Democratic Party and the Sons of Mesopotamia (Abnaa Al Nahrain).

The parties, which make up part of the Assyrian, Chaldean and Syriac party coalition called the Athra Alliance, issued a joint statement Tuesday calling for a reevaluation of the court’s decision and calling on the United Nations to “to play their role in supporting the rights of national and religious minorities” and consider impacts of “violation of relevant international covenants and resolutions”.

Former ADM secretary general Yonadam Kanna also visited with Abood this week, another figure urging reconsideration of the decision.

Iraq’s federal court ruled last Wednesday that a law allocating minority quotas in the Kurdistan Region’s parliament is “unconstitutional.” Of the 11 minority seats, five were reserved for Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs, five for Turkmen, and one for Armenians.