SW News:

Iraq’s president Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid met the Chaldean Patriarch of Iraq, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, and the heads of the churches of Baghdad at Baghdad Palace on Thursday. 
The President stressed that Christians are an inherent component, and must be given an active role in various political and administrative fields, noting that all authorities are required to defend the rights of Christians, which are guaranteed by the Constitution to all citizens. The cardinal reviewed several issues facing Christians, stressing that the Christian component adheres to its national identity and supports fraternity among all segments of the people. 
The President emphasized that Iraq is experiencing security and political stability. He cited his recent visits to the provinces of Basra and Mosul, where he spoke with residents and celebrated Christmas with Christians. 
 In Iraq, there are about 300,000 Catholics, or 0.95% of the country's population. Iraqi Catholics adhere to a variety of rites, but the majority is Chaldean Catholics. Iraq currently has 17 functioning dioceses and eparchies. 
The Open Doors’ World Watch List 2023’s reveals that the main pressure on Iraqi Christians following the territorial loss of Islamic State (IS) has been the Shia militias backed by Iran. However, in the first half of 2020, IS also stepped up its attacks on civilians, infrastructure and security forces. 
Turkey maintained its airstrikes and ground operations in many regions of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region (IKR). In Turkey's heaviest operation in the region since 2015, Christian villages were bombarded in May 2021 and June 2020, causing some Christians to escape. The local authorities did not provide any protection for Christians. 
Violence, intolerance, and discrimination, particularly from militant Islamic groups and non-Christian leaders, have a significant negative impact on historical churches such as the Assyrian Church of the East, Syrian Orthodox Church, Syrian Catholic Church, Chaldean Catholic Church, and Armenian Orthodox Church. Government officials also discriminate against them. The Catholic seminary in Baghdad had to relocate to the IKR a number of years ago as a result of threats of kidnapping and Christians with a Muslim background experience most pressure from family members and often keep their faith a secret. They risk losing inheritance rights and the right or means to marry.