SW News: Call it the Pope Francis effect. Ever since the historic Apostolic Visit of the pontiff to Iraq last year, winds of change are blowing across that Middle Eastern nation that is slowly recovering from the onslaught of the Islamic State militants. An innovative initiative led by a popular Shiite cleric has been able to deliver 120 homes and properties illegally usurped by real estate mafias to its rightful owners after Christians and members of other minority communities fled the land following the takeover by the jihadists.

The committee constituted by Shiite cleric and leader Muqtada al-Sadr to identify and hand over usurped houses and properties to its rightful owners has so far been able to transfer 120 homes and other properties to Christians and members of the minority Sabaean community over the past one year. A prominent personality in the Sadrist movement, Hakem al-Zameli said in a statement that the real estate mafia took advantage of the violence against Christians and other minority communities to usurp their properties and houses.

In the statement, he said, “They thought that these minorities do not have any support. However, they were wrong. Al-Sadr will not allow encroaching other people's properties. The parties who committed those deeds will be held accountable." He made it clear that under Al-Sadr, Christians and Sabaeans will get back their properties.

Al-Zameli, who is the deputy speaker of parliament, said that the 120 homes, agricultural lands, factories and shops in Baghdad, Nineveh, Basra and Kirkuk were handed over to their rightful owners. He said that by doing so, they hope that Iraqi Christians and those belonging to other minority communities who fled the country will return and begin life anew.