Cardinal Sako expressed his appreciation for Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, and Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) President Masoud Barzani for “their warm reception of me following the crisis of the decree withdrawal” in a statement published by Sako’s office on Monday
“I also value their support for justice and the correct course of action in handling the situation,” it continued.
In July 2023, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked a special presidential decree formally recognizing Cardinal Sako and granting him powers over Christian endowment affairs, citing constitutional grounds. The move angered the religious leader and the Christian community in Iraq.
Rashid’s decision came after he met with Rayan al-Kildani, leader of the nominal Christian Babylon Movement, a party and a militia affiliated with the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF or Hashd al-Shaabi) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Weeks after Rashid’s decision, Sako decided to leave the patriarchal residence in Baghdad and relocate to the Kurdistan Region’s capital of Erbil. He said at the time his decision was due to the “intentional and offensive” campaign by the Babylon Brigades and the revocation of the presidential decree, which he called “unprecedented” in the history of Iraq.
“Religious symbols are respected in the Kurdistan Region,” Sako told reporters at the time after his arrival in the Kurdish capital. “The evidence is this warm welcome and respect. This is the return of dignity for us.”
Earlier this month, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani reinstated Sako as the Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq. Sudani stated in a letter that he made the decision to designate Cardinal Sako as the Chaldean Patriarch in Iraq and the world based on the constitution and court ruling in 2013.
Religion, politics and security often go hand-in-hand in Iraq. The majority of parties are affiliated with various Islamic sects and jurisprudence, while smaller Christian and other minority religions are afforded quota sets in the Iraqi parliament. Islamic parties play a smaller role in the Kurdistan Region which is dominated by the KDP and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).
