A Remarkable Journey
By Mike Sarafa
A delegation led by Martin Manna visited Baghdad in mid-February for a series of meetings that began with Prime Minister Sudani and separately, the President of the Republic. The focus of these meetings and many others was to continue to push for the rights, dignity, and full integration into society of Iraq’s indigenous Christian community.
From the head of the National Security Agency to the top Judiciary official, major political party figures, and the interim US Ambassador in Baghdad, Manna and others pressed for a lift of the alcohol ban, followed up on the previous commitment to hire Christians into a local police force tied to the national government, and pushed for more progress on rebuilding the Christian villages in the north. Important progress was made around the notion of implementing Article 125 of the Iraqi Constitution to allow certain administrative rights in the historical geography of the Christian communities in northern Iraq.
To use a truly unique American analogy, the meetings were a home run. Not a single Iraqi official even attempted to defend the alcohol ban, which was a parliamentary law pushed by the most extreme elements of Iraqi society with undue influence from outside forces in a place that has manufactured, sold and consumed alcohol for a thousand years. In fact, it was difficult to find a bottle of beer anywhere in Baghdad. A black market has sprung up which is as predictable of a consequence as the ground being wet after rain.
The Prime Minister announced the approval of six of the 11 projects previously submitted by the Chaldean Community Foundation including infrastructure, roads and the restoration of the cemetery in Telkaif, which had been cruelly and gratuitously bulldozed by ISIS.
The middle leg of the journey included a five-hour drive to Mosul which has made great progress for its residents, including approximately 70,000 Christians. The Governor of Nineveh accompanied the delegation through several stops in Mosul before heading to Telkaif, Batnaya and Quarakosh where even more projects were announced, including the removal of the vast amount of rubble in Batnaya.
Meetings with the religious leadership were held throughout, including a great visit and meeting with Patriarch Sako, and other faith leaders in Mosul and the villages.
Two important observations: The security situation throughout Iraq has been turned around in a positive way. While challenges remain, Iraq is safe. Second, each of the delegation members felt a connection to the place. The ground under our feet stirred our hearts in a way that can only occur when one belongs to a place. Our history is here and our connection to Iraq is interminable. Hopefully too, this is the beginning of a brighter future for Chaldeans in Iraq and we can once again proudly proclaim Iraq as our homeland.