IRAQ: Exploring challenges and opportunities for religious freedom – New Report
APPG FoRB (26.03.2026) – On 25 March, the 28-page Iraq Report co-published by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on FoRB (APPG FoRB), Aid to the Church in Need (ACN UK) and BYU Law was launched at the Houses of Parliament in London.
Aid to the Church in Need (UK) has played a central role in the publication of this new report examining the state of religious freedom in Iraq.
Released on Wednesday, 25th March, in the Houses of Parliament, the report follows a fact-finding delegation to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq by APPG FORB and ACN/UK, the organiser of the visit.
During the trip in mid February, the delegation met with Christian and other minority communities who suffered genocidal violence by Daesh (ISIS) militants.
The huge challenges they face have intensified as a result of the current Middle East war.
The evidence collected in the trip directly informed the report’s findings.
The new publication presents a series of recommendations to the UK Government, the Iraqi Government, and the Kurdistan Regional Government, aimed at strengthening protections for religious minorities across the country.
Foreword
In February 2026, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB), led by Jim Shannon MP and supported by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN UK), undertook a delegation to Iraq, with a focus on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). The purpose of the visit was to assess the current state of freedom of religion or belief following the defeat of ISIS, to meet minority religious communities, and to evaluate ongoing humanitarian and security challenges.
Across meetings with senior Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials—including Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, ministers, diplomats, and community leaders—the delegation observed a strong commitment to coexistence and the protection of religious minorities. Officials highlighted that the majority of Iraq’s remaining Christian population now resides in the KRI, reflecting the region’s relative stability and efforts to support pluralism.
The delegation met Yazidi and Christian leaders, receiving detailed briefings on barriers preventing Yazidi return to Sinjar, including the stalled implementation of the Sinjar Agreement, militia activity, insecurity, and slow reconstruction. Yazidi representatives emphasised the plight of approximately 350,000 displaced Yazidis,the presence of 96 mass graves, more than 2,500 missing persons, and the ongoing need for justice and accountability for ISIS crimes.
Christian leaders expressed appreciation for the security and cooperation extended by the KRG while highlighting serious social and economic pressures—particularly youth unemployment—which continue to drive migration. Visits to Ankawa’s educational and medical institutions demonstrated significant community-led progress in rebuilding social infrastructure.
Throughout the visit—from Erbil to Lalish, Al Qosh, and Duhok—the delegation encountered consistent themes: resilience among minority communities, the value of interfaith cooperation, and the need for renewed international support. UK diplomatic and development engagement was repeatedly identified as vital, particularly in stabilising Sinjar, strengthening justice mechanisms, and supporting displaced persons amid the withdrawal of key NGOs and funding streams.
The delegation left with strengthened relationships, clear avenues for future UK advocacy, and a reinforced commitment to supporting vulnerable religious minorities in Iraq.
Its recommendations call for intensified UK and Iraqi government action, enhanced international cooperation, and sustained support for minority communities across the KRI and federal Iraq.
Table of Contents
About
Foreword
Executive Summary
Background on Iraq
Geography, State Formation, and Religious Context
Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Religious Context
Constitutional and legal provisions
Freedom of Religion or Belief in Iraq
International FoRB Agreements
UK Engagement with Iraq
Scale and nature of crimes against minorities
Yazidis
Christians
Religious Minorities in the Kurdistan
Region of Iraq
Delegation to Iraq
Recommendations
UK Government
Federal Government of Iraq
Kurdistan Regional Government
Recommendations
UK Government:
- The UK Government, working with partners and allies, including the United States, should redouble its diplomatic efforts to see the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement, or a similar agreement, to allow the Yazidi community to return to their historic lands.
- The UK Government, through our diplomatic footprint in Iraq, should provide regular reporting on the success in holding ISIS fighters accountable for crimes against humanity perpetrated against minority religious communities.
- Economic factors are leading to an increase in migration across Iraq, this is especially more acute for minority communities. The Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, working with the Department for Trade and Business should explore the feasibility of a trade promotional campaign to encourage economic development and foreign direct investment into Iraq.
This campaign would align with the Government’s strategic goal to promote Britain’s economic interest; but it will also serve to provide economic opportunities for young Iraqis, thus reducing the push factor of migration. Historically it should be noted that Iraqis were one of the largest cohorts represented by irregular migration into the UK.
- In line with the recommendations in the Truro Review, periodic continuous engagement with Church leaders and other religious leaders, including Yazidi organisations, recognising the unique challenges that religious minorities face. This is to maintain a dialogue and help supplement the UK government’s commitment as outlined by the FoRB Strategy 2025.
- The delegation encourages the UK Government to work with international partners and Non-Governmental Organisations to provide direct support to Internally Displaced Persons’ Camps in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The delegation heard heartfelt concerns from officials that the withdrawal of USAID had led to an exodus of NGOs operating the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, placing additional pressure on the KRG’s budget.
- The delegation encourages the UK government to continue prioritising the full implementation of Article 18, in line with the UK FoRB Strategy, working closely with the KRG and Iraqi Federal Government to embed freedom of religion or belief in all diplomatic engagements.
Federal Government of Iraq
- Urge the Iraqi Federal Government to work with the Kurdistan Regional Government to resolve the budget dispute, to unlock funding not only for economic development but also to relieve the financial burden generated by the Internally Displaced Persons Camps in the KRI.
- Work towards the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement, or similar, to allow the Yazidi people an opportunity to return to Sinjar. This includes:
- Work to disarm the militias operating in the area, and ensure that legitimate state authority has a monopoly on arms in the region
- Work with the Yazidi community to enable them to become co-responsible for security in Sinjar, with representation in the security services and policing of Sinjar.
III. Work on the reconstruction of Sinjar, including with the international community, to allow the Yazidis to have a chance to rebuild their lives through reconstruction of basic infrastructure.
- Ensure that justice and accountability is achieved for victims of ISIS’s invasion of northern Iraq, including accountability for the crime of genocide against all religious minority communities.
- Ensure every effort is made to excavate the mass graves of the Yazidi and other victims of ISIS, to preserve and collect evidence, identify victims and allow proper burials to take place.
- Improve minority religious representation in Federal Government ministries. The delegation heard evidence that there is limited representation for Yazidis in government departments responsible for the implementation of the Sinjar Agreement and accountability for ISIS crimes.
- Improve the security situation for Christians in Mosul and Baghdad. Evidence collected from multiple sources during the delegation’s visit, indicated a real fear expressed by Christians from Baghdad and Mosul for their safety. We encourage the Federal authorities to uphold the Iraqi Constitution and address hate speech and extremism targeted at minority religions.
- The delegation encourages the Federal Government of Iraq to implement in full Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
Kurdistan Regional Government
- 14. In all engagements with the Kurdistan Regional Government, the delegation was impressed with the significant work undertaken by the KRG to promote co- existence and integration of religious minorities into society. The delegation received evidence that in the wake of the ISIS invasion, the region became a safe haven for the hundreds of thousands displaced people fleeing ISIS extremism.
We recommend that the KRG continues this work, noting the support that the KRG has already provided to religious minorities.
- The delegation was impressed by the work of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs for their work in combating extremism and promoting co- existence. It is clear to the delegation that significant political capital has been expended by the Ministry in tackling hatred and intolerance. We encourage the Ministry to continue this work at pace and ensure that all instances of hate speech are addressed quickly when they arise.
- Urge the Kurdistan Regional Government to work with the Iraqi Federal Government to resolve the budget dispute, to unlock funding not only for economic development but also to relieve the financial burden generated by the Internally Displaced Persons Camps in the KRI.
- Recognising the financial constraints on the KRG, the delegation heard evidence of hardship in the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps. We call for every effort to be made to meet their basic needs including development of external partnership to address the psychological and physical trauma caused by ISIS crimes. This should be done with the support of the international community, and in line with Recommendation 5.
- Recognising the issue of unemployment affects all communities in Iraq, the delegation heard evidence that religious minorities are disproportionately affected. Recognising the major strides taken in education and training by minority communities, we encourage the KRG to work with community groups and representatives to unlock employment opportunities across all sectors of the economy.
- The delegation encourages the Kurdistan Regional Government to continue their work on the full implementation of Article 18 of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights, in line with the KRG’s stated policy objectives
Photo:Iraq report launch at the Houses of Parliament (Aid to the Church in Need)
Further reading about FORB in Iraq on HRWF website
