Iraq Country Update

This report examines recent developments as well as ongoing factors affecting religious freedom in Iraq under both Iraq’s federal government (IFG) and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). The country update evaluates Iraq’s persistent political sectarianism and recent legislative proposals with the potential to restrict freedom of religion or belief for Iraq’s diverse religious communities. The report also assesses the lack of security religious minorities such as Christians and Yazidis face, with property misappropriation and harassment by both state and non-state actors prompting community members’ prolonged internal displacement and permanent emigration from the country.