Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s Speech at the Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast

Erbil, Kurdistan Region (GOV.KRD) - Today, the first Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast event was held in Erbil, capital of the Kurdistan Region. Prime Minister Masrour Barzani delivered the following speech:

Ladies and gentlemen, faith leaders, honorable colleagues from parliament and government, distinguished members of the diplomatic corps, esteemed guests,

Good morning and a warm welcome to you all to the inaugural Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast.

Welcome to Kurdistan. Welcome to the land where the call to prayer, the sound of church bells, and the quiet chants emanating from ancient temples have echoed together for centuries.

It is a great honor and privilege to stand before you today in the presence of leaders and figures from faith and public life, community representatives, diplomats, and followers of diverse religions. Your presence is a powerful reflection of the spirit of Kurdistan: a land of peaceful coexistence, diversity and resilience.

From the dawn of civilization, Kurdistan has been a cradle of cultures, religions, and nations. The plains, valleys, and mountains of our homeland have witnessed the rise and coexistence of various beliefs, nations and communities. Here, faith has flourished in its many forms, and people of different ethnic backgrounds have lived side by side with mutual respect and dignity.

In our recent history, our people — regardless of ethnicity or creed — have faced grave challenges. The oppressive regime of Saddam Hussein did not distinguish between Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, or Armenians, nor between Muslims, Christians, or Yazidis. His campaigns of violence and genocide sought to erase identities and silence anyone who opposed his regime. In more recent times, the barbaric terror of ISIS terrorists once again targeted communities indiscriminately, burning churches, destroying Yazidi shrines, and spilling the blood of the innocent.

But during those darkest days, the spirit of Kurdistan and our people did not crumble. The brave Peshmerga, our sons and daughters, rose in defense of every community — not as soldiers of one faith or one ethnicity, but as guardians of Kurdistan, Iraq, and all humanity. Muslim Peshmerga soldiers fought alongside their Yazidi and Christian brothers-in-arms, each ready to face death so that mosques could sound the call for prayer, churches could ring their bells, Yazidi temples could stand proud, and people of all faiths could worship freely and without fear again.

Today, the Kurdistan Regional Government remains committed to this sacred duty. We are not only rebuilding homes and cities but renewing our promise to protect freedom of religion, promote coexistence, and foster peace in every corner of our land.

We are proud that the city of Ankawa, here in Erbil, stands as the only growing Christian city in the Middle East, with a population that has more than doubled since 2011 — a testament to our commitment to diversity and coexistence. We are also investing in the restoration and development of the holy sites of our Yazidi brothers and sisters, as well as preserving mosques, churches, and temples for all communities.

Besides the three main faiths that I have already named, Kurdistan is home to many other religions, including the Kakayi, Zoroastrian, Jewish and Bahai’i faiths. Our government is actively working to build more mosques, churches, and places of worship, ensuring every citizen has the right to practice their faith openly and safely.

Education, too, plays a crucial role in shaping a harmonious future. That is why we are reforming our school curricula to reflect the true, diverse, and inclusive nature of Kurdistan — teaching our children not only about their own traditions but about those of their neighbors, so they grow to respect and celebrate one another.

In our parliament, government, and public institutions, followers of every faith and nationality are represented and will continue to be so. This multiculturalism is not a challenge but a strength that we draw upon in building a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous Kurdistan.

Our vision for Kurdistan is clear: a region where people of all faiths and nationalities can live freely, contribute fully, and find hope in a shared future. We must see our differences not as divisions, but as the foundation of a rich, resilient, and compassionate society.

We were proud and honored when, in 2021, His Holiness Pope Francis visited Erbil and held a mass in the Franso Hariri Stadium where thousands of people gathered to be in his presence. In my meetings with His Holiness in Erbil and Rome, I came to know him for his commitment to peace and understanding. We all mourn his passing and pray that his legacy inspires unity among all peoples of the world.

And so, gathered here today, united in faith and goodwill, we pray together.

We pray for the innocent who still suffer.

We pray for those whose faith was attacked but never extinguished.

We pray for the souls of our fallen defenders.

And we pray for a Kurdistan, an Iraq, a Middle East — and a world — where no one needs to suffer for what they believe, the language they speak, or the nation they carry in their heart.

May this inaugural Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast become a tradition that strengthens the bonds between us and serves as a light of unity and faith for generations to come.

Thank you, and may peace and blessings be upon you all.