Official Statement
UNAMI Reaffirms Commitment to Protecting Religious Diversity during Meeting with Zoroastrian Representatives in Baghdad
August 9, 2025Media Office1 min readBaghdad, Iraq
Official meeting between UNAMI and Zoroastrian representatives confirms the importance of protecting minority rights and promoting religious diversity in Iraq.
Baghdad, 10 August 2025 – As part of its efforts to support the rights of minorities and promote societal diversity in Iraq, Dr. Mohamed El-Hassan, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), met with a number of representatives from minority communities, including Dr. Haider Asfour, Head of the Zoroastrian Community – Main Office in Baghdad.
During the meeting, which took place at the United Nations headquarters, Dr. El-Hassan emphasized the importance of upholding human rights, stressing that protecting the rights of minorities must be guaranteed, even if it concerns only one individual. He also praised the richness of Iraqi diversity, which enriches the national identity and strengthens social cohesion.
Dr. Asfour affirmed that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as enshrined in Article (18/1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is a fundamental and far-reaching right. He commended the positive steps taken by Iraq in the field of religious freedoms, highlighting the importance of the tools and mechanisms adopted by the United Nations to promote human rights.
He also noted the progress made by the Iraqi government at both the legislative and institutional levels, appreciating its efforts to improve the legal framework and extending thanks to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani for his continued support for issues of diversity and rights.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Asfour expressed his appreciation for the efforts of local and international civil society organizations, tribal leaders, and religious leaders of various affiliations, for their effective contributions to consolidating the principles of peaceful coexistence and societal brotherhood.
During the meeting, which took place at the United Nations headquarters, Dr. El-Hassan emphasized the importance of upholding human rights, stressing that protecting the rights of minorities must be guaranteed, even if it concerns only one individual. He also praised the richness of Iraqi diversity, which enriches the national identity and strengthens social cohesion.
Dr. Asfour affirmed that the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as enshrined in Article (18/1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is a fundamental and far-reaching right. He commended the positive steps taken by Iraq in the field of religious freedoms, highlighting the importance of the tools and mechanisms adopted by the United Nations to promote human rights.
He also noted the progress made by the Iraqi government at both the legislative and institutional levels, appreciating its efforts to improve the legal framework and extending thanks to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani for his continued support for issues of diversity and rights.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Asfour expressed his appreciation for the efforts of local and international civil society organizations, tribal leaders, and religious leaders of various affiliations, for their effective contributions to consolidating the principles of peaceful coexistence and societal brotherhood.
