On November 28, 2025, the United Nations Palace in Geneva witnessed the convening of the Global Minority Forum with a broad participation exceeding 950 individuals representing international, regional, and national organizations, as well as experts, academics, and representatives of various countries. The event constituted one of the largest international gatherings focused on religious minorities and helped highlight a positive image of Iraq and the progress made in the field of rights and freedoms.



During the main session, Dr. Haider Asfour, Head of the Zoroastrian Faith Representation in Iraq, expressed his appreciation for the efforts of the Iraqi government and the Kurdistan Regional Government in supporting diversity and promoting coexistence, praising Mr. Masoud Barzani's positions supporting freedoms and ensuring the dignity of all components. In his speech, he explained that the Zoroastrian component still faces challenges related to the lack of governmental representation, institutional support, and the absence of a place of worship, in addition to the lack of official recognition which leads to misunderstandings about the nature of their religion.



Asfour called for practical steps to address these issues and ensure equality among all components, emphasizing the importance of Iraq's commitment to international human rights conventions and continued work to cement the values of diversity and fairness.



The session concluded by emphasizing the forum's role as a platform to convey the voice of minorities and strengthen international cooperation to support their rights.