On Wednesday, Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans and head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and worldwide, described the current political representation of Christians as “erroneous.” 

He called for restricting voting for Christian quota seats to Christian voters through a dedicated voter registry and addressed a message to Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds.

In a statement, Sako said:
“A few months separate us from the constitutional right of every Iraqi citizen to go to the polls, choose their representatives, participate actively in the elections, and make the right choice—selecting candidates known for their honesty, integrity, and political awareness to uphold the rule of law and establish a civil state that protects the equal rights of all citizens and provides them with security and services.”

He urged all citizens, especially Christians, to update their voter registration and obtain voting cards so they can participate in the upcoming elections. “Iraqi Christians are an authentic part of this country, deeply rooted in it, and proud of their identity—even those who emigrated and made many sacrifices for it,” he said.

“Our current representation is flawed, and we refuse to be used as pawns in the interests of others,” Sako stressed. “From this position, I appeal to the Shiites, Sunnis, and Kurds in the federal government to help us restore our true representation, role, and rights.”

He proposed that voting for Christian quota seats be limited to Christians through a special registry: “This way, they can elect whoever they see as most capable of serving both the nation and the Christian community.”

Sako concluded, “As the head of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and abroad, I affirm that our Church stands with those who serve the nation, work for its people, and promote justice, security, and stability. We are fully ready to offer all our capabilities in service of Iraq—our homeland of roots, history, and heritage.”