Continuing his efforts to bring about a common vision among political factions in the Kurdistan Region regarding the upcoming parliamentary elections, President Nechirvan Barzani met with representatives, members of parliament and the political parties of religious and ethnic communities in the Kurdistan Region, on Monday in Erbil.

At the meeting, representatives of religious and ethnic communities expressed their views on the upcoming elections, the election law and ways to safeguard their rights. They stressed the importance of President Nechirvan Barzani’s and the Kurdistan Region Presidency’s support and role in protecting and promoting their rights and their views on the issues that relate to their rights and liberties.

The President expressed full support for the rights of all communities, and reiterated that all religious and ethnic components have the right to freely participate in decisions which have an effect on their wellbeing, and that their decisions must be fully respected. The President said that no attempts will be allowed to restrict the rights of communities, especially in the issues of elections and their representation in the parliament and in other institutions of the Kurdistan Region. More attention and importance must be attached to their rights, the President said.

For their part, representatives of religious and ethnic communities reiterated their appreciation to President Nechirvan Barzani for his standing on this important issue and emphasized on the President’s role in safeguarding and deepening the culture of coexistence, mutual acceptance and tolerance among communities of the Kurdistan Region, commending the President as the guarantor of their rights.