In a unified stance against what they perceive as a significant injustice, representatives from Chaldean, Assyrian, and Armenian civil society organizations convened in a joint press conference on Saturday, issuing a scathing rebuke directed towards various international bodies and Iraqi authorities.

The focal point of their condemnation was the recent ruling by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court, which they assert has stripped religious and ethnic communities in the Kurdistan Region of their long-held rights within the Kurdistan Parliament. These rights, originally granted in 1992, were abruptly nullified by the court, a decision the representatives described as unexpected and profoundly unjust.

Of particular concern to these communities is their participation in the upcoming Kurdistan parliamentary elections, scheduled by Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani for June 10. The ruling effectively annulled reserved seats in the parliament for Chaldeans, Assyrians, Armenians, and Turkmens, enshrined under Article 36 of the Kurdistan Parliamentary Election Law.

The groups vehemently denounced the decision, labeling it as oppressive and a betrayal of the sacrifices made by ethnic and religious communities who have historically supported the Kurdistan Liberation Movement and actively engaged in Iraq's political evolution.

Highlighting the significance of these reserved seats, they emphasized their role in ensuring representation and safeguarding the interests of minority groups within the Kurdistan Parliament. With the nullification of these seats, they argue, the integrity of the parliamentary process is compromised, undermining the principles of democracy and inclusivity.

The joint statement issued by these civil society organizations serves as a clarion call to the international community, UN human rights organizations, the European Union in Iraq, the US Representative in Iraq, as well as all Iraqi embassies and consulates in the Kurdistan Region, urging them to intervene and rectify what they perceive as a grave injustice.

As preparations for the Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections continue, with an estimated 3.6 million eligible voters, the outcry from these marginalized communities reverberates, underscoring the critical importance of ensuring fair and equitable representation in the democratic process.