A multitude of homes, shops and properties stolen from Christians in Iraq have been returned to the rightful owners, according to relief group Barnabas Fund.
More than 120 homes, factories, shops and parcels of land taken by force or by gangs have been restored to the Christians and Sabeans (a religious minority indigenous to Iraq) who owned them, the report stated.
The Committee for the Restitution of Christian and Sabean Property reviewed documents proving ownership and returned the possessions on Feb. 21 to legal owners, the report said.
Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr established the committee in 2021 for the purpose of ending property rights violations against Christians, the report said. His Sadrist Movement holds the largest number of seats in parliament.
Anti-Christian hostility, violence
Approximately 75% of Iraq’s Christians (a number estimated in 1990 to be about 1.5 million) have left the country in the last 30 years because of anti-Christian hostility and violence, the report stated.
Iraq is No. 14 on Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List of places most difficult to be a Christian.
