Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Falih al Zaidi has called on Christians living abroad to return to Iraq, describing their return as a national priority and promising government support to help restore the country’s historic Christian community.
Speaking during a meeting with Chaldean Patriarch Paul III Nona, al Zaidi announced that returning Christian families would qualify for Iraq’s one-million residential land plot programme. He said Iraq’s unity and strength are rooted in its ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity, describing Christians as an integral part of the country’s identity whose contributions remain essential to its future.
The prime minister also encouraged Christian business owners and investors in the diaspora to invest in Iraq’s reconstruction efforts, particularly in the healthcare and education sectors. He assured them of continued government backing to ensure the success of their projects, promote economic growth, and create jobs.
Patriarch Nona welcomed the initiative, saying it offers reassurance to Iraqi Christians living overseas, boosts confidence in the country’s future, and could encourage investors to play a role in national development.
Syriac Orthodox Archbishop Nicodemus Matti Sharaf also praised the appeal, calling it an important acknowledgement of Christians’ rightful place in their ancestral homeland. However, he stressed that invitations alone would not be enough to reverse decades of Christian emigration, noting that practical measures would be needed to encourage families to return.
