Exchange visits between peaceful coexistence bodies and communities in Kirkuk and Shekhan, and a meeting with the Minister of Endowments in the KRI

 

 As part of the JISRA project, which aims to promote the values ​​of peaceful and religious coexistence among communities in Kirkuk and its surrounding areas, the Peace and Freedom Organization implemented a series of activities on May 30 and 31, including a private meeting with Dr. Pshtiwan Sadiq, Minister of Endowments in the Kurdistan Regional Government, with the aim of building a sustainable partnership and promoting social dialogue. The most prominent of these activities were:

  • Day 1 (May 30, 2025):

The General Committee for Peaceful Coexistence in Kirkuk visited Shekhan District to strengthen cooperation with its counterpart in the district. The visit included a field trip to several holy sites, most notably the Lalish Temple, one of the most important religious sites in the Yazidi faith. Dialogue meetings were also organized with members of the Yazidi community, during which experiences were exchanged and ways to support coexistence and understanding between different sects were discussed.

 

  • Day Two (May 31, 2025):

The two bodies (from Kirkuk and Shekhan) carried out a joint activity, including a visit to Erbil to coordinate with the Ministry of Endowments of the Kurdistan Regional Government. An open meeting was held between the two parties and representatives of the Ministry, discussing mechanisms for expanding the scope of the Peaceful Coexistence Committees to include other Iraqi governorates. Success stories of youth and women in this field were also presented and discussed, reflecting their important role in supporting community peace.

 

  • The visit to Erbil also included visits to several prominent religious landmarks, including the Jalil al-Khayat Mosque and the Altun Mosque, in addition to a fruitful official meeting with the Minister of Endowments of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Dr. Pashtun Sadiq. As a practical model for supporting intercultural and interfaith dialogue and strengthening relations between local bodies, these activities contribute to building a more inclusive and stable environment in the country.