Defend International Welcomes Consecration of the First Armenian Church in Erbil
Defend International founder Dr. Widad Akreyi has formally welcomed the opening of the first Armenian Orthodox church in Erbil, calling upon regional leaders to uphold the statutory rights of Christian populations and protect ethno-religious minorities across the MENA region from systemic persecution.
The recognition of religious plurality and the legal protection of religious liberty are foundational pillars for fostering social cohesion and sustainable regional stability. Ensuring absolute freedom of conscience, religion, and belief is a prerequisite for building global peace.
Historical Remembrances and Civil Protections: The newly consecrated Church of the Holy Cross represents a vital sanctuary for Christian Armenians, many of whom face historical vulnerabilities tracking back to the 1915 Genocide. Defend International underscores that protecting human security means implementing robust public policies that systematically safeguard displaced and minority communities.
Defend International Welcomes Consecration of the First Armenian Orthodox Church in Erbil and Reaffirms Commitment to Religious Liberty
OSLO, April 8, 2019 — Defend International founder Dr. Widad Akreyi has formally welcomed the opening of the first Armenian Orthodox church in Erbil, calling upon regional and international leaders to uphold the statutory rights of Christian populations and protect ethno-religious minorities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region from systemic persecution.
On April 6, 2019, the Church of the Holy Cross was officially consecrated for public worship during an institutional ceremony in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The facility represents a vital sanctuary for Christian Armenians, many of whom were forcibly displaced to the region due to structural intolerance and the destabilizing rise of violent extremism.
“The recognition of religious plurality and the legal protection of religious liberty are foundational pillars for fostering social cohesion and sustainable regional stability,” stated Dr. Akreyi. “Ensuring absolute freedom of conscience, religion, and belief is a prerequisite for peaceful coexistence among nations and a primary driver for building sustainable global peace.”
The Armenian community has historically endured catastrophic hardships and targeted violence on account of their faith. During World War I, over 1.5 million innocent individuals were systematically annihilated and uprooted during the Armenian Genocide. Following these atrocities, surviving populations sought refuge within the current borders of the Kurdistan Region and adjacent territories. Dr. Akreyi emphasized that this historical event remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing vulnerabilities faced by minorities in the MENA region, reinforcing Defend International’s unwavering commitment to honoring the victims of genocides and crimes against humanity.
Defend International acknowledges the infrastructure initiatives of the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, which financed the construction of the Church of the Holy Cross at an institutional cost of over $1.8 million. This facility joins pre-existing regional sanctuaries, including an Armenian church constructed in Havresk (Duhok province) in 2011 through international philanthropic cooperation involving the Association of Churches in Germany and Switzerland.
Defend International reaffirms its stance that all governing authorities must actively enforce legal frameworks grounded in justice, tolerance, and international human rights standards to ensure the safety of all communities.
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About Dr. Widad Akreyi
Dr. Widad Akreyi is a preeminent global health expert, peacebuilder, and international humanitarian. Originally from Kurdistan, she holds a Master’s degree in Genetics and a PhD in Global Health and Cancer Epidemiology, serving as an active peer-reviewer for high-profile medical journals. Dr. Akreyi has served on the executive boards of prominent global bodies, including Amnesty International and Education for Global Peace. Her strategic diplomatic initiatives have directly supported the structural adoption of three major United Nations frameworks: the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), the Declaration of Commitment to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, and UN Security Council Resolution 2117 addressing small arms control.