A new report by the Parliament of the United Kingdom warns that Iraq’s religious minorities continue to face severe and worsening challenges, despite the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2017. The report highlights ongoing insecurity, displacement, economic hardship, and the slow pace of reconstruction, with Christians and Ezidis among those most affected.
The 28-page report was issued by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief (APPG FoRB) in partnership with the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need UK. It is based on a fact-finding visit carried out in February to northern Iraq, where the delegation met officials, clergy, and representatives of minority peoples who survived ISIS atrocities.
According to the report, the situation remains fragile years after ISIS’s defeat. Delegates heard detailed testimony about militia activity, instability, delayed reconstruction, and the lack of long-term solutions for displaced families. Ezidi representatives also described the continuing consequences of the Ezidi genocide, stressing that justice and accountability remain painfully incomplete.
The report states that around 350,000 Ezidis are still displaced. It also notes that 96 mass graves have been discovered and that more than 2,500 people remain missing. Delegates were told that the continued presence of armed groups and the failure to fully implement the Sinjar Agreement are major obstacles preventing many Ezidis from returning home to Shengal.
During the visit, the delegation also went to Lalish, one of the holiest sites of the Ezidi people and the spiritual heart of Sharfadin. There, they heard testimonies about ongoing suffering, slow reconstruction, and the absence of lasting security for Ezidi families.
The report says that most of Iraq’s remaining Christian population now lives in northern Iraq, where Church leaders expressed appreciation for the relative security and cooperation offered by the regional authorities. At the same time, they warned that serious economic and social pressures, especially youth unemployment, are pushing increasing numbers of Christians to leave the country.
The delegation identified Ankawa in Erbil as one example of reconstruction and coexistence, pointing to local investments in schools, healthcare, and higher education. However, it stressed that such positive examples do not change the broader reality: many of Iraq’s religious minorities still live under constant pressure, with fears for their future survival.
The report further argues that the wider conflict in the Middle East has intensified these challenges. It concludes that without stronger international engagement, renewed aid, and coordinated political action, Iraq’s historic religious diversity may continue to disappear.
In the foreword, APPG FoRB Chair Jim Shannon MP said he remains “deeply committed to the conviction that no one should ever face violence, imprisonment, or discrimination for their faith—or indeed for choosing not to follow any faith at all.” He added that the report reflects the group’s commitment to exposing both direct persecution and the everyday barriers that restrict freedom of belief.
The report calls on the UK government to intensify diplomatic efforts to support implementation of the Sinjar Agreement, strengthen accountability for ISIS crimes, maintain contact with minority leaders, and continue support for displaced populations as international aid declines.
It also urges the Iraqi government to improve security in areas such as Mosul and Baghdad, disarm armed groups in Shengal, open mass graves, prosecute perpetrators, and officially recognize the genocide against the Ezidis.
Its final warning is stark: while the resilience of Iraq’s Christians, Ezidis, and other minorities remains strong, their survival is far from guaranteed. The report says Iraq now stands at a critical moment, where its historic religious diversity faces a choice between survival and extinction.
