There may also be other homes that I am unaware of. Unfortunately, such is the case: People from outside of Baghdad are evicting the city’s original inhabitants, forcing them to emigrate and manipulating the ownership of their property.
Al-Monitor: Where do you stand vis-a-vis the popular demonstrations held in Baghdad and other governorates? Did Christians take part in them?
Kanna: The tragic situation endured by Iraqis for many years, the loss of their assets and the lack of social justice were factors that contributed to the rise of a popular movement whose goal is the restoration of rights abrogated by the political parties that ruled Iraq. I find those demonstrations to be legitimate calls for reform.
Yet we warn against some parties riding the coattails of these demonstrations and hope that the latter remain true to their distinctive national character. Without a doubt, Christians took part in said demonstrations — not in their capacity as Christians, but as Iraqis seeking to bring about change and establish a civic state that respects the rights of all, away from the logic of a state governed by radical Islamic parties.
Al-Monitor: Do you still claim to be “marginalized”? Or does the situation in Iraq today compel you to postpone demanding your rights?
Kanna: Christians are marginalized in the current and two previous governments. There are no Christian ministers in the current Cabinet, and we were also excluded from certain important posts that should have been ours commensurate with us being an important and essential component of the country.
But, unfortunately, the major parties always endeavored to marginalize us and treated us as if we were not the children of this land. Even in defending Iraq and the Iraqis, we were excluded and deprived from the opportunity to partake in the war against IS.
Al-Monitor: But the Popular Mobilization Units include a faction called the Babylon Brigade, led by Rayan al-Kaldani. How then do you say that you are excluded?
Kanna: The head of that armed faction does not represent Christians, and his participation as part of the Popular Mobilization Units in the fight against IS is in his own personal capacity. We believe in the importance of us participating in the war against terrorism, but this person is not affiliated with us and commands between 20 and 30 fighters.
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