EU expresses support for Iraqi, Syrian civil society

The international community has tried various approaches to confront ethnic conflict in the Middle East. International bodies have usually contented themselves with just issuing statements when a human rights violation occurs, and sometimes have supported specific political parties against others. They have focused on vulnerable groups such as minorities, while their positions often neglect members of the majority, who face violations of their rights as well.

For the most part, the international community’s approaches were of no effect or had little success in improving the humanitarian situation of the people of the Middle East.

But this time, the European Union has listened to representatives of Iraqi and Syrian civil society to support them in their confrontation with sectarianism, which is widespread in these two countries. This occurred as part of a campaign titled "We Are All Citizens," promoted by the Iraqi and Syrian delegation to the EU in a tour that included Brussels, Geneva and Rome. The delegation met with decision-making institutions interested in promoting dialogue and confronting the sectarian conflict in the region.

The delegation included civil activists and religious leaders from civil society institutions in Iraq and Syria, most notably the Iraqi Council for Interfaith Dialogue and the Masarat Foundation, which specializes in minority affairs. The delegation comprised high-level religious figures from various Iraqi religious groups, including Termeda Alaa Aziz Tarish, the deputy head of Mandeans in Iraq and the world; and Father Amir Jaji, the adviser to the Pontifical Council for Islamic-Christian Dialogue. The Pax Foundation supported the delegation in reaching decision-makers in the EU. Al-Monitor has learned the details of the visit and meetings through separate reports issued by the aforementioned parties.