The Kurdistan National Prayer Breakfast, an invite-only event, will take place in Erbil from April 22 to 25, bringing together global leaders, religious figures, and changemakers for collective prayer and dialogue, the official website of the event reads.
The gathering aims to promote unity, reconciliation, and interfaith understanding while honoring the Kurdistan Region’s religious diversity and commitment to peaceful coexistence.
Nadine Maenza, president of the IRF Secretariat and former chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, is a member of the event’s organizing committee.
Maenza expressed her appreciation for the region.
“The Kurdistan Region of Iraq, a place close to my heart, is home to a diverse mosaic of ethnic and religious communities with a beautiful history of living together in peace,” she told Rudaw English on Monday.
“As they [Kurdistan Region] continue to face challenges amid ongoing regional changes, I am honored to take part in a National Prayer Breakfast that brings together Christian leaders and representatives of other faith communities—both from the region and around the world—to pray for them and for all the people of Iraq and the broader region,” the advocate of religious rights added.
Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) leader Masoud Barzani, senior officials from the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, as well as representatives from the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, are expected to attend the event, an official government statement said on Monday.
The history of the National Prayer Breakfast dates back to 1953, when US President Dwight Eisenhower joined a weekly prayer gathering held by members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Since then, the event has become a longstanding tradition, with lawmakers meeting regularly while Congress is in session for prayer and personal reflection.
This will be the first time the Kurdistan Region holds a National Breakfast Prayer.
The Kurdistan Region is home to a diverse range of ethnic and religious communities that have long coexisted in peace and mutual respect, despite the turmoil and challenges the region has faced.
The Kurdistan Region is predominantly Muslim but takes pride in its commitment to religious freedom. In addition to its Muslim population, the region is home to diverse faith communities, including Christians, Jews, Yazidis, Sabean-Mandaeans, Zoroastrians, Kaka’is, and Baha’is.
