The Assyrian Democratic Movement in Kirkuk expressed dismay on September 15 over new orders stripping the Christian component of the position of Assistant Governor for Administrative Affairs in the newly formed local government.

In a statement, the movement denounced the decision and called on the local Kirkuk government, led by Governor Ribwar Taha, to reconsider what they described as an "unfair decision" and to "lift the injustice" that has befallen their community.

Assyrian Christians in the city have been outnumbered by Muslim Arab and Kurdish populations in more recent years since the invasion and occupation of the Iraq by the US. 

Christians in Iraq, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, have faced significant challenges since the rise and fall of ISIS. Their population has dwindled from about 1.5mn before 2003 to an estimated 250,000 today, with many fleeing persecution and violence.

"Given the sensitive reality of Kirkuk province, marginalising or excluding any component will cast a shadow on the principle of peaceful coexistence and representation of all components in the political process," the statement warned.

The Assyrian Democratic Movement views the move as "deliberate marginalisation that threatens coexistence, equality, and social peace in the province."

Governor Ribwar Taha recently issued a decision appointing five assistants: three from the Arab component, one Kurdish, and one Turkmen, without granting any positions to the Christian community.

Kirkuk, an oil-rich province in northern Iraq, has long been a point of contention between various ethnic and religious groups, including Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, and Christians.

Despite efforts to rebuild and return to their ancestral homes, particularly in the Nineveh Plains, Christians continue to struggle with security concerns, economic difficulties, and political marginalization in post-ISIS Iraq.