[Today’s Prayer] Iraqi Christian Woman Wins Case to Correct “Religious Registration”

A court in Iraq recently ruled in favor of a young Christian woman seeking to change her officially registered religion from Islam to Christianity.

According to the American news outlet Christian Post (CP), “This decision is being viewed by advocates of religious freedom as an important step forward in expanding minority rights.”

Although the woman was raised in a Christian family, she had been legally classified as Muslim in Iraqi government records since childhood.

According to ADF International, the legal organization that supported her lawsuit, this was due to Iraq’s National Card Law. Under this law, if one parent converts to Islam, the children are automatically registered as Muslims as well.

After separating from the woman’s biological father, her mother remarried a Muslim man, and afterward the woman and her sisters were legally recorded as Muslims.

As an adult, the woman filed a lawsuit in January of this year requesting that her religious designation be corrected so her Christian faith could be officially recognized in state records.

The court accepted her request, ruling that individuals have the right to choose their religion and to have that identity accurately recognized in government records.

(omitted)

This case has also reignited debate over “state-designated religion” systems operating in some countries including Iraq, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt.

ADF International pointed out that such religious classifications can affect marriage, inheritance, education, family law procedures, and even the religious registration of children. In some cases, non-Muslims may also become subject to the jurisdiction of Sharia courts.

(omitted)

The organization added, “We will continue working to strengthen protections for religious freedom throughout Iraq and the broader Middle East.”

Source: Christian Today

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9–10)

God, we hear the news that an Iraqi court has approved the request of a Christian woman who had been forcibly registered as Muslim due to her parents’ conversion to change her religious registration.

Please have mercy on the souls in Iraq who, even though they believe in Jesus, are not legally recognized as Christians. May the law be fully established so that Iraqi Christians may now boldly proclaim the name of Jesus.

May local Iraqi churches arise in faith, believing that this court ruling will lead to revival in the Iraqi church, and may they become churches that minister while trusting in the Lord who will do a new work in Iraq.

Lord, You who have chosen Iraq and called her to be a royal priesthood, may Iraq’s transformation become the beginning of change for Malaysia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt also, bringing them from darkness into light.

At this time, as the global church unites in prayer for Iraq and for Muslims, may Iraq and Islamic nations receive mercy through the words of Jesus, who is the Truth, and be born again as God’s people.

Through Iraq, may all nations enjoy freedom in the Lord and fulfill the mission You have given them!