Forum on Minority Issues/14th Session Geneva: 2-3/12/2021 1- Root causes of contemporary conflicts involving minorities - Iraqi Constitution guarantees all the religious rights of all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice, such as Christians, Yazidis, and SabeanMandaeans. All religious components and sects in Iraq practise their legal rights regarding marriage and associated rites and are protected by law. - Iraqi laws forbid inciting religious hatred that results in discrimination, hostility, or violence. Every effort is made to ensure full respect and protection of religious places, sites, shrines and symbols, and extra precautions are taken wherever these holy sites are at risk of desecration or vandalism. - Iraqi laws guarantee the right of all persons to worship or assemble within the framework of religion or belief and to establish and run places necessary for these purposes, along with everyone's right to write, issue and distribute relevant publications in these areas in accordance with international human rights law. They fully respect and protect the freedom of all persons and members of components to establish and run religious, charitable or humanitarian institutions. - In Chapter 2 ‘Rights and Rights’ of Iraqi Constitution, Article 14 states, “Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity, nationality, origin, color, religion, sect, belief or opinion, or economic or social 8, Impasse Colombelle 1218 Grand Scaonnex, Geneva, Switzerland www.mofa.gov.iq orgs.genpm@mofa.gov.iq Tel.: +41 229180980 Fax: +41 227330326