Erbil, Kurdistan Region– Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani expressed his condolences on Thursday following the passing of Bishop Mar Paulos Thabet Habib, the head of the Chaldean Eparchy of Alqosh, commending his humanitarian efforts in aiding Christians displaced by ISIS.

In a statement addressed to Patriarch Cardinal Mar Louis Raphael Sako, the leader of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and worldwide, PM Barzani said, “We extend our condolences to his family, Your Beatitude, the Chaldean Church, and the Christians of Kurdistan.”

Barzani highlighted the late bishop’s significant role in assisting displaced Christians who sought refuge in the Kurdistan Region during ISIS’s brutal campaign. “He played an important role in serving those displaced Christians who fled to Kurdistan from the hands of ISIS terrorists,” the Prime Minister stated.

Born in Karemlash in 1976, Bishop Thabet was widely respected for his dedication to preserving Christian heritage and rebuilding churches in the Nineveh Plains that were destroyed during the war. After ISIS overran the region in 2014, he played a key role in sheltering displaced Christian families in Kurdistan and later led reconstruction efforts in his hometown.

The Kurdistan Region has long been recognized as a safe haven for Christians and other minorities fleeing violence in other parts of Iraq. The region’s constitution guarantees religious freedom, and the government has actively supported the restoration of churches and assistance to minority communities. Areas such as Erbil’s Ankawa district have flourished as vibrant Christian hubs, with schools, churches, and cultural institutions rebuilt with regional backing.

PM Barzani concluded his statement by saying, “We pray that God Almighty grants his soul eternal peace and bestows solace upon his family and relatives.”