Iraqi town elects its first ever Christian woman as mayor
A Catholic woman has made history by being elected as the new mayor of an Iraqi town.
Lara Yussif Zara born 1982, has become the first Christian woman to be mayor of Alqosh, a small town of Nineveh Plain in Iraq. The Municipal Council of Qaraqosh voted unanimously for her election on Thursday 27th July 2017, preferring her to a rival candidate.
The largely Christian community in the troubled Nineveh Plain has thousands of displaced families in desperate need of aid. Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, UK (ACN) announced on Wednesday that it is giving £400,000 to help those in northern Iraq in urgent need of shelter.
According to Independent Catholic News, local commentators have said they hope the choice of Zara as mayor will defuse the tensions and discontent felt in recent weeks among local Christian communities. There have been pressures on Christians and other minority groups to support the establishment of an independent Iraqi Kurdistan.
Author: Damilola Bolaji
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