Iraq’s top appellate court has concurred with a ruling allowing a woman to change her religious status to Christian in the government database.
Alliance Defending Freedom International, which supported the woman’s legal journey, identified her only as Maryam, explaining that she was automatically registered as a Muslim after her mother married a Muslim while Maryam was a minor.
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Prior to the remarriage, Maryam had been raised in a Christian household, ADF International stated. An Iraqi ordinance stipulates that “minor children shall follow the religion of the parent who has converted to Islam.”
After becoming an adult, Maryam sought to change her status to Christian. A lower court granted the request in May, ADF International noted, and Iraq’s Court of Cassation concurred in July.
ADF International said this “sets persuasive precedent for scores of Christians in Iraq facing serious legal and personal consequences” from being wrongly classified as Muslim in the government database. Misclassification can pose complications in education, marriage or inheritance.
The decision also is seen as granting Christians and other minorities more religious freedom in instances of misclassification.
ADF International plans to support similar legal action for Maryam’s two sisters after they reach adulthood.
Iraq is No. 18 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
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