Ano Abdoka
Ano Jawhar Abdulmaseeh Abdoka | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984 Ankawa, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Years active | 2010s–present |
| Known for | Minister of Transportation and Communications in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq; leader of the Shlama Trend for Christian Affairs |
Ano Jawhar Abdulmaseeh Abdoka, commonly known as Ano Abdoka (,[1] ,[2]) is an Assyrian political figure[3] who has held the position of Minister of Transportation and Communications in the autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq since July 2019. He serves as the leader of the Shlama Trend for Christian Affairs and formerly chaired the local branch of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Ankawa.[4] Presently, Abdoka is the sole Assyrian and Christian member within the Kurdish Government's cabinet.
Early life
Abdoka was born in 1984 in Ankawa, Erbil, with his father's family originating from Ankawa and his mother's family coming from the Assyrian town of Alqosh.[5] He completed his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Politics and International Relations at the University of Kurdistan Hewler. A devoted member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party since adolescence, his initial involvement began through participation in the Kurdistan Student Union.
Career
Before taking his ministerial oath, Abdoka made a symbolic gesture by swearing on a Bible that had been damaged by fire caused by ISIS.[6] He highlighted the dedication of Christians, Chaldeans, Assyrians, and Syriacs to maintaining their historical homelands with support from Kurdish authorities.[7] During his tenure, his ministry introduced reforms such as prohibiting smoking inside taxis and buses,[8] and advocated for internet service providers to lower costs while improving connection speeds.[9][10]
In February 2020, Abdoka was part of an official Kurdish delegation visiting Vatican City to meet with Pope Francis, with the objective of enhancing diplomatic relations.[11]
As the leader of the Shlama Trend for Christian Affairs, Abdoka advocates for Assyrian representation within the KRG. He has supported cultural self-determination through initiatives such as designating Ankawa as a specialized district,[12] promoting Syriac language programs at Salahaddin University,[13] and participating in ordination ceremonies at local Christian churches.[14] In early 2024, he was involved in apprehending an individual accused of desecrating a Christian cemetery located in Shaqlawa, demonstrating his proactive engagement in defending community interests.[15]
Controversy
Abdoka has encountered criticism from Assyrian groups due to his involvement with the Kurdish Regional Government. In 2022, an image showing Abdoka holding a picture of Mar Shimun XIX Benyamin provoked disapproval, given the sensitive historical circumstances linked to Shimun's assassination by Simko Shikak.
In May 2024, Abdoka initiated a new Christian Alliance that brought together various organizations and political entities representing Armenians and Assyrians. This coalition emerged after the elimination of minority representation in the 2024 Kurdistan Region parliamentary election, which triggered condemnation and a boycott by the Kurdistan Democratic Party. Building upon Abdoka's earlier Hammurabi Alliance—comprising the Syriac Assembly Movement, Chaldean National Congress, and Chaldean Democratic Party—the Christian Alliance incorporated delegates from the Armenian Orthodox Church and Armenian Culture Association. Nonetheless, it faced criticism for lacking widespread endorsement from participating groups, reigniting questions about Abdoka’s leadership effectiveness.
Throughout 2024, Abdoka also faced backlash related to persistent corruption within the Kurdish region and issues concerning land seizures impacting Assyrians in Ankawa. Former MP Joseph Sliwa expressed dissatisfaction with the KDP and cited his family's regrets connected to the Iraqi-Kurdish conflict and ensuing persecution of Assyrians. Addressing these matters, Abdoka committed to implementing reforms in Ankawa, including improving municipal administration and creating a dedicated health directorate.
Personal life
Abdoka is a Chaldean Catholic who speaks Syriac, English, Kurdish, and Arabic fluently. He is married.
See also
References
- ↑ "Ano Abdoka (Anu) ܐܢܘ ܥܒܕܘܟܐ". Twitter. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs named:0 - ↑ "Ano Jawhar Abdulmaseeh Abdoka - Minister of Transport and Communications". Government of Kurdistan Region. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ↑ "Interview: Ano Abdoka Political Leader in Ankawa". Ankawa.com. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
- ↑ Template:Cite podcast
- ↑ "Christian minister of the new Kurdistan government swears on a Bible burned by Isis". www.asianews.it. 7 November 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ↑ "New Kurdish Government Official Swears On A Bible Burnt By ISIS". christianlearning.com. 17 July 2019.
- ↑ "Taxi reform in Kurdistan continues with smoking ban, new radio laws". www.kurdistan24.net. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ↑ "بارازني يحذر شركات الأنترنيت من رفع الاسعار او تقليل مستوى الخدمة" [Barzani warns Internet companies against raising prices or reducing the level of service] (in العربية). Awla. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ↑ "کوردستان شركتان للإنترنت تستجيبان لمطالبة حكومة كوردستان وتخفضان الرسوم" [Kurdistan, two Internet companies respond to the request of the Kurdistan Government and reduce fees]. Kurdistan24 (in العربية). 23 March 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ↑ "Prime Minister Masrour Barzani meets Pope Francis at the Vatican". Kurdistan Region Representation in Spain. 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
- ↑ Miri, Adhid (29 October 2021). "Finding Their Voice". Chaldean News }location=Ankawa. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
- ↑ "Salahaddin University inaugurates Syriac language library, promoting cultural diversity and knowledge dissemination". Syriac Press. 18 May 2023.
- ↑ . 22 January 2022;22 November 2022;14 September 2021.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Missing or empty|title=(help) - ↑ "Outrage in Iraq over video showing desecration of Christian graves in Shaqlawa Cemetery, suspect arrested". 12 February 2024.