Christian Leaders of Iraq Call to Create Autonomous Nineveh Plains Province

Nineveh Plains, Iraq - Chaldean leaders in Iraq and across the diaspora are renewing calls for the creation of an autonomous Nineveh Plains province, arguing that only self-administration can secure the future of Iraq’s remaining Chaldean Christian population more than a decade after the ISIS invasion shattered the region.

The proposal, raised this week in Baghdad and echoed at a religious-freedom conference in Washington, D.C., comes at a time when many historically Chaldean towns, including Tel Keppe, Alqosh, Qaraqosh, and Bartella, still grapple with slow reconstruction, demographic collapse, and competing security forces. Although ISIS was defeated in 2017, Chaldean families continue to face intimidation, militia pressure, and a lack of reliable protection preventing large-scale return.

Chaldean community representatives say the concept of a locally governed province is not new. Rather, it revives long-standing demands dating back to the early 2000s, when violence and discrimination first drove mass Chaldean displacement. “Without a clear administrative structure and guaranteed security, the Chaldean people cannot rebuild their lives in the land where they have lived for thousands of years,” one Chaldean political organizer said.

Today, Chaldeans constitute one of the oldest surviving Christian communities in the world, tracing their heritage to ancient Mesopotamia. The Nineveh Plains, a region east and north of Mosul, represent the historic heartland of Chaldean identity, language, and culture. Yet population numbers have plummeted as Chaldeans continue emigrating in search of safety and stability.

Supporters of the plan argue that an autonomous province would allow Chaldeans, Syriacs, and other minorities to oversee local policing, education, and development projects without interference from outside political actors. They believe such a structure would also attract international investment and humanitarian assistance specifically targeted at reviving Chaldean towns that were devastated during the war.

Critics, however, warn that political fragmentation could deepen existing tensions in northern Iraq, where multiple ethnic and religious groups compete for influence. Still, among Chaldeans, both in Iraq and in diaspora hubs such as the United States, the push for autonomy is gaining renewed urgency. Many fear that without decisive action, the Chaldean presence in its ancient homeland could decline beyond repair.

For now, Chaldean leaders say the conversation must continue in Baghdad, in Washington, and within the global Chaldean community. As they press for autonomy, the underlying message remains the same: if the Chaldean people are to remain in their ancestral land, the Nineveh Plains must become a region where they can live with dignity, protection, and a sense of ownership over their future.