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The population of Kirkuk city consists of a mixture of Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and other minorities. The population of the city is one million and 400 thousand, according to recent statistics, and about 90% of its population is Muslim, and the remaining percentage is from ethnic and religious minorities representing Christians, Sabians, Kakais, The Chechnya (Chachan), Zoroastrians, Baha'is, Jews, and others.

Preserving the heritage of religious and ethnic minorities in Kirkuk is a key component of the province's social cohesion and future stability. Kirkuk's heritage future should be premised on enhancing its society's sense of belonging by ensuring its historical identities are respected, cherished and integrated in the future of the province. By incorporating cultural heritage of Kirkuk’s minorities in its societal fabric will help wider society's tolerance for peace.

In Iraq's context, minorities in Kirkuk are in danger of being forgotten altogether. In a context of Iraq's divisions and ongoing challenges, this project will elevate the presence of Kirkuks minorities through an integrated set of activities that champion and celebrate their histories. Their memories and presence cannot be allowed to be forgotten, which is millennia-old. This rich inheritance can only be maintained through equality and social justice. But since this issue has been delayed and has not happened yet, there has become a necessity for the United Nations and international organizations to intervene to provide assistance to preserve this heritage. Unfortunately, Kirkuk has been forgotten in international heritage activity, with devastating consequences for its society.

Armed conflicts experienced in Kirkuk was destructive, as this led to the fragmentation of the cultural map of minorities and they faced death with the entry of (ISIS to the region in June 2014. This has led to devastating legacies including marginalization, exclusion and extinction, and this indicates that Kirkuk city will be empty of pluralism. Unless urgent measures are taken Kirkuk will lose its unique identities.

Here the role of the university in preparing curricula on the history, heritage and religions of minorities and referring to what they have in common through scientific research presented by researchers at the university. Supporting efforts of cultural ownership of all religious minorities, especially in the areas from which they were forcibly displaced by ISIS terrorist gangs, as well as urging the government to take the measures it has taken with regard to compensating minority victims as a result of terrorist operations and violations committed by ISIS terrorist gangs. The members of minorities in Kirkuk have been deprived of many of their cultural rights, and it is our duty to raise awareness in the society and academic community of the necessity of the freedom of persons belonging to the minorities to enjoy their own culture, profess their religion, practice their rituals, or use their language in communication with other members of their group.

Work Strands

1. Raising awareness in the society and academic community of the necessity of the freedom of persons belonging to the minorities to enjoy their own culture, profess their religion, practice their rituals, or use their language in communication with other members of their group.

2. Supporting efforts of cultural ownership of all religious minorities, especially in the areas from which they were forcibly displaced by ISIS terrorist gangs, as well as urging the government to take the measures it has taken with regard to compensating minority victims as a result of terrorist operations and violations committed by ISIS terrorist gangs.

3. Enhancing he role of the university in preparing curricula on the history, heritage and religions of minorities and referring to what they have in common through scientific research and encourage academic researchers to present researches at the university that support the minorities in Kirkuk.

4. Preserving the existence of these minorities by preserving their cultural heritage, as it represents their identities.