Ancient Mar Gewargis Monastery-owned land seized in Ba'awera for proposed residential complex.
Patterns of Abuse: Iraqi Government Land Seizures
Incident Timeline: Decades long and ongoing
Quick Details
Violation Type: Land Seizure and Displacement
Type of Impact: Religious & Belief-Based Impact
Perpetrator Type: Government
State Involvement: Direct
Location Details
Ba'awera, Mosul, Nineveh Governorate
6 miles northeast of Mosul, 4 miles from Tel Keppe, on the east side of the Tigris River.
00
36.4097°N 43.1197°E
Incident Details
Land belonging to the ancient Mar Gewargis Monastery in Ba’awera, east of Mosul, was reported lost through decades of encroachment and remains subject to further expropriation according to the Antonian Order of Saint Ormizda of the Chaldeans. As of July 22, approximately 1,400 dunams (roughly 350 acres) of land has been seized with an additional 60 dunams (roughly 15 acres) of monastery-owned land, including its historic cemetery, being included in expropriation plans for a proposed residential complex. The Antonian Order possesses official land deeds and endowment documents supporting its ownership of these lands that are being considered “disputed” in the plans for expropriation.
The church is a historical Assyrian church which used to belong to the Church of the East, but is currently of the Chaldean denomination. Its establishment date is unknown, but the oldest documentation of the monastery date back to the 10th century in 963.
Additional Context
Affected Population
Assyrians of the Chaldean denomination.
Alleged Pertetrators
Regional authorities under the Iraqi Government
Perpetrator Motives
Forced demographic change.
Perpetrator Response
Impact Details
Roughly 1,460 dunams (~365 acres) seized of monastery land, including historic cemetery which is home to a popular blind Assyrian saint, Mar Shimun, and an Italian-Dominican father from the Roman Catholic Church who died in 1753.
Government Response
After the Antonian Order and authentic Assyrian political parties spoke out against the land expropriation for the purpose of building a residential complex, the government claimed that the residential complex would be for Christians to help them return to Iraq.
Government Response Outcome
The Church has stated that it supports the return of Christians, but not at the expense of monastery property. Authentic Assyrian political parties stated that if Iraq wants to facilitate the return of Christians, there are other methods to do so, including the implementation of laws and ensuring religious equality, indigenous rights, and restoration of Assyrian lands seized. As of 10/16/2026, there has been no restoration of land.
Legal Framework
UNDRIP Article 23 of the Iraqi Constitution, which prohibits the altering of demographic composition of Iraq. Article 43 for Religious Freedom, which states religious groups are allowed to manage their own affairs, institutions, and endowments.
Sources & Verification
Sources of Evidence
Syriac Press
https://syriacpress.com/blog/2026/07/22/seizure-of-land-belonging-to-mar-girgis-monastery-renews-debate-over-christian-property-rights-in-iraq/