The court restored “Maryam’s ability to live as a follower of Jesus” in a case that could serve as a precedent for religious minorities in Iraq and the region, trial observers said. After reaching adulthood, Maryam filed a legal challenge in January 2025 seeking to have her religious status officially changed to Christian. A lower court ruled in her favor in May, and Iraq’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest appellate court for such cases, upheld that decision last week, ordering authorities to amend the government’s records. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM VICTORYThe legal advocacy group ADF International, which supported the case, welcomed the ruling as an important step for religious freedom. STATE-ASSIGNED RELIGIONThe case has highlighted concerns about state-assigned religious identities across parts of the Middle East and Asia, where official religious records can affect education, marriage, inheritance, and legal proceedings.