Baghdad -- An Iraqi Christian woman has successfully challenged her official religious classification after being registered as a Muslim in government records.

The ruling, which was upheld by Iraq's Court of Cassation, has been welcomed by Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) International, a global legal advocacy organization that defends religious freedom. The organization described the decision as a significant step forward for religious liberty in Iraq.

In Iraq, religious affiliation is formally recorded by state authorities and carries substantial legal implications. These classifications can affect a range of personal status matters, including marriage, inheritance, education, and other civil rights, as many Iraqi laws are tied to an individual's religious identity.

ADF International reported that members of religious minorities who are incorrectly registered as Muslims may face serious legal consequences affecting their personal status and civil affairs.

Such misclassification can also affect their children. In some cases, Christian families whose official records identify them as Muslim encounter difficulties when registering their children, potentially limiting their access to essential public services and civil entitlements.

The case concerns a young woman identified under the pseudonym "Mary." She was born into a Christian family, but after her parents separated and her mother later married a Muslim man, Mary and her sisters were officially reclassified as Muslims.

After turning 18, Mary filed a lawsuit in January 2025 seeking to correct her official religious designation and have her Christian identity legally recognized.

In May 2026, a trial court ruled in her favor, and Iraq's Court of Cassation subsequently upheld the decision.

Mary's younger sisters, who have not yet reached the legal age of majority, remain officially registered as Muslims. However, similar legal proceedings are expected to be initiated on their behalf once they become adults.

Kelsey Zorzi, Senior Legal Counsel and Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom at ADF International, welcomed the Court of Cassation's ruling, saying it allows Mary to have her Christian faith accurately reflected in her official records.

Zorzi emphasized that Christians and members of other religious minorities in Iraq and across the Middle East face tangible harm when governments impose a religious identity that does not reflect their actual beliefs.

She stressed that the right to choose one's religion belongs to the individual -- not the state -- and noted that this principle is particularly important in countries where personal status laws governing marriage, inheritance, burial, and education remain closely linked to religious affiliation.