Institutional Statehood Lies Beyond the Reach of Clerics

22/09/2026

By Ablahad Hanna Saka | Member of the Bethnahrin National Council in Iraq

Establishing a state built on institutions is not a religious endeavor, nor can it rest on the authority of clerics, regardless of how much religions and sects vary. The modern state is built on the constitution, law, citizenship, and independent institutions, whereas religious authority is based on faith, creed, and spiritual values. Each has its own sphere and role.

The trouble arises once religious authority steps out of its spiritual sphere and into political rule, converting sacred texts into instruments of statecraft and elevating religious or sectarian allegiance to the standard by which rights and obligations are measured. At that moment, citizenship fades, and individuals are ranked as first- or second-class citizens according to their affiliation.

None of this suggests that religious figures are without a societal role. On the contrary, they are well positioned to champion ethics, peace, and coexistence, as well as defend human dignity and rights and help lessen violence, hatred, and corruption. However, such a role differs fundamentally from administering the state and its institutions.

The state needs a judge who rules by law, not by affiliation. The state needs an official who applies the constitution, not the opinion of the group. The state needs a security institution that protects all citizens without discrimination and an administration based on competence and accountability, not on personal or religious loyalty.

History has proven that mixing the sacred with the political can make criticism of authority appear as criticism of religion and gives the ruler a religious cover that is difficult to hold accountable. Conversely, politicizing religion harms religion itself, because it places it in the face of power struggles, interests, and partisan calculations.

Therefore, what is required is not excluding religion from society but keeping religious institutions away from monopolizing political decision-making, while respecting freedom of religion and belief and the right of clerics to express themselves as citizens.

The state we want is one in which the law is above everyone, the constitution is the reference for all, citizenship is the basis of rights, institutions are stronger than individuals, and authority is subject to accountability.

Clerics can build the human being morally and spiritually, and politicians and elected institutions build the state according to the law. When roles complement each other without one overpowering the other, society becomes more balanced and the state more stable.

The views expressed in this op-ed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of SyriacPress.