A court in Iraq has delivered a favourable ruling for a young Christian woman seeking to change her officially registered religion from Islam to Christianity.

The decision has been hailed by religious freedom advocates as a potentially significant step for minority rights in the country.

The woman had been legally classified as Muslim in Iraq’s government records while still a child, even though she grew up in a Christian family.court in Iraq has delivered a favourable ruling for a young Christian woman seeking to change her officially registered religion from Islam to Christianity.

The decision has been hailed by religious freedom advocates as a potentially significant step for minority rights in the country.