LOS ANGELES, United States (Kurdistan24) - Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) representatives were warmly received and awarded on Sunday in California Zoroastrian Center.

Awat Darya, representatives of Kurdistan's Zoroastrians to KRG received an award presented by the California Zoroastrian Center in honour of her attempts in being a voice for the religious minority in Kurdistan Region.

Darya told Kurdistan24, she has been contacting people of her faith across the globe to create a network of support and to inform them that in Kurdistan Region, they are officially protected.

In 2015, Zoroastrianism gained official recognition as one of the beliefs as per Law No. 5 of Protecting Components of Kurdistan Region.

A new Zoroastrian temple was opened in Sulaimani in 2016.

Darya is the only female representative among all religions that are recognized by KRG.

Currently, Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, yarasanism, Yazidism, Alevism, and Judaism have representatives in the KRG.