The most senior Catholic cleric in Iraq warned that Christians in his country face “liquidation” if the Iraqi government and the U.S. military do not step-up protection for religious minorities in Iraq.
“We are the target of a campaign of liquidation, a campaign of violence,” said Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako, reported Agence France-Presse on Friday. “The objective is political.”
Sako’s comment comes after police reported earlier this week that seven Christians have been killed in separate attacks this month. Police found bullet-riddled bodies of seven Christians in October, with the latest body of a Christian day laborer found on Wednesday.
Since the U.S.-led Iraq war in 2003, more than 200 Christians have been killed, dozens of churches bombed, and more than half the Iraqi Christian population have left the country, according to the archbishop.
He called on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s Shiite Muslim-led government to act on repeated promises to protect Iraq’s minorities.
“We have heard many words from Prime Minister Maliki, but unfortunately this has not translated into reality,” he said. “We continue to be targeted. We want solutions, not promises.”
Iraqi Christians, who have no powerful tribes or militias, are completely defenseless and entirely dependent on the government and the U.S. military for protection against extremists, he said.
“We believe it is the responsibility of Americans who occupy our country to protect Iraqis,” Sako said.
He noted that six Christians had recently been killed in less than a week in the northern city of Mosul, including three Christian men who were killed within 24 hours.
“These attacks are not the first,” the senior cleric said. “Unfortunately, they will not be the last.”
Sako, based in the northern city of Kirkuk, has overseen the Christian community in Mosul since the death of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho in March. Rahho, the second most senior Catholic cleric in Iraq, was kidnapped by gunmen after Mass and found dead by the roadside in Mosul two weeks later.
“Those who carry out the attacks want to either push Christians out of the country or force them to ally with some political projects,” Sako said.
But he called on Christians to not lose faith in the country, and stated that “Christians are true sons of Iraq.”
Christians make up a disproportionate number of those fleeing Iraq as refugees to neighboring countries. Although Christians make up only three percent of Iraq’s population, they account for nearly half of the refugees leaving the country, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
Christian leaders in Iraq and in the United States are currently urging the Iraqi parliament to reinstate a law that would reserve a quota of seats for minorities in provincial council elections.
The Iraqi Parliament had recently dropped the clause in its new provincial election law, causing human rights groups and the U.N. special representative Staffan de Mistura to criticize the decision and demand lawmakers to reinstate Article 50.
RSS
It would be wise to create a region for Christians in Iraq as they will bear the brunt of our pullout. I believe that we need to allow the Sunni's and Shiite's to sort out their futures by war or peace. The present Shiite govt. has reneged on its promise to provide the political seats to the Christian community. They will NOT protect the Christians after our withdrawal from Iraq. We have a moral a spiritual obligation to the Christians in Iraq. I pray that the LORD have mercy on our children and generations to come, so the SINS of us and our fathers not fall on them.
Indonesian makes some percentage of those jihadist abroad because they are paid by people like Osama to fight their fight. They are trained in Jolo island in the Philippines or Poso regent in Sulawesi before doing their trip to Amman Jordan and cross the border either from Jordanian-Iraqi border or straight to the north via Syrian border.
Back in the eighties their senior mujaheed as they call themselves trained in Libya or Bekaa valley in Lebanon.
Below messages shows how naive Westerner are to the view of the Sunni Islamic terrorist operating there. Most are foreigner jihadist, like Egyptians, Chechen, Arabs, Pakistani etc.
All non Muslim are the same to them, whether they are protestant, Catholics, pentecostal, baptist, evangelicals or others. They want all of the above to embrace Islam or death by decapitation.
How naive.
But Chris, you're leaks in patience and charity are still showing.
IHS, Chris,
You are right. Name calling gets us no where.
I disagree strongly with certain doctrines of various denominations (the RCC comes up most often here on CP for some reason), but it is the word of God that we need to use as our foundation, and we need to express the love of Christ, while holding to the truth we find in scripture. Calling names will not make anyone amenable to listening to the one doing the name calling.
I will try to be more vigilant on this issue.
"He called on Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite Muslim-led government to act on repeated promises to protect Iraq's minorities.
'We have heard many words from Prime Minister Maliki, but unfortunately this has not translated into reality,' he said. 'We continue to be targeted. We want solutions, not promises.' "
Give it time. If Obama gets elected conservative evangelicals may find themselves in the same boat. Just mark these words on your calendar.
Wbmoore and Prophet,
How can you both stand by, when Igh throws such demeaning comments at Chris and his Catholic Church. I'm happy discussing doctine with Chris or other things too, but I am not for calling his Pope names, his church names, etc.
How is that the actions of a good Christian?
Let's talk substance, rather than name calling? People like igh give all of us Protestants a bad name.
We should pray for these people in India, and especially because THEY ARE CHRISTIANS.
Chris,
Please give me a hand on "Second Espiscopal Church.." article. Have a blest day.
Ah, I get it. So IGH can call Catholics every name in the book, and then he wants to pray for us in the next breath? Hmm. I dont' think you judge very fairly. Moreover, he doesn't even think we are Christians and yet now he calls us "Brethren". I'm sorry if I don't believe he has become a different person in a few days.
I think it is amazing that you don't hold him accountable.
"A prayer of a righteous person avails much", but you have to be righteous first!
Chris, I was just saying how you are patient, and here you go and show otherwise. Prayer of God's people is effective, regardless of denomination. Why would you want to limit godly expressions of faith, Chris?
I do have a heart for Christ. That's why I don't want His Word to continued to be smeared by false doctrines and teachings. His Word is very dear to me.
It appears that chris is allowing his catholicity to shine forth. Maybe he can work on his Christianity next.
IGH,
Oh, so now that we CATHOLICS are being persecuted for being Christians you call us "Brethren" when the rest of the time you call us Catholics apostate and saying the Pope is Satan, etc. As a Catholic, we don't want your prayers thank you very much. We want prayers from people who actually have a heart for Christ. Catholic Christians have been in IRAQ for almost 1,900 years.
Amen.
Father in the name of Jesus, please help these brethren in all there distress and fear with great hope, remind them they are the light of the world and let that light shine. Praying in all Faith knowing you are moving even now to protect them. Amen.