Click on "leggi tutto" for the English version of the article by Asia NewsIl gruppo viaggiava su un pulmino diretto a Qaraqosh, nel nord. Numerose automobili l’hanno fermato lungo la strada; ancora nessun contatto con i rapitori. Ieri a Mosul assassinati due cristiani nel quartiere, dove hanno ucciso p. Ragheed Gani e i suoi 3 suddiaconi ai primi del mese.
Ancora rapimenti ed uccisioni di cristiani in Iraq. Stamattina 8 studenti e professori cristiani di Qaraqosh – nella Piana di Niniveh, nord Iraq - sono stati rapiti sulla strada tra Mosul e il loro villaggio. Il gruppo di 50 persone tornava da Mosul, dove stamattina si sono svolti gli esami universitari. Il pulmino sul quale viaggiavano è stato fermato da “numerose automobili”; i terroristi hanno letto un elenco con i nomi di chi doveva andare con loro, ma nessuno si è alzato. Così hanno chiesto di mostrare i documenti di identità e hanno portato via 5 professori e 3 studenti. La polizia ha assistito al sequestro senza intervenire. Al momento ancora nessuna notizia dai rapitori, né si conoscono le condizioni di salute degli ostaggi.
Ma la violenza contro l’ormai esigua comunità religiosa non si ferma ai rapimenti. Ieri a Mosul sono stati uccisi due cristiani, nel quartiere al Nour, lo stesso dove il 3 giugno sono stati massacrati il sacerdote caldeo, p. Ragheed Ganni e i suoi tre suddiaconi. Sempre nella città, roccaforte della “resistenza” sunnita, un gruppo non identificato ha sequestrato due donne originarie di Batnaya. I rapitori hanno già chiesto il pagamento di un riscatto.
Il Patriarca caldeo, Emmanuel III Delly - in Vaticano per l'Assemblea semestrale della ROACO, la Riunione delle Opere di Aiuto alle Chiese Orientali - lancia oggi un nuovo appello perché “la coscienza del mondo si risvegli” e la comunità internazionale si impegni “in difesa dei diritti umani degli iracheni tutti, cristiani e musulmani”.
8 Christian students and teachers are kidnapped in the Nineveh Plain
The group were travelling by minibus towards the village of Qaraqosh, in the North. Numerous cars stopped and surrounded them on the road; still no contact with the kidnappers. Yesterday in Mosul two Christians were assassinated in the quarter where Fr. Ragheed Ganni and his three sub deacons were murdered earlier this month.
Yet again Christians are being kidnapped and murdered in Iraq. This morning 8 Christian students and teachers from the village of Qaraqosh – in the Niniveh Plain – were kidnapped on the road between Mosul and their village. The group of 50 people was on the way home from Mosul, where earlier this morning they had sustained entrance exams for University. The minibus onboard which they were travelling was stopped and surrounded by a caravan of cars ; the terrorists read a list of names of those who were to follow them, when no one responded to their orders they demanded to see identity cards. They took 3 teachers and 5 students away with them. The police witnessed the kidnapping without intervening. As of yet there is still no news of the authors of the kidnapping, nor of the health and conditions of the hostages.
But violence against the miniscule religious community does not stop at kidnappings. Yesterday in Mosul two Christians were killed in Nour quarter, the same area where June 3rd last the Chaldean Catholic priest Fr. Ragheed Ganni and three sub deacons were massacred. In the same city, stronghold of Sunni “resistance”, an unidentified group sequestered two men of Batnaya origin. The kidnappers have already demanded a ransom for their release.
Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly – currently in the Vatican for the ROACO assembly, the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches – today launched a fresh appeal “that the worlds conscience be awoken” and the International community take on its duty “to protect and defend the rights of Iraq’s people, Christian and Muslim”.
Yet again Christians are being kidnapped and murdered in Iraq. This morning 8 Christian students and teachers from the village of Qaraqosh – in the Niniveh Plain – were kidnapped on the road between Mosul and their village. The group of 50 people was on the way home from Mosul, where earlier this morning they had sustained entrance exams for University. The minibus onboard which they were travelling was stopped and surrounded by a caravan of cars ; the terrorists read a list of names of those who were to follow them, when no one responded to their orders they demanded to see identity cards. They took 3 teachers and 5 students away with them. The police witnessed the kidnapping without intervening. As of yet there is still no news of the authors of the kidnapping, nor of the health and conditions of the hostages.
But violence against the miniscule religious community does not stop at kidnappings. Yesterday in Mosul two Christians were killed in Nour quarter, the same area where June 3rd last the Chaldean Catholic priest Fr. Ragheed Ganni and three sub deacons were massacred. In the same city, stronghold of Sunni “resistance”, an unidentified group sequestered two men of Batnaya origin. The kidnappers have already demanded a ransom for their release.
Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly – currently in the Vatican for the ROACO assembly, the Reunion of Aid Agencies for the Oriental Churches – today launched a fresh appeal “that the worlds conscience be awoken” and the International community take on its duty “to protect and defend the rights of Iraq’s people, Christian and Muslim”.