“The new outbreak of violence against Christians in Mosul shows that the situation is not completely under control yet”. Mgr. Shlemon Warduni, patriarchal vicar of Baghdad, comments with these words the news relayed over the last few days by the local TVs, which have seen, in the city north of the capital, a Christian man being abducted, then freed after payment of a ransom, and another devotee being shot to death. “The situation in Mosul is hardly improving – states the Chaldean vicar to SIR –, while Baghdad seems to be quieter. Compared with the past, now people are getting out more, even in the evening, a relaxed atmosphere can be felt. Certainly the process for the stabilisation of Iraq is still long”. One of mgr. Warduni’s concerns is the Gaza conflict, the “strong” echo of which has reached the Iraqis as well. “We must immediately find a way to reach an immediate ceasefire and a truce between Israel and Hamas. The diplomatic efforts of the last few days are most welcome, because, unless a fair solution to this conflict is found, the whole region risks becoming a living hell”.
