By Baghdadhope*Source of the news and photo: Ankawa.com
Organized by Hammurabi Organization for Human Rights a protest against the attacks to Iraqi Christians, and particularly those of Mosul, the martyrs city for Christianity in Iraq, was held today in Baghdad.
The event, held in the central Paradise square in front of Falestin and Sheraton hotels, brought together more than 500 people including Christians, Yazidis, Sabeans and Muslims.
To speak to the people gathered in the square and waving olive branches and natinal flags of the difficulties experienced by Christians in Mosul, and to demand government measures to protect them and the prosecution of the perpetrators of the criminal acts were Louis Marqus, a member of Hammurabi Organization for Human Rights, Msgr. Shleimun Warduni, Chaldean patriarch vicar and Syriac Catholic chorepiscop Fr. Pius Qasha who read a message by the Patriarch of his church, Mar Ignatius Yousef III Younan. Among the participants, as well as civil and ecclesiastical representatives, the former Minister of Displacement and Migration, Pascale I. Warda and Abdallah Al Naufali, head of the Government Office for non-muslim minorities.
The result of the demonstration today is summed up in 9 specific requests:
1. The immediate intervention of the central and local governments to "resolve the plight of Christians in Mosul and to stop the shedding of innocent blood" and the request to it to assume the legal and constitutional responsibility to protect its population ensuring it the security.
2. A serious attempt to bring to justice the perpetrators and instigators of crimes against Christians in Mosul.
3. To make public the results of investigations carried out by Iraqi security forces on the attacks against Christians in Mosul occurred in recent days and in 2008. If the government is unable to conduct such investigation an international one is requested.
4. The prompt solution of the problem of students who stopped attending classes at the University of Mosul and other schools in the city and the identification of the measures needed to protect them.
5. The prompt approval necessary for the establishment of schools and college or a university in the Nineveh Plain for the Christian, Yazidi and Shabak students who have been victims of killings and intimidations in Mosul.
6. An immediate action to solve the problems of displaced persons and of the victims of recent violence in Mosul.
7. The formation of military units and security forces formed by residents in the Nineveh Plain and not by members of other parties involved in the conflict for the control of the area.
8. The end of abuses on Christians’ properties in the Nineveh region and the compensation for those who were damaged by them.
9. Appeal to the international community to protect the Christians in Mosul and put an end to their tragedy if it is impossible to stop the violence in the city.
