By SIR, October 5, 2010
An appeal to the international community to protect Christians in Iraq “who are dying out”.
It was made this morning from Brussels by mgr. Louis Sako, Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk, Iraq. Speaking at the conference “Persecution against Christians”, promoted by Comece (Commission of the EU Bishops Conferences), the European Conservative and Reformist Groups and the European People’s Party (Epp) at the European Parliament, in conjunction with Kirche in Not and Open Doors International, in the premises of the European Parliament, mgr. Sako stated: “In Iraq, the number of Christians is continuing to diminish. Maybe they will disappear under continued persecution, threats and violence”. “Since the US invasion in 2003”, he revealed, “51 churches have been attacked, one bishop and three priests kidnapped and murdered and about 900 innocents Christians have been killed. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes in search of a safe place”. “Since 6 month Iraqi politicians are not able to form the new government. In Iraq, and in other countries as well, there is a danger of the extinction of the Christian community”. “For these families, the war has been a disaster. Americans are not only responsible for that tragedy, but they are responsible for a stable and peaceful future" the archbishop of Kirkuk goes on.
“They should not leave them behind and pulling their troops out of Iraq without caring” but “also the international assembly is responsible to keep religious and ethnic minorities in their land”. The prelate is mainly worried out “the lack of a plan”, while there are two options for Christians in Iraq and in the Middle East: “Emigration, or to accept to live as a second class citizen with many difficulties and fears”. Hence the appeal: “To survive these times, we need a strong support from all, with a clear "political" vision and precise plans not only for protecting and encouraging Christians to stay home and to hope, but also for fostering reconciliation among Iraqis, to promote human rights in that area and asking the governments to respect the rules”. According to mgr. Sako: “The international community must take its responsibility and come up with the local authorities to a common agreement to respect the dignity of the human person and its rights based on equality and full citizenship, with partnership commitments and protection”. In addition, it should “help emigrants to come back” or, when this is not possible, it should support their current settlement elsewhere. The archbishop expressed the wish that the Synod of the Churches of the Middle East, which will take place in Rome from 10th to 24th October, “will call attention to our problems. It is an opportunity to revise the whole situation for Christians in the Middle East; because there are so many crucial issues to tackle we hope this synod will be highly productive”.
An appeal to the international community to protect Christians in Iraq “who are dying out”.
It was made this morning from Brussels by mgr. Louis Sako, Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk, Iraq. Speaking at the conference “Persecution against Christians”, promoted by Comece (Commission of the EU Bishops Conferences), the European Conservative and Reformist Groups and the European People’s Party (Epp) at the European Parliament, in conjunction with Kirche in Not and Open Doors International, in the premises of the European Parliament, mgr. Sako stated: “In Iraq, the number of Christians is continuing to diminish. Maybe they will disappear under continued persecution, threats and violence”. “Since the US invasion in 2003”, he revealed, “51 churches have been attacked, one bishop and three priests kidnapped and murdered and about 900 innocents Christians have been killed. Hundreds of thousands have fled their homes in search of a safe place”. “Since 6 month Iraqi politicians are not able to form the new government. In Iraq, and in other countries as well, there is a danger of the extinction of the Christian community”. “For these families, the war has been a disaster. Americans are not only responsible for that tragedy, but they are responsible for a stable and peaceful future" the archbishop of Kirkuk goes on.
“They should not leave them behind and pulling their troops out of Iraq without caring” but “also the international assembly is responsible to keep religious and ethnic minorities in their land”. The prelate is mainly worried out “the lack of a plan”, while there are two options for Christians in Iraq and in the Middle East: “Emigration, or to accept to live as a second class citizen with many difficulties and fears”. Hence the appeal: “To survive these times, we need a strong support from all, with a clear "political" vision and precise plans not only for protecting and encouraging Christians to stay home and to hope, but also for fostering reconciliation among Iraqis, to promote human rights in that area and asking the governments to respect the rules”. According to mgr. Sako: “The international community must take its responsibility and come up with the local authorities to a common agreement to respect the dignity of the human person and its rights based on equality and full citizenship, with partnership commitments and protection”. In addition, it should “help emigrants to come back” or, when this is not possible, it should support their current settlement elsewhere. The archbishop expressed the wish that the Synod of the Churches of the Middle East, which will take place in Rome from 10th to 24th October, “will call attention to our problems. It is an opportunity to revise the whole situation for Christians in the Middle East; because there are so many crucial issues to tackle we hope this synod will be highly productive”.