By SIR
“Christians in Iraq experience double sufferings. Firstly because they are a minority, secondly because they are Christians. Everything is difficult for us: doing catechesis, teaching, being entitled to a job, access to civil service”. Mgr. Basile Georges Casmoussa, archbishop of Mossul, tells the European Parliament about the problems in the life of Christian devotees in the Middle Eastern country. “I would like the European Union to encourage moderate Muslims, who are many, even in Iraq, to build a democracy in which all people may enjoy the same rights, including freedom of religion”.
The European Parliament recently voted on a resolution against death penalty for the deputy Iraqi president Tarek Aziz: what do you think about this? “We – Casmoussa answers – have always been against death penalty and we have also taken position and have signed petitions against this”. Then, he adds: “In Iraq Christians are forced to leave the city. And maybe to leave Iraq itself. The families receive threatening leaflets and letters. Our cultural and religious specificities are not respected. We certainly do not refuse cohabitation with the other religions and we would like to be able to live and believe in peace”.
“Christians in Iraq experience double sufferings. Firstly because they are a minority, secondly because they are Christians. Everything is difficult for us: doing catechesis, teaching, being entitled to a job, access to civil service”. Mgr. Basile Georges Casmoussa, archbishop of Mossul, tells the European Parliament about the problems in the life of Christian devotees in the Middle Eastern country. “I would like the European Union to encourage moderate Muslims, who are many, even in Iraq, to build a democracy in which all people may enjoy the same rights, including freedom of religion”.
The European Parliament recently voted on a resolution against death penalty for the deputy Iraqi president Tarek Aziz: what do you think about this? “We – Casmoussa answers – have always been against death penalty and we have also taken position and have signed petitions against this”. Then, he adds: “In Iraq Christians are forced to leave the city. And maybe to leave Iraq itself. The families receive threatening leaflets and letters. Our cultural and religious specificities are not respected. We certainly do not refuse cohabitation with the other religions and we would like to be able to live and believe in peace”.
