A letter from Mosul
As you will have read by now, Sunni militants have driven the Iraqi government from the city of Mosul
in a sudden and violent offensive. The non-combatant civilian
population has been imperiled as a result, among whom are some Dominican
friars. One friar living in Mosul, Fr. Najeeb Michaeel, O.P. composed
the following request, which I pass along as relayed and translated for
me by a confrere:
Bad news. I write you
in a situation of violence in Mosul that is very critical and even
apocalyptic. Most of the inhabitants of the city have already abandoned
their houses and fled into the villages and are sleeping in the open
without anything to eat or drink. Many thousands of armed men from the
Islamic Groups of Da’ash have attacked the city of Mosul for the last
two days. They have assassinated adults and children. The bodies have
been left in the streets and in the houses by the hundreds, without
pity. The regular forces and the army have also fled the city, along
with the governor. In the mosques, they cry “Allah Akbar, long live the
Islamic State.” Qaraqosh is overflowing with refugees of all kinds,
without food or lodging. The check points and the Kurdish forces are
blocking innumerable refugees from entering Kurdistan. What we are
living and what we have seen over the last two days is horrible and
catastrophic. The priory of Mar Behnam and other churches fell into the
hands of the rebels this morning. . . . and now they have come here and
entered Qaraqosh five minutes ago, and we are now surrounded and
threatened with death. . . . pray for us. I’m sorry that I can’t
continue . . . They are not far from our convent. . . . Don’t reply. . .
.
Dominicans have been ministering in Iraq (sponsored by the
French Provinces) since 1750. The Order’s presence includes both
Dominican friars and sisters (Sisters of St. Catherine of Siena).
Fr.
Najeeb (Nageeb Mekhail in some renderings) was born in 1955 in Mosul,
known to us as the Biblical Nineveh. He was born to Chaldean Christian
parents, and is proud of his family’s ancient Christian heritage.
In
1990, after his return to Iraq, he founded the Center for the
Digitization of Oriental Manuscripts (Centre Numérique des Manuscrits
Orientaux en Irak or CNMO). Over the years Fr. Najeeb has collected
hundreds of priceless Christian manuscripts to preserve them, as well as
to make digital copies that they may be made widely available. In both
work and word, Fr. Najeeb expressed a strong desire to preserve the
Christian heritage in Iraq and remained faithful in his service to the
Christian population of his country:
I
believe it is better for me to stay with my own population, in my own
country. I want to be there to help people—especially the handicapped,
the homeless, and families who are in trouble—not just with material
things but also to help give them direction, power, and faith. We are
there supporting each other, walking together, falling together. (From
an interview with the Collegeville Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research)
Despite
the tenuous political situation in Iraq, Fr. Najeeb and his confreres
elected to remain in the country. They drew their strength from the
Christians who had suffered before them:
We
take the cross, we take the church, and we hold them. We suffer and die
as martyrs. The situation is bad. But we have hope. It is not very easy
for us to say that we will be saved, but our faith is here and it is
strong. (Ibid.)
In an interview with Dominicana from
last year, he asked explicitly for prayers for his community and those
whom they serve: “We are not protected by anyone, just the prayers . . .
we need your prayers . . . I believe in the power of prayers . . . they
can change the mind of persons . . . I ask in the name of all
Christians in Iraq . . . to pray for us.”
Now more than ever, please remember Fr. Najeeb and all those in danger in Iraq in your prayers.