August 28, 2023
Cardinal Louis Raphael Sako
For a long time, Iraq has not known stability and Iraqis suffered from successive wars, conflicts and crises. They do not feel that politicians and government officials care about public interest.
Christians in particular, went through kidnapping, killing, bombing of numerous Churches, displacement from Mosul and the towns of Nineveh Plain (by ISIS), exclusion, seizure of their homes and properties as well as forcing a million of Christians to migrate, and lastly the withdrawing of the Chaldean Patriarch decree (without any constitutional basis), in response to “improper” information from certain militia members. Therefore, I would like to tell all Iraqis: “please be patient and do not lose hope”. Iraq must “rise” again based on its scent of history, great civilizations, and living memory.
This faith, hope must remain alive in us and not disappear! It will have a great impact on daily life worries. Change will come when we have full awareness of the importance of the homeland and national identity, respect for the rights and equality of all citizens, also, when we put our trust in God and each other and strive for the good of the country and its people.
Chaos cannot continue forever in defiance of the human integrity, and moral, religious and national values.
Whoever stole public money and committed dreadful crimes against people’s rights will be held accountable sooner or later. The day will come when crimes against humanity cannot be hidden, and the law will protect the “innocent” and bring them justice.
History teaches us that there are no fixed-eternal systems. Likewise, faith confirms that justice of the Creator is slow but never neglect, and that the corrupt and hypocrites have no future!
Victory begins when we understand and we give a priority to the importance of learning (culture), education, and awareness at home, school, Church, Mosque, and via media. Otherwise, the foundational values of society and the state will be gone, and individualism, self-interest, factionalism, and chaos dominate. People should be trained to balance their thinking and analyze issues based on scientific knowledgeable facts, since “activities with vision” only, can serve/ help human being!
Victory begins when we recognize those who are different, accept them, and respect them as citizen like us on fraternal basis, rather than dealing with them as an opponent, enemy, or infidel. This way, we will be promoting the culture of true fraternity, values of citizenship, and preserve public fortune and properties, so as to achieve a safe, free and dignified life for the nation. On the contrary, corruption drains resources, and creates a threat to Iraq.
Victory will be achieved when the government is firm in implementing its reform program, and holding accountable those who violate the public interest, violate the law, or make themselves above it. It is impossible that the law discriminates among citizens!!
Long live Iraq