Politically correct officials institutionally biased against Christian refugees, says ex-archbishop

By RT

Christian refugees fleeing persecution in the Middle East face “discrimination” by the British government as only a small number are accepted under the UK’s flagship resettlement scheme, a member of the House of Lords says.

Lord Carey of Clifton, a former Archbishop of Canterbury, said that although Christians accounted for 10 percent of Syria’s population before the civil war erupted in 2011, they made up less than 1 percent of Syrian refugees who moved to the UK under the Vulnerable Persons Scheme in the third quarter of last year.

He claims there are “politically correct” politicians who are “institutionally biased” towards Christian refugees.

“In the run-up to Easter, British taxpayers will be appalled by this institutional bias against Christians by politically correct officials,” Carey said, according to the Telegraph.

The peer also sought legal advice on the case from a barrister, who said the underrepresentation of Syrian Christians among those resettled in the UK means they are facing “indirect discrimination” under EU human rights law.

“In this the British government is not just breaking its manifesto pledge to look after Christian refugees, it also appears to be breaking the law,” Carey remarked.

One Iraqi Christian, Sarmad Ozan, who was deacon of his church in Mosul before the city was seized by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in 2014, spoke to RT last year about his fight for asylum in the UK.

IS gave Christians in the northern Iraqi city an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay the jizya religious tax on non-Muslims or die.

Ozan, whose family fled to the Kurdish-held city of Erbil, claims if the UK government returns him to Iraq it means it wants to “kill” him.

“I’m still appealing because it’s impossible to go back to a place with nothing. Our house is taken by ISIS. Everything taken by ISIS,” he told RT.

“Even our neighbors are now supporting ISIS. So how can I go to a place where they are all supporting ISIS? It’s like someone going back to die.

“That means if they want to send me back, they want to kill me.

“The situation there is unsafe and unstable.

“Even the Home Office admit that it is unstable inside Iraq and don’t advise anyone to travel to Iraq, but they want us to go back.”

  

Iraqi Christian who fled ISIS ‘slow-motion genocide’ fights deportation 

When Islamic State seized Mosul in summer 2014, the Iraqi city’s Syrian Orthodox Christians were forced into exile. Two years on, one of their number Sarmad Ozan faces deportation from Britain if his asylum bid fails.

Iraqi immigrant mother holds to faith, heritage in U.S.

By Catholic News Service
Nancy Wiechec
April 11, 2017

Chaldean immigrant Maureen Antwan wants two things for her children — for them to keep the faith and do well in school.

“To just be with the church, that’s the first thing,” she said. “The second thing, I hope they will study and get good grades.”

Although she has doubts about raising her children in the United States, none matches the fears she had before leaving Iraq 13 years ago.

The family was “scared for everything, even (our) religion,” she said of life in Iraq. “I don’t like for my kids to be born or live in a country where they don’t have a safe place.”

Christians began fleeing Iraq in great numbers following the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. War and persecution drove an estimated 1 million from the country.

Maureen Antwan left Iraq in 2004 with her husband, Luay, and their then-4-year-old son. They spent a few years in Jordan, where Maureen gave birth to her second son, Anthony. In 2008, the family settled in the U.S.

They live in the Phoenix area and are among an estimate 300,000-400,000 Chaldeans in the U.S. They attend Holy Family Mission of the Mar Abraham Chaldean Catholic community.

Antwan said their Christian community in Iraq was small, simple and somewhat confined. Fear of violence kept people close to home.

U.S. communities are larger and more diverse.

“Here everything is open. [The kids] have a lot of freedom,” the mother told Catholic News Service, adding that she worries about outside influences on her sons.

She’s heard others ask her children, “Why do you believe in God?” She said she has to help them hold strong to their creed so others won’t “take my kids to their way” of thinking.

“We are Catholic, we need to do everything like Jesus [has] given it to us.”

Maureen said her boys never go to sleep without praying. And the family sings religious songs together in the language of the Chaldeans, a form of Aramaic.

“Like every Chaldean living in America, we’re going to the church a lot,” she said.

Although he enjoys driving, video games and hanging out with friends, 17-year-old Kris also is involved at church — teaching first Communion class and singing in the church choir with his mom.

He sees many possibilities here and wishes his mother would not worry so much about his future.

“My dream right now is to become a surgeon,” he said. “I have more opportunities here than I would have had in Iraq.”

He is quick to point out that he is steadfast in his beliefs and values.

“I tell my mom not to worry, because I know what to believe. I know what to do. I know what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Asked if she ever would consider taking her children back to Iraq, Antwan quickly responded, “No.”

She has watched from afar Iraqi Christians being persecuted and killed for their faith.

“Everyone suffers from what has happened there,” she said. “We can only pray for them.”

She said they have no family left in Iraq. All have remade their lives in other countries.

Although Western influence surrounds them, Antwan is committed to raising her children with a strong Chaldean heritage and looks to the example of her own mother.

“I hope to be like my mom,” she said. “She did everything to make us happy. … She gives us a lot of love.”

Until this March, Antwan had been separated from her parents for 13 years. After fleeing Iraq, they had resettled in Australia.

“The good thing is my mom now came to America to live with me,” Antwan said. “That was a very beautiful gift.”

CNEWA head: Next few months will decide Christians' fate in scarred Iraq

By Catholic News Service
Mark Pattison
April 10, 2017

The next few months will determine whether Iraqi Christians can return to their homes in areas where Islamic State had been routed, according to Msgr. John E. Kozar, international president of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association.

Msgr. Kozar, who was in Iraq March 31-April 5, cited several daunting challenges for Iraqi Christians who return to their country: infrastructure woes, burned- and bombed-out buildings, desecrated churches and security issues.

"Three liberated villages outside of Dahuk (in northern Iraq) are being resettled as we speak," Msgr. Kozar told Catholic News Service in an April 7 telephone interview from CNEWA headquarters in New York.

"The reason people are very hesitant to go back there is the reason of security. They hold very close to them the reign of terror ISIS had produced. They're looking for some reassurance from the Iraqi government and the Kurdish Peshmerga government," the military force that has liberated areas previously under Islamic State control, Msgr. Kozar said.

"The second reason would be there's no infrastructure. There's no water, no electricity, no sewage," he said. "Those would be the single most difficult challenges that need to be overcome. The next two, three months will tell the tale."

One town, Batnaya, was 85 percent destroyed by aerial bombing, according to Msgr. Kozar. "That one, I don't know what the future might be for that. It looked to me like something out of World War II," he said. Another town, Baqova, he described as "more burned out -- some aerial bombing but more internal bombing -- but all burned out."

A third, somewhat larger town of 25,000, Teleskov, was "only occupied for nine days by ISIS. It was liberated after nine days, but it was then used by the Peshmerga as a staging area until three or four weeks ago. They use the distinction, 'It was liberated, but not free,'" Msgr. Kozar said. "People accepted that to drive out ISIS from other towns and build up a fortification line so it would not come back."

All three towns had significant Chaldean Catholic populations. Chaldeans are one of the Eastern churches, made up primarily of Iraqi Catholics.

Msgr. Kozar also visited Qaraqosh, one of the cities in northern Iraq with a significant percentage of Assyrian Catholics. He also visited with sisters who had a convent in the city.

Qaraqosh "is heavily damaged but not destroyed," he said. "There are 4,000-5,000 homes burned out, but the structures -- thanks be to God -- are pretty fair, but totally looted ... including seven Catholic churches and one Orthodox church, burned internally, pillaged and defaced."

Msgr. Kozar recalled the extent of destruction at Immaculate Conception Church in Qaraqosh. The church courtyard, he said, was "all filled with soot, and there's a heap of ashes in the center" as Islamic State had taken all of the church's sacramentals, piled them up at the courtyard, and burned them. "ISIS had used it for target practice," he added. "I even brought back shell casings as a little memento of the tragedy there. There was so much target practice there that they shot out two pillars in the courtyard.

"They defaced it in Arabic and German. ISIS had written really vile things about Jesus and the church. The convent was burned and gutted. Everything was stolen. Anything holy in their mind was burned," he said. "That town had 52,000 Catholics that fled. Almost no one has returned there yet, even though technically it's under the control of the Iraqi military and, in some sense, under the control of the Kurdish Peshmerga militia."

Most Iraqi Christian are not prepared to go back, he said.

"What will they do? It's really a very difficult time. Even though, on the one hand, ISIS has been routed within most instances, there's still pockets in Iraq where ISIS has control."

On the other hand, staying in the refugee camps is not a good option. "Some of the ISIS fighters have shaved their beards and are trying to sneak into the (refugee) camps," Msgr. Kozar said. "This is part of that reign of terror."

Ninive, una casa per parrocchia: dall’Iraq l’appello per una Pasqua di “ricostruzione”

By Asia News

La speranza è che la Pasqua segni una “resurrezione” per la comunità cristiana della piana di Ninive, che possa “rinascere” a nuova vita partendo proprio “dalle fondamenta: la ricostruzione delle case devastate da oltre due anni di occupazione jihadista”. È quanto dice ad AsiaNews don Paolo Thabit Mekko, 41enne sacerdote caldeo di Mosul, che nel fine settimana ha guidato la processione e la messa (clicca qui e qui per i filmati) delle Palme a Karamles, trasmesse sulla sua pagina Facebook. “I profughi - racconta - premono per poter tornare a casa, si sentono come sui carboni ardenti. Per questo chiediamo a tutte le parrocchie, in Occidente e nel mondo, di sostenere ciascuna la ricostruzione di una casa nella piana”.

“Ogni comunità, attraverso una colletta, può fare molto - aggiunge - per restituire vitalità alla cittadina di Karamles e alle altre realtà della piana. Il nostro appello è rivolto a tutti”. Secondo quanto riferisce il sacerdote caldeo, vi sono tre categorie diverse di abitazioni in base alla tipologia di danno subito: rotte, bruciate, completamente distrutte. Per le prime servono circa 7mila euro per una loro sistemazione; le seconde prevedono una spesa complessiva fino a 30mila euro; infine, per rifare da zero una casa il costo è di 70mila euro.

Don Paolo è responsabile del campo profughi “Occhi di Erbil”, alla periferia della capitale del Kurdistan irakeno, dove nel tempo hanno trovato rifugio centinaia di migliaia di cristiani, musulmani e yazidi in seguito all’ascesa dello Stato islamico (SI). La struttura ospita 140 famiglie, circa 700 persone in tutto, con 46 mini-appartamenti e un’area per la raccolta e distribuzione di aiuti. A questo si sono aggiunti un asilo nido, una scuola materna e una secondaria.

Nel fine settimana, per la prima volta negli ultimi tre anni, la comunità cristiana ha potuto celebrare la messa della domenica delle Palme nella chiesa di Mar Addai, a Karamles, una delle cittadine della piana di Ninive devastata dallo SI. Per il sacerdote è stata una “grandissima festa della comunità”, cui hanno partecipato “almeno 500 persone”. “La prima - tiene a sottolineare - dopo la liberazione” dalle milizie jihadiste “ed è stata un evento enorme per tutti noi”.

Oltre a Karamles, diverse centinaia di cristiani si sono riuniti anche nella chiesa di Tahira al-Kubra a Qaraqosh per la messa. Quest’ultima cittadina, in particolare, con i suoi 50mila abitanti ha rappresentato a lungo il più importante centro cristiano di tutto l’Iraq. Come a Karamles, anche qui i fedeli hanno promosso la tradizionale processione della domenica delle Palme, seguita dalla messa solenne che ricorda l’ingresso trionfale di Gesù a Gerusalemme. I membri della “Unità di protezione della piana di Ninive” (Npu) hanno garantito l’incolumità e la sicurezza dei fedeli.

Per la Settimana Santa, confida don Paolo, l’idea è “organizzare altri momenti di preghiera”; tuttavia, l’obiettivo di lungo periodo è una iniziativa di “sensibilizzazione delle parrocchie sparse nel mondo, perché ‘adottino’ una casa del villaggio e contribuiscano all’opera di ricostruzione”. Le abitazioni restano in larga parte impraticabili e un ritorno dei profughi è ancora lontano.

A Qaraqosh, come nella stessa Karamles, l’animo dei fedeli è “diviso” fra la gioia di una festa vissuta nella chiesa di un tempo e la tristezza per una prospettiva di ritorno che è ancora lontana. “Sono segnali - afferma il sacerdote - che testimoniano una comunità viva, che lavora per il ritorno alla normalità. La processione, i canti, gli inni che si recitano una volta all’anno - aggiunge - hanno rappresentato un bel momento. A conclusione della messa abbiamo celebrato anche un piccolo rito di purificazione del luogo di culto. L’aria di primavera, il clima mite hanno reso ancor più gioiosa la festa. Molte famiglie hanno approfittato del bel tempo per un pranzo sui prati, sulla collina in cui sorge il santuario di Santa Barbara” (clicca qui per il filmato).

Ora la speranza è poter celebrare una delle funzioni della Settimana Santa nella chiesa di Mar Addai, “anche se nulla è stato finora deciso” precisa don Paolo. “Potremmo optare - spiega - per una messa e una piccola festa, nel contesto di una iniziativa spontanea e meno partecipata rispetto alla domenica delle Palme. L’obiettivo è mantenere viva la comunità. Un piccolo gruppo potrebbe fermarsi a dormire la notte, documentando l’evento con un’altra diretta sui social”.

Rivolgendo un pensiero “ai nostri fratelli egiziani” per le violenze inflitte dalla stessa follia jihadista, don Paolo ricorda infine quanti - fra gli irakeni della diaspora - hanno assistito su Facebook alla messa delle Palme. Molti hanno seguito la funzione grazie alla diretta e manifestato “gioia, speranza ma anche un po’ di invidia perché avrebbero voluto essere lì con noi”.

Cristiani a Mosul sotto l’Isis. «Rischiavamo la morte ogni giorno»

By Tempi

11 aprile 2017

«Rischiavamo la morte ogni giorno. Bastava un piccolo passo falso per essere uccisi». Così Younos Amsah, siro cattolico iracheno di 34 anni, riassume i due anni e mezzo passati a Mosul sotto lo Stato islamico. L’esercito iracheno ha da poco liberato il quartiere dove viveva e lui, insieme alla madre Myriam, al fratello Jibreel e alla sorella Hawaa, è potuto scappare a Erbil.

FUGA E RITORNO
Raccontando la storia della sua famiglia al National Catholich Register, Younos spiega come all’inizio la convivenza con i jihadisti fosse facile. «Quando l’Isis è arrivato, abbiamo lasciato Mosul per quattro giorni. Poi i nostri vicini ci hanno richiamati, dicendoci che non stava succedendo niente di terribile. Allora siamo tornati».

LA FINTA CONVERSIONE. Subito dopo il rientro, lo Stato islamico ha emesso un editto per dare quattro possibilità ai cristiani: «Convertirsi all’islam, pagare la jizya, lasciare la città o essere uccisi». Younos decise di pagare il “tributo umiliante” previsto dal Corano ma quando si presentò agli uffici competenti, venne risposto: «Questa possibilità non c’è più». Dopo aver tentato la fuga a Qaraqosh, che presto sarebbe stata conquistata a sua volta dal Califfato, la famiglia di Younos decise di convertirsi «esteriormente all’islam, recitando la shahada»: «Pensavamo che l’Isis non sarebbe durato un mese, invece sono rimasti due anni e mezzo». 
«SEMPRE PIÙ CRUDELI».
Presto i jihadisti cominciarono a «diventare sempre più crudeli, repressivi e barbarici: tagliavano le mani ai ladri, le donne non potevano farsi visitare dai medici uomini, i costi della sanità erano enormi». Ogni piccolo errore «poteva rovinarti», per strada la polizia islamica annusava le dita dei passanti per verificare se fumavano di nascosto. Di venerdì, «siccome eravamo controllati», dovevano andare spesso in moschea ma a casa mantenevano la loro fede cattolica: «Pregavamo di nascosto e se in televisione capitava di vedere una Messa, ci emozionavamo».
«VIA DALL’IRAQ».
Ogni giorno nella capitale irachena * l’Isis uccideva «almeno venti persone» e come monito per tutti lasciavano i cadaveri per strada per tre giorni. Quando l’esercito finalmente liberò a marzo il suo quartiere, «siamo tutti usciti in strada a festeggiare, fumando e bevendo, mentre le donne si strappavano via il velo obbligatorio». Oggi Younos e la sua famiglia vivono a Erbil e non hanno intenzione di tornare a Mosul quando sarà liberata. «Non possiamo tornare. Siccome abbiamo finto la conversione, i musulmani ci tratterebbero da apostati. Ma neanche i musulmani vogliono tornare ad abitare in città. Anche perché è completamente distrutta, non resta niente. Noi vorremmo andarcene dall’Iraq e arrivare in un buon paese. Un paese libero».

* In realtà a Mosul dove si sono svolti i fatti, e non a Baghdad. Nota di Baghdadhope

Un piano Marshall per i cristiani in Iraq

By Panorama
Fausto Biloslavo
11 aprile 2017

"Noi cristiani in Iraq rischiamo l'estinzione. Per questo dobbiamo essere aiutati a tornare nei nostri villaggi da poco liberati. Le case però sono state distrutte o saccheggiate dallo Stato islamico. Non dimenticateci". L'appello è di padre Thabet Mekku, ordinato sacerdote come don Paolo, profugo ad Erbil nel nord dell'Iraq assieme a 132 mila cristiani dopo l'avanzata delle bandiere nere nell'estate del 2014.
Per rimettere in piedi i villaggi della piana di Ninive, a nord di Mosul, ci vogliono oltre 200 milioni di dollari solo per le case. Tre chiese cristiane hanno fondato il 30 marzo scorso un Comitato per la ricostruzione. Secondo lo studio della fondazione pontificia Aiuto alla Chiesa che soffre, quasi 12 mila abitazioni sono state danneggiate dalle bandiere nere e dai combattimenti. Ben 669 residenze non esistono più.
"Vogliamo lanciare una sorta di piano Marshall, con l’obiettivo di far tornare alla vita i villaggi cristiani della piana di Ninive. Per il rientro degli sfollati ci vogliono non solo case, ma anche acqua, elettricità, cliniche" spiega Alessandro Monteduro, direttore della costola italiana di Aiuto alla Chiesa che soffre.
Secondo un sondaggio, il 57 per cento dei cristiani intervistati ha subito la distruzione o il saccheggio delle sue proprietà. Il 41 per cento vuole tornare, ma in gran parte hanno ancora paura.
"I cristiani vorrebbero la protezione della comunità internazionale con caschi blu armati. In alternativa potrebbero sentirsi sicuri con una forza di sicurezza cristiana, che garantisca l'ordine nella piana di Ninive grazie a un'amministrazione e a uno statuto speciale" conferma don Paolo, responsabile caldeo della diocesi di Mosul.
Le famiglie cristiane che hanno già lasciato l'Iraq sono 25 mila. Nel nord del Paese rimangono sfollate 90 mila persone. I nuclei familiari aiutati dalla Chiesa sono costretti a vivere in stanze di 4 metri per 4. I prezzi dell'affitto arrivano anche a 650 dollari al mese per appartamento (cifra elevatissima nel nord dell'Iraq).
Intanto, all’orizzonte si profila una nuova minaccia. Le milizie sciite, vittoriose a Mosul, hanno piazzato posti di blocco all’ingresso dei villaggi cristiani più importanti. Grazie all’appoggio militare e finanziario dell'Iran, vorrebbero occupare gran parte della fertile (nonché strategica) piana di Ninive. "Anche per questo motivo invochiamo una visita, il prima possibile, di papa Francesco" sottolinea padre Paolo. "Qualcosa di enorme che ci aiuterebbe a resistere per non far morire la cristianità in Medio Oriente".

Patriarca caldeo: a Pasqua la fede nel Cristo risorto più forte dell’odio e del terrorismo

By Asia News
11 aprile 2017

I cristiani in Iraq e nel mondo si preparano a celebrare la Pasqua di resurrezione “nonostante le sofferenze e le difficoltà” causate “dall’odio razzista” e dagli “attacchi sanguinari dei terroristi”. È quanto afferma il patriarca caldeo mar Louis Raphael Sako nel messaggio diffuso in occasione della Settimana Santa. Il primate della Chiesa irakena rilancia il compito di dialogo e riconciliazione che è affidato ai cristiani, chiamati a “rinsaldare il legame” con la propria terra. E invita politici e leader religiosi a costruire uno Stato “civile e moderno”, integrato in un “contesto di identità nazionale” che sappia promuovere “programmi educativi, economici e sociali efficaci”. 

Ecco, di seguito, il messaggio per la Pasqua del patriarca caldeo (traduzione a cura di AsiaNews): 

1 - I cristiani in Iraq (come in tutto il mondo) si preparano in questi giorni a celebrare la gloriosa resurrezione della Pasqua, nonostante le sofferenze e le difficoltà di ogni giorno a causa dell’odio razzista che essi hanno sperimentato e continuano a subire a causa di leggi e provvedimenti ingiusti. A questo si aggiungono gli attacchi sanguinari dei terroristi, che provocano profonde ferite che non possono certo essere ignorate, in special modo quelle che comportano la cacciata dalle proprie case. Per questo ci aspettiamo che i funzionari governativi e i leader religiosi si prendano carico di questi problemi, e compiano qualcosa in più delle visite di cortesia e di considerazioni ormai vuote su maggioranza e minoranza. Al contrario, servono iniziative concrete a sostegno di una continua presenza [dei cristiani], in quanto popoli nativi di questa terra; a questo si aggiunge la necessità di garantire analoghi diritti in tema di cittadinanza e trattarli come veri partner in un discorso di “auto-determinazione”.

2 - Per tutti questi motivi, ivi compresa la migrazione, la nostra Chiesa caldea in Iraq è diventato un “piccolo gregge”, pur continuando a rimanere viva, una Chiesa potente, aperta all’ecumenismo, capace di aiutare i poveri e gli sfollati, fra i quali vi sono 700 studenti universitari. Si tratta di rifugiati di Mosul e della piana di Ninive, ai quali vengono forniti alloggio e sostegno [agli studi] senza fare distinzioni in base alla fede professata o all’etnia di appartenenza.

Questa è la nostra Chiesa, capace di servire con amore per il bene di tutta la popolazione; capace di infondere speranza, di promuovere la solidarietà, di ricostruire ponti interrotti, di sostenere il dialogo e una riconciliazione nazionale. Ed è anche per questo che il patriarcato caldeo ha promosso una marcia per la pace in occasione della Settimana Santa in Iraq, un tragitto di 140 km fra Erbil e Alqosh; a questo si aggiunge una conferenza organizzata per il 10 maggio e intitolata: “Cittadinanza e co-esistenza nel messaggio inviato dal pulpito religioso” in collaborazione con i funzionari della commissione per l’Integrazione.

3 - In un contesto di crescente deterioramento della sicurezza in Iraq, delle infrastrutture, di una economia in calo negli ultimi 14 anni, le sconfitte inferte allo Stato islamico (Daesh, che ha seminato morte, distruzione e sfollati) e il conseguente trionfo delle nostre coraggiose forze armate nell’area sono fonte di orgoglio e speranza per gli irakeni. Per questo è giunto il tempo per i politici di unirsi e correggere la rotta, impegnarsi nella costruzione di uno Stato civile e moderno, integrato in un contesto di identità nazionale. In aggiunta, servono anche programmi educativi, economici e sociali efficaci. Solo così il nostro Paese potrà trovare la propria strada verso un rilancio della qualità di vita a tutti i livelli. E solo allora gli irakeni potranno beneficiare di un futuro sicuro e pacificato contraddistinto da giustizia, dignità e libertà.

4 - Poiché l’essere cristiani significa adempiere a ciò per cui siamo stati chiamati nella vita, invito personalmente i fedeli in generale e i caldei in particolare a non farsi scoraggiare dagli “eventi” di cui ho parlato qui sopra e di non spegnere la fiamma della Pasqua che arde nei loro cuori.

Al contrario, voi fedeli dovete in questo periodo speciale dell’anno:

- Rafforzare la vostra fedeltà al cristianesimo e alla Chiesa; rinsaldare il legame con la propria terra; rinnovare la fiducia e consolidare i legami con i propri concittadini di differenti estrazioni; e tenere bene in mente che la loro presenza in questa terra è un segno e una testimonianza di convivenza che va avanti da 20 secoli.

- Uscire da questo atteggiamento attuale di negatività e non confidare in una soluzione come quella della migrazione, che non offre alcuna garanzia; anzi, è tempo di tornare nelle proprie città, di vivere e mantenere aperto il legame con il proprio patrimonio storico, culturale, linguistico, la memoria dei nostri avi, santi e martiri. La Chiesa caldea, a dispetto delle limitate possibilità, ha già iniziato a ripristinare le cittadine della piana di Ninive comprese nella “linea di Alqosh” (a nord di Mosul).

- Unire le loro forze e i loro pensieri come fratelli di un’unica nazione. Dato che i “cosiddetti” termini caldeo, siro, assiro, etc sono simili alle dita di una mano, essi si trasformano in una cosa sola a dispetto della loro individualità. Tuttavia, queste distinzioni dovrebbero incoraggiare l’unità e apprezzarne al contempo l’unicità, perché diversità implica ricchezza e l’unità dovrebbe essere vista come un requisito per i cristiani, affinché essi possano mantenere la loro presenza politica e dare il loro contributo agli affari della cosa pubblica.

- Lavorare in modo efficiente con i concittadini irakeni di religioni diverse, come i musulmani, gli yazidi, i sabei, i medei, per affrontare le sfide comuni della nazione. Questo permetterà alle persone di questo Paese di promuovere la diversità, la molteplicità e il rispetto delle differenze all’interno di una cittadinanza comune e di regole condivise di condotta morale.

5 - Infine, la Chiesa caldea ha dedicato questo anno 2017 alla pace. Per questo, le celebrazioni della Settimana Santa rappresentano una opportunità unica per infondere a tutti noi una grande speranza nella pace, nella stabilità e in una vita nuova attraverso la preghiera, la riflessione, la riconciliazione e il dialogo.

Vorrei infine estendere le mie più sincere felicitazioni per tutti gli irakeni, assieme ai miei migliori auguri di pace e di prosperità per il nostro amato Iraq.

Possa Dio garantire la resurrezione a tutti noi.

Dall'Iraq ferma condanna delle stragi in Egitto

By Baghdadhope*

Il Patriarcato caldeo ha pubblicato una lettera di ferma condanna per le stragi di cristiani copti in Egitto della Domenica delle Palme. Nella lettera il patriarcato si associa ai "fratelli copti" nella preghiera per i martiri e per i feriti.  

Il problema, si legge, è nella diffusione di una mentalità di odio, violenza ed esclusione che, come un cancro, minaccia chiunque e della quale la comunità internazionale deve interessarsi. Le comunità religiose, le istituzioni educative ed i mezzi di informazione  possono giocare un ruolo decisivo nell'educazione dei popoli e nell'unione dei moderati promuovendo una cultura di pace e tolleranza basata sul rispetto reciproco e su quello dei diritti umani per mettere a tacere le voci dell'odio, delle armi, delle uccisioni, delle distruzioni, della cacciata delle popolazioni dalle proprie terre e della paura. Questa, si sostiene nella lettera, è "l'unica speranza."
Tutte le chiese caldee nel mondo sono chiamate a dedicare le preghiere della settimana santa alla pace ed alla stabilità in Medio Oriente e nel mondo.  

 

Letter of Easter- Resurrection Iraqi Christians The Little Flock

By Chaldean Patriarchate

Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako

1.    Christians in Iraq (as in the whole world) are getting ready these days to celebrate the glorious Pascal – Resurrection, in spite of their suffering and daily grief , due to racism that they have faced and are still facing because the unfairly made decisions and unjust legislations; in addition to the heartbreaking attack by terrorists    causing serious wounds that cannot be ignored, especially for expelling them from their homes. Therefore, we expect the government officials and religious authorities to embrace them, and do more than routine courtesy and the consideration of the majority and the minority, by releasing a concrete initiative to support their continued existence, as native people of this land; to guarantee their rights as equal citizens; and to treat them as genuine partners in “self-determination”.

2.    For all these reasons, including migration, our Chaldean  Church  in Iraq  has  become a "small Flock ", though a lively, powerful church, and ecumenically open-minded that helped and is still helping the poor and the displaced, including 700 university students (among the IDPs of Mosul and Nineveh Plain) by providing accommodation and related support to all of them regardless of their faith and ethnicity. This is our Church that serves with love for the benefit of all people; inspires hope; encourages solidarity; seeks reliability to build bridges; supports dialogue; and national reconciliation. Therefore the Chaldean Patriarchate called  for a march for peace in the Holy Week in Iraq 140 km from Erbil to Alqosh and is  organizing  a conference on May 10 entitled "Citizenship and co-existence in the message of the religious pulpit" in cooperation with the  official Integrity Commission.

3.    In the midst of the deterioration in the Iraqi security; infrastructure; and economy during the past 14 years, the defeat of ISIS (Da'esh, those who brought death, destruction and displacement), and the subsequent triumph of all courageous armed forces in the area has made Iraqis proud and hopeful. Thus, the time has come for politicians to; unite and correct their routes; commit their energies in the right directions to build a modern civil state; integrate into the national identity; and adopt sound economic, social and educational programs. So that our country will find its’ way to a qualitative revival at all levels. Then Iraqis will enjoy a more secured and peaceful future of justice, dignity and freedom.

4.    Since Christianity means to bear what we are called for in life, I urge Christians in general and the Chaldeans in particular not to allow the above mentioned “incidents” to frustrate them and turn off the Easter flame in their hearts, but rather to :

–    Deepen their fidelity to Christianity and to their Church; strengthen their affiliation to their homeland; renew trust and consolidate ties with their fellow citizens of different backgrounds; and to keep in mind that their presence in this land is a sign and a story of a historical existence for 20 Centuries.

–    Come out of their current negative attitude and not to dwell in unsecured solution of immigration, but to return to their towns , lives and keep this bond with their history, heritage, language and the memoir of their ancestors, saints and martyrs. The Chaldean Church, despite its limited capabilities, began to rehabilitate the towns of Alqosh line(north Mosul).

–    Unite their stances and speeches as brothers of one nation. Since the “so-called” terms of Chaldean, Syriac and Assyrians etc. are similar to the fingers of one hand, in which they become “one” in spite of their individuality. However, such distinctions should encourage unity and appreciate uniqueness, because diversity means richness and unity should be looked at as a requirement for Christians to keep their political presence and contribution to public affairs.

–    Work efficiently with their fellow Iraqi citizens of different faiths, such as Muslims, Yazidis, Sabian Mandaeans, etc. in confronting the challenges they face together as a nation. This will ultimately guide people in this country to promote diversity, multiplicity and respect differences within the framework of a completely practiced citizenship and the common rules of moral conduct.

5.    Finally, The Chaldean Church has dedicated this year 2017 as a year of peace. Hence, this holy week of  Easter celebrations, represents  an excellent opportunity to provide us with a strong hope for peace, stability and a new life through prayer, reflection, reconciliation and dialogue.

 I would like to extend my sincere congratulation to all Iraqis together with my sincere wishes of peace and prosperity for our beloved Iraq.

May God keep the Resurrection for all of us.

+. Louis Raphael I Sako
Patriarca di Babilonia dei Caldei
Baghdad 9 of April 2017

LOOK: First Palm Sunday in Iraq Christian town after ISIS

By Inquirer

Members of Iraq’s Christian minority celebrated Palm Sunday in the country’s main Christian town of Qaraqosh for the first time since it was retaken from the Islamic State or ISIS group.

Hundreds of faithful gathered inside the town’s burnt out Immaculate Conception church for mass before starting the traditional Palm Sunday march, a procession during which palms are carried to commemorate Jesus’s entry to Jerusalem.

“Thank God, we are returning to our towns and churches after two years,” Abu Naimat Anay, an Iraqi priest, said inside the church, which is Iraq’s biggest and where jihadist inscriptions were still visible on the walls.
Qaraqosh, with an overwhelmingly Christian population of around 50,000 before the jihadists took over the area in August 2014, was the largest Christian town in Iraq.
It was retaken by Iraqi forces late last year as part of a massive offensive to wrest back the nearby city of Mosul from ISIS but it remains almost completely deserted. 

Iraqi Orthodox Bishop: The West Cares More About Frogs Than Us

By National Catholic Register
Edward Pentin
April 7, 2017

Security and the rule of law are what Christians most need in Iraq, but it seems no one wishes to offer them, says Metropolitan Nicodemus Dauod Matti Sharaf, the Orthodox Syriac Archbishop of Mosul.

Speaking to the Register last month in Erbil, Metropolitan Nicodemus, who was the last bishop to leave Mosul when ISIS invaded the city in 2014, had strong words for the West: he said, citing an example, that the developed world places the welfare of frogs ahead of Christians, that the West needs to wake up to the threat of Islamism, and blamed past U.S. leaders and their allies for ruining his country. He likes President Trump, saying: "Let's try the crazy one because we tried the normal one, and he destroyed our lives."

The 40 year-old Orthodox prelate, who Britain banned in December despite being formally invited to meet Prince Charles, also shares his views on Islam and why he greatly values the example set by Hungary for the respect its leaders have shown for Christians.

Metropolitan Nicodemus, what did you think about being denied a visa to Britain?

Someone from the television channel RT called me from England and asked why I couldn't get a visa. I told him: "Because I'm not with ISIS." The British government gives them to those who support ISIS. I don't support ISIS. They refused three archbishops. They said we would ask to be refugees in England. And yet I have had permanent residence in Australia and visas for all the world, except England. In America I was there 5 years, Russia, India, all these places but they don't accept us.

Is England being very naïve?

Yes maybe this, or maybe because those working in the embassy are mostly Muslims. The mayor of London is Muslim.

What's your perspective on the current situation here as an Orthodox Church leader?

When all the world asks me this question, I answer as a Christian, not as an Orthodox, because when ISIS came, they didn't make any differentiation between Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant. They call us the letter N, for Nazarene. They put it on our houses, churches. So we should talk about Christians, not talk about Catholic, Orthodox.

What's your personal view about the current situation?

The situation is as you see: it's so bad, and we can't accept or trust anyone around us. Now all the people are talking about returning to our villages especially Nineveh Plain and Mosul but I don't accept this idea. We can't go back without security, to build our houses, our churches and villages without real security, just by verbal guarantees. The guarantees cannot come from Iraqi and the KRG (Kurdistan) governments but from the international community and the UN. If we don't get these guarantees, it's very stupid to go back into this situation because everyone who is pushing us to leave these villages is still there. The Arab villagers who support ISIS are still there ... those who wanted to take our land, to take our villages. It's still the same thing, still there's no strong government in Baghdad. You can't do what you want -- still the parties who control this country are the same, nothing is new.

What specifically needs to be done?

Two things: firstly to change the government of Baghdad, not the personnel, but the way of government, to make it a strong government, for there to be law. Since 2003 until today we have lived without law. All can do what they want. No country in the world can live with stability and peace without law. For example, in England or any place in the world, let's say that there's no law, what will be done?

Second, there need to be guarantees from the UN, at least to take political decisions, to say that Nineveh Plain villages are a safe zone, protected by international power. When I met the American consul, I told him we need international guarantees, protection, anyone to protect us. If not, we get another ISIS after a few months, and we will get another one under a new name.

What did he say?

He said it's difficult to put soldiers there. I told him we don't need soldiers, we need the same air plan that stopped ISIS coming to Erbil at midnight [in 2014]. We want the same air plan to stop them coming to our villages again. He said they're ready, but there are no guarantees. We need documentation, not just talking. Without this, we can't build our cities.

It would be stupid to go back with this situation because when ISIS came to Mosul, they were just 300 persons, and at that time there were 65,000 Iraq soldiers. So how can we trust this army again, even our villages too? They were protected by Peshmerga and all left. We feel alone, no one to protect us, our people. How can we go back to that situation? It's stupidity. There are many churches they started to build, and they told their faithful to go back. But me, I told my people: if you don't see me there, I won't accept anyone who goes back.

You were the last bishop to leave Mosul?

Yes, I was the last bishop left in Mosul. It was me and ISIS. They were just 300 meters away.

If you cannot go back, obtain guarantees, do you believe places like US, the UK, Europe should prioritize Christians for emigration?

No, we will die on our land. It's not the solution to leave this country. The solution is to help us to stay in our land. It's not just a land to leave; it's historical, a holy land for us.

But in the meantime, leave temporarily?

No, whoever goes cannot go back.

What's your opinion of Donald Trump?

You know, when we were talking when he won, somebody said: "This is a crazy man." I told him, why not? Let's try the crazy one because we tried the normal one, and he destroyed our lives. Let's try the crazy one, maybe he will help us, because who's not crazy? Obama? Bush? Clinton? Who's not crazy? All those people destroyed our life, destroyed our country. They wanted to change one person, and they destroyed all the country. Because they destroyed Saddam Hussein rather than Iraq. They wanted to destroy one person, they destroyed the whole country, they destroyed Iraq. They want to destroy Bashar Al Assad, and they destroy Syria. They want to change Gadhaffi, they destroyed Libya. Is the person who does these things clever or crazy?

So I pray for Trump and support Trump. I don't have any power, but support him with my prayers because I think he can help us.

Do you think he's given good signals to you that he will?

Yes, and let us try another political way. The old political way of Obama, Clinton and Bush, the father and the son, destroyed our life, destroyed our country. You know, we lost everything, we lost our churches, monasteries, houses, everything, even our dignity.

So you hold the U.S. ultimately responsible?

Yes, they're responsible, and those who helped America, for destroying our life, destroying our country. They should rebuild our country if they believe in human rights. I don't believe in these two words, there are no human rights. But in Western countries, there are animal rights. In Australia they take care of frogs. One of our Syriac citizens, who's a builder, bought land, took money from a bank and wanted to build houses and sell them. Then when he wanted to get a certificate to build, in the middle of the land, he came across a hole with eight frogs in it. The government of Sydney told him: "You can't build on this land." He said: "But I've taken money from the bank and I must get to work" and they pushed him to build in another place, making him pay $1.4 million to build a different place for these eight frogs. And yet we are the last people who speak Jesus' language. We are Aramaic people and we don't have this right to have anyone protect us? Look upon us as frogs, we'll accept that -- just protect us so we can stay in our land.

Would you like Trump to do what Hungary has done, set up a department for persecuted Christians?

You know, when we talk about Hungary, I'm proud of this country. I hope and pray America will do the same because for the first time, I feel like a respected Christian in a Western country like Hungary. The Prime Minister, when he met His Holiness the Patriarch and me, he tried to kiss his hand and my hand, and said he needed a blessing. It means he's a Christian. Immediately he said he'd give $1m to the Syriac Orthodox, and $1m for the Syriac Catholic, and for the Chaldeans, too, they've given $1m. He told our patriarch that with this million dollars you can do what you want with your people.

I don't talk about him [Hungary's Prime Minister] in this way because he gives us $1m, but because he shows us respect and we feel we're in a Christian country. I don't feel this in America, Europe. When our people go to Sweden they ask them why did they go there? They say: "We have a problem with Muslims," and they answer: "We're Muslims, why don't you become Muslims?" For them it's easy. We give our blood to live our faith, but for those people, it's very easy to say: be Muslim.

Your Patriarch has said twice, there are five marks of the Church: one, holy, Catholic, apostolic -- and persecuted. He said it in Budapest, and in London. Do you believe on a spiritual basis that your suffering here is going to do good for us who are so weak in the West?

I hope and pray for this.

Because the faith is very weak in Europe.

Yes. I talked in Brussels at the parliament and told them: "You should wake up because you accept people and think they're refugees but they are not refugees." For example, those 1 million people who went from Ukraine to Germany: the Red Cross wanted to give them help, but when they saw the Red Cross on the box, they didn't accept the boxes. These are not refugees, if they are and in need, they'd take it from anyone.

You believe they've been radicalized?

Yes, and so I tell them to wake up. Those people are the same ones who came here many years ago. And we accepted them. We are the original people in this land. We accepted them, we opened the doors for them, and they push us to be minorities in our land, then refugees in our land. And this will be with you if you don't wake up. If you don't wake up please tell us because we have caravans. When we go back to our villages, we won't sell those caravans, we'll leave them for you when you become refugees from your country. Believe me, this will be. [Turkish President Recep] Erdogan and the Turkish government are pushing them to have five children in Europe, every family should have 5 children. All the Christians in the world have one baby or half. I'm sorry but it's a stupidity. They should be having babies, five or six, why not? Why should we help the Muslims? OK, we help all those in need, if he's really in need, we must help him because we are Christian and we love even our enemy. But why don't Christian people wake up, especially in Europe?

If we say that in Europe we're called racist, fascist.

We should define our faith, our life.

How does the current situation in Iraq now compare to how it was in the 1990s, 1980s, especially the relationship with Muslims? Why and how has it changed?

We've had the problem with the Muslims for 1,400 years, not from now. This is the truth but we don't say it as we want to live in peace. ISIS came to Mosul in 2014 but we experienced [Islamism] in Mosul four times before ISIS, from 2003 to 2014. ISIS is the fifth wave because in 2005 they said in mosques in Mosul, in the neighborhoods: "Don't buy the Christian houses, you'll get them for free." That was 2005. Muslims' faith tell them that everything belonging to a non-Muslim is free for you: his money, his dignity, his women, anything. It's free for them, and it's their right, because they are not Muslim. This is their faith. God told them that.

How come they didn't seem to believe this before 2003?

Because of the law. We can live with evil if there is law, to control the place. At the time of Saddam, it was a time of dictator, a big dictator, but there was law, there was the police, there was the army. Anyone who did anything to hurt you, you could call 104, the police, and they came immediately. After Saddam the dictator, it was the time of democracy. If we called this number, if anyone answered, he'd say: "Look after yourself." So we can't live with Muslims. How can we do it? With law, society, police. This is the problem. There should be strong government in Baghdad, to have law. Without it we can't live with anyone, because, as Christians, we're not educated in fighting, but other are. If they don't see anyone to fight with, they fight with themselves, Sunni, Shia. This is their problem, and we don't have this education. So we need law, and if there's law we can live with anyone. We live here in peace in Erbil in Kurdistan because there's strong government, there's law, to protect us.

But the Peshmerga abandoned you? Do you trust them in the long term?

Yes, but we need guarantees from them, to trust them. Without guarantees we cannot trust anyone, and I say this to the President, too.