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Christians Wish to Stay,
Build Future in Iraq
The Christian community in Iraq, whose
situation was already precarious under the previous regime despite
claims to the contrary, has a firm intention to build their future
in Iraq, said the apostolic nuncio in Iraq after
Saturday's attack on five churches.
Advertisement "Christians do not
want to leave," Fernando Filoni told Italy-based AsiaNews
in an interview. "They are children of this land and want
to live peacefully side by side with Muslims."
Filoni said that following Saturday's
attacks that caused damages to five churches but no injuries,
and those of early August that killed at least 11 and injured
dozens, the Christian community is shaken.
Under the previous regime, Iraqi Christians
still faced difficulties and persecution, Filoni commented. Although
Saddam Hussein kept a tight grip on everything and thus guaranteed
security, there were still episodes of persecution.
But now, the cleric says, "Not
only are threats still being made, but they are turning into
concrete deeds. Christians are constantly worried and in danger.
Of course, all Iraqis face these difficulties but as a small
minority Christians are especially vulnerable."
Filoni acknowledged that recent attacks
have brought concerns and fears to many Christians, but the cleric
pointed out it is not the first time that Christians were harshly
attacked. "Persecution is not something new; it
started last century. During the First World War, hundreds of
thousands of Christians were massacred. This continued especially
in the north, in Kurdistan. There are also other less visible
forms of persecution that have
asted to this day," Filoni stated.
"Christians have always been victimized
but they are also very conscious that they are children of this
land," Filoni added. "They are not outsiders; they
are not people who converted as a result of missionary activities
. . . They are from this land. They are true citizens and have
the right to live here."
The Iraqi Christian community, concentrated
around Baghdad and in the northern cities of Kirkuk, Mosul and
Irbil, is one of the oldest in the world, with a history of Christian
faith that dates back to the time of the apostles.
"I cannot stress more how much
Christians do not want to leave Iraq, how much they want live
in this land side by side with others," Filoni said.
However, Iraq's community of 750,000
Christians has grown increasingly anxious at the rise of Islamic
fundamentalism since the expulsion of Saddam Hussein last year.
According to the secretary general of
the Assyrian Democratic Movement, more than 100 Christians had
been murdered after the U.S.-led war, and about 200 more have
died in the general violence that has gripped Iraq.
Meanwhile hundreds of Christians have
fled to neighboring Jordan and Syria, waiting for the situation
to calm down.
By Kenneth Chan
Christian Post
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