|
Christian Students stage
Nonviolent Protest in Iraq
Oct. 22, 04
In the face of continued violence against
Christians with many being driven from the country, Christians
have staged a nonviolent protest. A Catholic priest in Mosul,
Father Nizar Semaan, told the Fides news service that Christian
students had gone on strike.
"Faced with the situation of serious
insecurity 1,500 Christian boys and girls, enrolled at Mosul
university are calling for more protection from the authorities.
"The decision to strike was not
easy because this is precisely what the terrorists want to make
Iraq fall back into ignorance" he said. "The students
also call for solidarity from the international scientific community
and scholars all over the world, and urge governments to help
stop terrorist violence in Iraq" Father Nizar told Fides.
"Since UN sanctions were imposed
in 1991, guaranteeing young people the right to study has been
a priority for Mosul diocese" the priest said.
Iraq is home to one of the oldest Christian
communities in the world, with an estimated 3% of the population
identified as Christian. Under Saddam Hussein, the Iraqi church
was protected from religious persecution. Since the invasion,
churches have lived under constant fear with a number of attacks
recorded against Christians and church buildings, with a number
of murders. Church aid agencies have also at time been forced
to pull out of the country.
Talks between religious leaders have
been unable to prevent the violence.
"Despite limited economic resources
the diocese has always helped students to go to university in
the awareness that new better educated generations will build
a better future for Iraq" Nizar continued.
"These efforts are being undermined
by violence. The terrorists have threatened to blow up buses
which the local Church sends to collect students in outlying
villages".
"Action must be taken quickly to
avoid another humanitarian disaster. The students are confident
that someone will help, but how long can they hope and wait?".
http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/content/news_syndication/article_041022xt.shtml
|
