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Christian and Muslim Victims of Violence Peggy Gish, Electronic Iraq, February 16, 2006 Iraq Diaries "I guess it takes a bomb to bring our friends here to see us again," the parish priest and friend of the CPT Iraq team said with a twinkle in his eye, as he welcomed us to the Sunday afternoon mass. Beth, Maxine, and I had gone to the church to be with the people and see how they were doing after a small bomb exploded outside the church building two weeks ago. Approximately 50 people were gathered, and the singing and congregational response during the liturgy was spirited. It had been frightening, but, unlike some of the other churches where bombings took place on January 29, no one had been hurt. The damage to the wall had not been severe and was already repaired. The priest recalled that there had been two previous explosions nearby in the past year or so. "There were fewer people here the week after the explosion," he continued. "but today most of our people returned when they saw we were continuing to meet. It was important to repair the damage right away.... Yes, it was shocking to us, but we need to continue on with our life and work." To this Maxine responded, "That's also what our team has had to do since the kidnapping." At the end of the worship service the priest prayed for Jim, Tom, Harmeet, and Norman and for CPT. Members of the parish welcomed us warmly as we milled around the small courtyard after the service. Many remembered the small November delegation that had visited the church just two days before the kidnapping. Several teenagers told me their main concern is peace. "Without peace, we can do very little." On the day of the church attacks two weeks ago, Beth and I were traveling by car to a church, while others on the team were walking to a different church closer to our apartment. Along the way we saw smoke rising and streets closed because of explosions at two other church buildings. Later we heard that these and other attacks on Christian churches were acts of retaliation for the anti-Muslim cartoons published in a Danish newspaper. Earlier our team had written a statement against such messages that foster hate and division. Previously we had spoken out about the many Iraqi mosques that had been bombed. Now we grieved for the Iraqi Christians who were victims of attack, yet should not suffer for the wrong caused by others of their faith. We grieve for any victims of violence. We say that any forms of violence that stir up the prejudice and fear among Christians and Muslims or any other religious and ethnic groups, is wrong. We find hope in people of all faiths who courageously work together for mutual respect and cooperation. We are encouraged by those victims of violence who refuse to get caught up in the cycles of hate and revenge and are able to "continue on." Christian Peacemaker Teams has been present in Iraq since October 2002, providing first-hand, independent reports from the region, working with detainees of both United States and Iraqi forces, and training others in non-violent intervention and human rights documentation. Christian Peacemaker Teams is a violence reduction program. Teams of trained peacemakers work in areas of lethal conflict around the world. ----

Who are the Christians of Iraq?  February = Eshvadt  Christian and Muslim Victims of Violence  Feb. 17, 06 Assyrian-Americans Reach Out to Relatives Displaced By Iraq War Feb. 17, 06 Talabani: Autonomy for Turkmens in Kurdistan Feb. 16, 06 Ending the Exodus of Iraq's Most Vulnerable Feb. 15, 06 Christians targeted in cartoons row Feb. 14, 06 Muhammad Cartoon Protests Move Into Turkish Christian Town Feb. 14, 06 Press Release by the Assyrian Society of United Kingdom Feb. 13, 06 Iraqi Parliament Member Once Sentenced by Death of Hussein Feb. 12, 06 Iraq dignitary's visit marred by bomb threat Feb. 10, 06 SUA condemns the violence and terror against the Christians of Iraq  Feb. 10, 06 We Are Not Arab-Americans Feb. 10, 06 An Interview with Yonadam Kanna Feb. 9, 06 Lebanon bishops express solidarity with Iraqi Christians Feb. 9. 06 Ba-oota d' Ninevayee or the Fast of the Ninevites Feb. 8, 06 Chaldo-Assyrian Iraqi lawmaker speaks to backers in El Cajon Feb. 8, 06 For Iraq's Persecuted Assyrians, a Safe Haven is the Only Solution Feb. 8, 06 The Christian Role on Iraq's Fragmented Streets Feb. 6, 07 Brotherhood of cabbies joins ranks to mourn murdered driver Feb. 6, 6 Iraq Islamic Group Asks Christians to Stop Prayers in Churches Feb. 6, 06 How do Mohammad's caricatures affect the Assyrians? Feb, 6, 06 Protesters Torch Danish Mission in Beirut and ransacked the Christian neighborhood Feb. 6.06 Ongoing Hidden Persecution of Christians In Iraq  Feb 5, 06 Protests Over Muhammad Drawings Intensify Feb. 3, 06  PRESENTATION OF AN ACADEMIC TEXTBOOK "CLASSICAL ASSYRIAN LANGUAGE" IN YEREVAN Feb. 3, 06 Iraq Christians on Edge As Cartoon Row Escalates Feb. 3, 06 Enough Is Enough - Six Assyrian Christian Churches Bombed in Iraq! Feb. 2, 06 Proposal for an Assyrian Regional Government Basic Law Feb. 2, 06 Ghetto-blaster: Cantons for Assyrians and Yazidis along with the Turkomans Feb. 2, 06  Christian Watchdog Groups Say Iraqi Christians 'Endangered,' Fear Mass Exodus Feb. 2. 06 Iraq Christians Urge Westerners to Refrain from Inflaming the Situation. Feb. 2, 06 Legislation seeks to limit NGOs in Iraq  Feb. 2, 06 January = Canoon Kharaya  Iraq's Simultaneous bomb attacks killed 3 Christians Jan. 31, 06 British House of Commons Holds Hearing on Assyrian Genocide Jan. 31, 06 IRAQ: Sectarian tensions on the rise Jan. 31, 06 The World's Silence over Terrorizing Christians in Iraq Jan. 30, 06 Explosions target Christian churches in Iraq Jan. 30, 06 US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Comments about Iraq Jan. 28, 06 Insurgents Driven From Tal Afar in Northern Iraq: US Commander Jan. 27, 06 Saga of Assyrians in Iran comes to life in works by Turlock artist Jan.27, 06 Azerbaijani Soldiers Desecrate Armenian Christian Cemetery Jan. 25, 06 Iraq's WMD Secreted in Syria, Says Former Iraqi General Jan. 25. 06 The Armenians appreciate the Assyrian efforts for Seyfo's recognition. Jan. 25, 06  Cash meant for Iraqis 'misused' Jan. 25, 06 Explosion Rocks Baghdad's Assyrian District Jan. 25, 06 UC Berkeley Course "Assyrians, the Forgotten Ones" Jan. 25, 06 Moslem Protesters set Fire to a Christian House of Worship in Egypt Jan. 24, 06 Seyfo: Report of Conference at the House of Commons about the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide Jan. 24, 06 BRITISH FILM PREMIERE. DOCUMENTARY ON ARMENIAN AND ASSYRIANS GENOCIDES, 1915 Jan. 23, 06 Kidnapping of the Assyrians in Iraq continues Jan. 23, 05 Praying in Jesus' Own Language Jan. 23, 06 Renowned Assyrian Scholar Erica Reiner Jan. 22, 06 How does Iran effect Assyrians in Turlock California? Jan. 21, 06 The Seyfo Seminar at the House of Commons Jan. 21, 06 ADO: An Apolitical Petty Bourgeois Organisation or a Mature Political Leadership? Jan. 21, 06 Ammo Baba: tied, eye-folded, beaten, and then robbed Jan. 20, 06 The Final Iraq's Election's Results! Jan. 20, 06 Tomb raiders Jan. 18, 06 The Assyrian Republican mayor , Man on the move  Jan. 18, 06 Donations For Allan Enwiyah Jan. 18, 06 Exhibition by the Assyrian artist Hannibal Alkhas Jan. 17, 06 Politics & Policies: Deconstructing Iraq Jan. 16, 06 Poly Sci Course on Assyrians Offered at UC, Berkeley Jan. 15, 06 Kurds focus on corruption in Kurdistan administration  Jan. 13, 06 Ecumenism and the Eucharist Jan. 13, 06 An Assyrian Coach of the Canadian Beaver Bruins hockey team Jan.12, 06 Turkey's massacre of the Assyrians and the Armenians Jan. 11, 06 New Iraqi Constitution May Limit Women's Freedoms Jan. 10, 06 The Boomerang Effect in Iraq: If 'Kurdistan', Why Not Assyria? Jan. 10, 06 Bishop's Report From the Assyrians of Iraq Jan. 9, 06 woman journalist abducted in Iraq, interpreter, killed jan. 9, 06 PanGlobal TV adds AssyriaSat to channel lineup Jan. 9, 06 Bishop Worrys About the future of the Christians in Iraq Jan. 7, 06 Major Terror Plot Against US Ignored By US Media Jan. 6, 06 Jan. 6, 06 U.S. troops deliver gifts to Iraq - school supplies Jan. 5, 06 Iraq Election Despair Spreads To Expatriates Jan. 5, 06 Assyriologist, Erica Reiner Dead at 81- 1924-2005 Jan. 4, 06 The Last Assyrians Jan. 3, 06 Egypt Appoints First Christian Governor in Three Decades Jan, 3, 06 If Only Rocks Could Talk!  Jan . 2, 06 Car bombs, fuel riots usher in New Year in Iraq Jan. 1, 06 Errors in Biblical Dating According to Ancient Assyrian records January 1, 06 December = Canoon Gadmaya Many treasures looted from Iraqi museum still lost  Dec. 30, 05 Don't Blame the Hanukkah on the Assyrians  Dec. 30, 05   Revised  Kurds Are Flocking to Kirkuk, Laying Claim to Land and Oil Dec. 29, 05  Iraq's jailed former deputy PM Aziz gets family call for Christmas Dec. 28, 05 Family of Kurdish Historian Accuses Barzani of His Murder Dec. 28, 05 The arrest of Dr Kamal Sayid Qadir emerges as a key test of Kurdish Regional government Dec. 28, 05  Christians trying to find a place in war-torn Iraq  Dec. 28, 05 Hopes for peace in Iraq this Christmas Dece. 26, 05 Assyrians make sure Iraq pays attention Dec. 26, 05 Christmas Celebrations in Turkey Dec. 26, 05 Fearful Christmas in Baghdad Dec. 25, 05  Bullet-riddled body of Iraqi student leader found Dec. 25, 05 Iraqi Government Wishes Christians Merry Christmas Dec. 24, 05 For Iraqi Christians, Christmas represents church, family, fears Dec. 24, 05 Christians celebrate a wary Christmas in Baghdad  Dec. 24, 05   Iraqi Christians Pray and Brace for Election Outcome Dec. 24, 05 Safety fears hang over celebrations in Iraq Dec. 24, 05 Fear overshadows Christmas joy in Baghdad December 23, 05 U of T pharmacology postgraduate student from Woodbridge Came to Canada from Iraq in 1996 Dec.23, 05 Democracy in Iraq or Ethnic cleansing of the Christians? Dec. 21, 05 Sunnis, Secular Shiites Threaten Boycott Dec. 21, 05 Large Assyrian Turnout in Iraq Election Marred By Kurdish Voting Fraud Dec. 21, 05 The Real War On Christmas Dec. 19, 95 Iraq Expats Narrowly Favor Christian Assyrian Slate Dec. 19, 05 Concern expressed for Assyrian Christians in Iraq  Dec. 18, 05 Iraqis Vote in Historic Election toward Freedom, Democracy Dec. 17, 05 Turkmen Complain Kurds Cheated in Elections in Kirkuk Dec. 17, 05 Touch of Assyria in San Jose. Dec. 16, 05 Iraqi Christians flee to Jordan, Syria in response to increased persecution Dec. 16, 05 The Mid-East's beleaguered Christians Dec. 16, 05 Exiled Iraqi Christians Vote With Concern About Their Future Dec. 15, 05 Tension Mounting on Day of Iraqi Elections Dec. 15, 05 Iraqi Americans Cast Their Votes Dec. 14, 05 Information about Voting in Canada Dec. 14, 05 A vote for democracy 12, 14, 05 Iraqi expatriates to vote in elections, hopeful new government can end bloodshed Dec. 13, 05 Iraqi Americans Ponder Role in Homeland's Vote Dec. 12, 05 Iraqi-Americans ready for polls Dec 12, 2005   The Latest information about Iraq's Out-of-Country Voting Dec. 12, 05 Between Iraq and a hard place, Iraqi Christians in Syria Dec. 12, 05 Half a Million Iraqi Assyrians (including Chaldeans and Syriacs) have taken refuge in Syria Dec. 11, 05 Assyrian Claims Discussed in Australian Parliament Dec. 11, 05 Iraqis here get voice in Baghdad's future Dec. 11, 05 Official Information about Iraq's out of the country voting Dec. 10, 05 Iraq's Voting in Canada Dec. 10, 05 Iraqi community to cast votes at fairgrounds in Pleasanton Dec. 9, 05 Fostering creativity in dangerous times Dec. 8, 05 Meet Miss World Canada 2005, Ramona Amiri Dec. 8. 05 IRAQ: KURDISH PRESIDENT OFFERS REFUGE TO CHRISTIANS  Dec. 8, 05 Iraq Establishes 8 Polling Centers in the U.S. 12, 8, 05 News From Iraq Dec. 8, 05 740 Stained with the blood of our Martyrs Dec. 6, 05 Kurdistan Democratic Party Stops Assyrian Group From Campaigning Dec. 6, 05 Campaign activity, insurgent violence rise in Iraq  Dec. 5, 05 Myths About the Situation in Iraq Dec. 5, 05 Competition for the best design of the Ancient Assyrian Costumes Dec. 3, 05 List of "Reported" Assyrians murdered in Iraq in 2005. Dec. 3, 05 Dylan's quest: Six-year-old needs blood matches Dec. 3, 05 Shades of voter apathy Dec, 2, 05 Holywood Tapestries Featuring Semiramis is on Auction  Dec. 2, 05 Iraq's Oily Referendum Dec. 1, 05 Iraqi Parliamentary Elections In California Dec. 1, 05    Archives