Iraq has become place of death for Christians, priest warns

Rome, Italy, Oct 14, 2008 / 14:36 pm

Father Philip Najim of the Patriarchate of Babylonia of the Chaldeans, warned this week that violent anti-Christian violence carried out by Islamic fundamentalists in Iraq has turned the country “into a place of death, a country in which the death and harming of defenseless people has become an industry.¨

 

In an interview with the L’Osservatore Romano, Father Najim explained that with this wave of violence, those paying the price are “the Christian communities of Mosul, which in recent days have suffered persecution.  Just today (Sunday) alone, one thousand people have had to abandon their homes after threats from unscrupulous terrorist groups.”

After pointing out the Church’s work to help people by offering them refuge in monasteries and convents, Father Najim said Mosul is currently “a prisoner of dark forces, of criminal gangs who want to postpone and block any peace process that the Iraqis wish to reach.

“The situation in Mosul has gotten worse,” he continued.  “There is a sinister interest in getting rid of the Christians in this city.  This is a black policy which does not favor man, it´s not a policy that seeks to improve the situation and bring democracy to the country.  We cannot have peace when life is not respected, especially human life, which is a natural right and above all a gift from God.”

Father Najim said the Government “is doing nothing” and that the international community is silent.  “The occupational forces in Iraq also contribute to destabilizing the country, because they are not able to guarantee peace. No one cares about us or about Iraq.  In this interview I want to get everyone’s attention so that they will intervene and put an end to the violence and respect life,” the priest said.