Chaldean Patriarch: "Let us pray for the family of the murdered journalist"
Arab satellite television al-Jazeera reported yesterday evening that Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni was dead. Mr Baldoni had been kidnapped in Najaf last week by a criminal gang calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq. Al-Jazeera refused to air the video footage of the journalist's execution because of its excessively gruesome nature. Those who did view the chilling footage said that Baldoni struggled with his captors moments before he was shot. Baldoni was married with two children. He was working for a Milan-based weekly and had been in other "high-risk" areas of the world. Christian and Muslim leaders have expressed their sorrow and anguish for the tragic death of the Italian journalist.
Baghdad (AsiaNews) "I am saddened by the death of the Italian journalist," Mgr. Emmanuel Delly, Chaldean Catholic Patriarch, told AsiaNews upon hearing of the death of Enzo Baldoni. "I met him personally because before he left for Najaf he interviewed me. When I saw his picture in the papers I recognised him immediately. He was a good man and hearing about his death is very distressing. I shall pray for him and his family," Archbishop Delly said with heartfelt regrets.
"The people of Iraq does not want war, death, or violence. Its desire for peace is very strong, but every day we must struggle against terrorists who are not interested in peaceful coexistence. Massacres and barbarous murders put shame on us; they dishonour the Iraqi people," the Archbishop said.
Your Excellency would you like to send a message to the family of the murdered journalist?
First of all I want to offer my deepest sympathy to Enzo Baldoni's family. I shall pray for him and for peace in Iraq, a land so tormented by violence but also so much in need of peace and peaceful coexistence.
Baldoni is a victim because he came to Iraq to support and help the civilian population. I hope that his sacrifice can serve as an act of love for peace and set our minds at ease.
I don't like talking about politics. But I do regret that such a gentle soul who wanted peace so much was so needlessly killed for political or other reasons that do not belong here . . . This is not what Iraqis want.
Italy is my second homeland. I lived in your country for so many years that the murder of an Italian brings me so much closer to you.
Who benefits from maintaining this situation of war and violence?
It is certain that neither the government nor the civilian population benefit from it. These people are like the criminal gangs that can be found in Italy or elsewhere in the world. They are discontented people who give vent to their frustrations through violence.
We are really one family and it is inconceivable to see brother kill brother. Nobody wants that. (DS)
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