Synod of Chaldean Church postponed
Worsening security situation in Iraq affects Christian minority. Christians! What are you doing for your Iraqi brothers, Baghdad Catholics ask.
Baghdad (AsiaNews) Chaldean Patriarch Emmanuel Delly decided this week to postpone the Synod of the Chaldean Church scheduled for October 19-21 in Baghdad. The decision became necessary as result of the increasing violence and worsening security situation in the country. The procurator of the Chaldean Church in Rome Philip Najim told AsiaNews of the decision stressing that it was made before last night's multiple attack against five Baghdad churches.
According to Father Najim, "it is clear that these attacks were carried out to stop Sunday's religious functions," adding that "they are the work of shadowy foreign forces, not Iraqis." "Iraqi Muslims do not strike at their Christian brothers," he said. "Instead, these terrorists came from outside to force Christians out of the country".
Fear is noticeable in the voices of the eyewitnesses of last night's attacks. "We heard a loud bang and when we went out in the morning we saw that our church was seriously damaged," said Najwa (not her real name), a member of Saint Thomas Chaldean Parish in the Mansour district. "We are scared. We have not gone to mass in our church since last August for fear of attacks," Najwa added. "Luckily, no one was near the building and so no one was hurt. But it was a big blow; the church suffered serious damages."
Iraqi Christians now fear for their safety. "We see posters glued to walls and find flyers saying: 'Christians, get out!' What are the Catholics of the world doing for us?" Najwa asked. "Every day, a Christian gets killed, churches are attacked, and yes: We are scared," she emphasised.
Things are indeed changing for Christians, not only in Baghdad but in other parts of Iraq as well. In Mosul, for example, the beginning of Ramadan has meant that Christian women must, too, cover their heads and wear clothes to hide their bodies. Bushra, a Christian student said that Islamic terrorists warned her school's principal that female students must come with their heads covered.
Some Iraqi Christians are certain that last night's attacks are related to recent statements made by Muhammad Bashar al-Fayyaadh, an imam who claims to speak on behalf of the Commission of Iraqi Ulemas. Speaking recently on al-Jazeera Hasad al yawm programme, Al Fayyaadh accused Christians of not having condemned US raids against some mosques in Ramadi (western Iraq).
US forces justified their action claiming that "well-known terrorists were using the mosques as hideouts and as depots for the weapons used against the Iraqi people". A spokesperson for the US army in Iraq reiterated that "our soldiers never enter mosques but leave that task to Iraqi police".
Quoted on a local Christian website, Patriarch Delly condemned the action stating that "Christians and Muslims are part of one great Iraqi family. What happens to some happens to all".
Despite claims to the contrary, some Iraqi priests and religious men did write a letter condemning the violence in Ramadi. (LF)
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