Christians of Iraq

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Updated list of Opression and Murders of the Assyrians in Iraq Not reported by the International Press

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---- The West Turns a Blind Eye to the Ethnic Cleansing of Christians in Iraq “When I was hungry you did not feed me, when I was thirsty you did not give me water, when I was naked you did not clothe me. “Jesus says "when you have done this to the “least” of these, you have done this for me." Fr. Bolus Iskandar’s wife received a call from his abductors. They informed her that he deserved to die because he refused to convert to Islam, and that they covered his body so that his blood does not pollute the “land of Islam.” By Dikran Ego Eastern Star News Agency Stockholm -- During the month of Ramadan the terror attacks in Iraq have escalated explosively. The attacks have been more numerous and more brutal. There is a regular civil war going on between different groups. Everything is about gaining power in order to take possession of the country's resources and to strengthen the position of one's own group. The contending parties in the war are Shia-Muslims, Sunni-Muslims and Kurds. In the middle of the chaos, during the month of Ramadan which is holy for Muslims, there is another war, or to be correct a hunt, going on. The ones that are being hunted are the defenceless Christians. The latest news reports from Iraq are about abductions, torture and murders on the Christian population. An ethnic cleaning of Christians is perpetrated as we speak. The Christians, who have no protection at all, are being victimized because of their religion, ethnicity or as a reaction against the actions of the Western worlds. In other words the fanatics have many reasons to take the lives of the Christians and to exterminate all Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs from Iraq. In the light of the above mentioned I want to draw the attention to some events that have claimed many victims among the Christians lately. These events are just the tip of the iceberg of terror attacks. I will begin with the publishing of the Mohammed images and its consequences. The first fatalities of the Mohammed images The Danish news paper Jyllandsposten's publishing of the Mohammed images created an anger among Muslims. This anger was very surprising for us here in the West. The anger and the reactions against the publishing and the way the Danish government handled the issue were shown in many places in the world. But the first victims due to these images were not Danes or other Westerners. Instead it was the Assyrians when their churches were bombed in Iraq. Although the media was informed by journalist Nuri Kino about what the media had caused, it was still indifferent and chose to ignore the consequences. Well-planned and well-aimed bomb attack On October 4th, 2006 a car bomb detonated in a Christian area and killed nine people. Among the killed was Georges Zara, member of the Assyrian Chaldean Syriac National Council. A few days earlier a smaller bomb was detonated in the same area to draw people to the scene. When a lot of people had gathered to help the wounded a larger and more fatal bomb was detonated. This terror attack resulted in many deaths and injured. A murder with a message, priest beheaded Father Paulos Eskandar, of Mor Afrem Syriac Orthodox Church was kidnapped on the 9th of October 2006 by fanatic Muslims. Two days later the Muslims had decapitated the priest. They did this although the Christians fulfilled their demands by posting a text on the church doors that condemned the pope's statement about Islam. After the murder the abductors called the priest's wife and told her: Your husband deserved to die because he refused to convert to Islam. We threw his body in bags so his blood would not soil "the land of Islam". On October 11th the body of the priest and his head were found in different places. These Muslims had cut of his head and his limbs. .The last rites for a beheaded priest Beheading of Iraqi priest latest attack on minorities Two 14 year old boys are killed, a murder with a high symbolic significance A fourteen year old boy was also murdered in a barbaric manner in Albasra. The boy faced a much crueller death. He was crucified and after that the barbarians stabbed the boy in the stomach, just as it was done to Jesus. The second murder was perpetrated on October 21st in Baquba, when a group of veiled Muslims attacked a workplace where a 14 year old boy named Ayad Tariq worked. The men asked the boy for his identity card. Another employee who had managed to hide witnessed the course of events. After seeing in his identity card that he was Christian the men asked Ayad whether he was a "dirty Christian sinner". Ayad answered: "Yes, I am Christian, but I am not a sinner." The rebels jelled that he was a dirty Christian sinner and continued to grab him and to scream "Allahu, Akbar! Allahu, akbar!" After this Muslim ritual they decapitated him in the most brutal and disgusting way. He was only 14 years! This is a clear message from Muslims, that Christians will be cleaned out from Iraq with violence. Similar signals are given both from Kurds and Arabs. Hush up the already fragile media coverage The Kurdish militia has at several occasions terrorized Assyrians and their media. Murder, terror, threats and assault have become a part of the staff's normal weekday. Recently a group of the Kurdish militia KDP, Kurdistan Democratic Party, attacked the Assyrian Democratic Movement's (ADM) TV-station, Ashur TV. This is done to try to stop the coverage of the cruel reality that Assyrians live in today in northern Iraq. Conclusion When other groups are in warfare for the power, Christians are terrorized, raped, beheaded and crucified for completely different reasons. The Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs, who do not have any strive for power, are struggling for their existence and survival. To protect the Kurdish population in Iraq the Western world has arranged a free zone in the northern part of the country. Why doesn't the same apply when Assyrians are in the same situation? In the reactions against the clumsy actions of the West, it has always been the Christian Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs that have paid the price with their lives. Like recently, when the Pope commented Islam and earlier, when Jyllandsposten published the Mohammed images. The events mentioned above and many more before them aren't just a part of the chaotic situation in Iraq. The symbolic significant and systematic murders, such as the beheading of the priest, the crucifying of the boy and the spreading of DVDs that contains authentic beheading scenes, are directly aimed against the Christian population. These actions aim unambiguously at an ethnic and religious cleaning of the Christians of Iraq. Many refugee reports, among them an unpublished UNHCR report, state clearly that the Christians constitute more than 44% of those who flee Iraq. This also shows clearly that Christians suffer more than Muslims. There is no doubt that Iraq is being drained of its Christians. The Western countries, which put Assyrians/Chaldeans/Syriacs in this difficult situation because of their own actions have to stop being spectators and instead do something about it. That is why my opinion is that a free zone with the protection of the UN is the obligation of the West towards the Christians in Iraq. Anything else is hypocrisy. Related stories: 14 years young Assyrian boy decapitated in Iraq Car Bombs at the Christian Assyrian shopping district Assyrian Church Bombed in Baghdad; 2 Dead, 17 Injured

Who are the Christians of Iraq? Tishrin 1 = October The West Turns a Blind Eye to the Ethnic Cleansing of Christians in Iraq Oct. 31, 06 U.S. Bishops Call for Protection of Iraq's Christians Oct. 30, 06 Hood celebrates 150th anniversary of Assyrian reliefs Oct. 30, 06 Assyrian History On Display Oct. 29, 06 Freedom of Religion Key for All in Iraq Oct. 29, 06 14 years young Assyrian boy decapitated in Iraq Oct. 29, 06 Assyrian civic club marks 60 years Oct. 27, 06 From Discovery to Dartmouth: The Assyrian Reliefs Oct. 27, 06 Sargis Aghajan: A Saint or a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? Oct. 26, 06 Priest Sends SOS for Christians in Iraq; Faithful Flee, Churches Close in Baghdad Oct. 25, 06 The World Must Speak About the ongoing Assyrian Genocide Oct. 25, 06 Iraqi Militias Conducting Ethnic Cleansing Campaign Against Baghdad's Christians Oct. 23, 06 Pope Urges World Leaders to Help Iraqis Rebuild Troubled Nation Oct. 23, 06 Iraq's Christian Assyrians: Living in Fear Oct. 23, 06 Assyrians built aqueducts to bring water to Nineveh predating Romans by 400 years. Oct. 23, 06 Hope for Assyrian Christians 'Rapidly Dying,' Says Former Iraqi Minister Oct. 20, 06 Christians Live in Fear of Death Squads in Iraq Oct. 20, 06 Congresswoman Esho's Letter to Rice about the endengered Christians of Iraq Oct. 20, 06 IRAQ: CHRISTIANS LIVE IN FEAR Oct. 20, 06 Iraq: Christian Minority Seeks Haven From Violence Oct. 19, 06 GEORGIA: Will mob halt Assyrian Catholic centre? Oct. 19, 06 Ancient ruins inspire hope in U.S. forces in Pre-Christian Iraq . Oct. 18, 06 Christian Migration From Mid-East At Heart of Patriarchs' Meeting Oct. 19, 06 Assyrian language Lecture and Seminar in London Oct. 19, 06 Save Us from the Time of Trial Oct. 18, 06 Persecution of non-Muslims increases in Iraq. Oct. 18, 06 In Iraq, a New Level of Threat to Christians Oct. 17, 06 World Has Forgotten Iraqi Christians: Chaldean Patriarch Oct. 16, 06 Some 500 people attend funeral of beheaded priest Oct. 16, 06 Christians are vacating land of Christ Oct. 15, 06 Threats force Iraqi Christians to flee to Syria Oct. 15, 06 Turkey starts to admit it has an ‘Armenian Question’ Oct. 15, 06 Some Turks change religion as way to West Oct. 14, 06 Beleaguered Yazidi find peace high in Iraq's northern mountains Oct. 14, 06 Beheading of Iraqi priest latest attack on minorities Oct. 14, 06 Kurdish Militia Attacks Assyrian TV Station in North Iraq Oct. 13, 06 Iraq priest 'killed over pope's speech' Oct. 13, 06 More than 35,000 Christians have fled violence in Iraq Oct. 13, 06 Prominent Assyrian Priest Beheaded Oct. 12, 06 Father Paulos Iskandar Killed by Terrorist Abductors Oct. 12, 06 Who Will Remember the Assyrian Genocide? Oct. 11, 06 Abducted and raped, young Christian women and girls are driven to suicide in Iraq Oct. 11, 06 Was the genocide of the Ottoman Empire in1915 only against the Armenians, or included Assyrians also? Oct. 10, 06 Traditional Assyrian Costumes Oct. 9, 06 Organisation and Substitutionism Oct. 8, 06 A Nation Without a Country Oct. 8, 06 Swedish authorities honor Malfono Gabriel Afram Oct. 7, 06 Christian husband and wife converts from Islam released Oct. 7, 06 Terror campaign targets Christians of Iraq Oct. 6, 06 In 20 years, there will be no more Christians in Iraq' Oct. 5, 06 \FIRST-PERSON: Assyrian haircut Oct. 5, 06 The Assyrians: Ignored Among Fears of an Iraqi Civil War Oct. 4, 06 Two Iranian Christians arrested in Mashad. Oct. 4, 06 Car Bombs at the Christian Assyrian shopping district in Baghdad killed 16, injured 87 Oct. 4, 06 30 Christian families receive threats to leave Mosul - Iraq Oct. 2, 06 Mr. Sarkis Aghajan, the Finance Minister of the Kurdistan regional Government Asks for more rights for the Assyrians Oct. 2, 06 Ealool = September National Council of Churches Ignores Christian Suffering Sept. 29, 06 Violence Against Christians Grows in Iraq Sept. 29, 06 EP Report Drops Genocide Clause, Calls for Investigation Sept. 28, 06 Nenveh Essa, 21, studied accounting, Dies in Car Accident Sept. 27, 06 Kurds and Arabs Vie for Control of Mosul Sept. 26, 06 Iraq ensnared in quest to escape Arab politics Sept. 25, 06 Two Assyrian churches attacked in Mosul and Baghdad Sept. 25, 06 Turkey invites Assyrian and Armenian dignitaries to meal that breaks daily Muslim fast. Sep. 25, 06 Dutch Lawmaker May Remove Assyrian Genocide Reference in Report on Turkey Sept. 25, 06 Tense Time for Christians in Iraq Sep. 24, 06 Assyrian Church Bombed in Baghdad; 2 Dead, 17 Injured Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian Police Officer Murdered in Mosul Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian-Swedish journalist investigates the arrest of the Assyrian-Georgian General Sept. 21, 06 Muslims react to the speech of Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 20, 06 Iraq: International Religious Freedom Report 2006 Sept. 19, 06 Fear Strikes Iraq's Christians Over Pope Words Sept. 19, 06 Assyrian Cultural Day Sept. 19, 06 When Iraqi Christians Vanish, Locals Pay the Price Sept. 18, 06 Dozens Dead in Kirkuk Bombings Sept. 17, 06 Book Exhibit in Baghdeda Iraq Sept. 17, 06 Second Assyrian Christian Killed in Retaliation for Pope's Remarks Sept. 17, 06 The Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian Communities in the Late Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey Sept. 16, 06 'I Felt God Was With Me,' Says Released Assyrian Priest' Sept. 15, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 15, 06 Rosie Malek - Yonan Documentary, My Assyrian Nation on the Edge Sept. 14, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 14, 06 Kirkuk: The potential spark for civil war Sept. 14, 06 Sabri Atman in Sweden Sept. 14, 06 Assyrian Candidate Gains Republican Endorsement Sept. 13, 06 Priest Abducted in Baghdad Was Threatened and Tortured Sept. 13, 06 Assyrians Accuse Kurdish Authorities of Discrimination Sept. 12, 06 Priest Kidnapped in Baghdad Released Sept. 12, 06 Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the Assyrian, Armenian genocide Sept. 10, 06 Rosie Malek - Younan; The Assyrian Woman of the Year Sept. 10, 06 Lebanese Bishops Chastise Hizbullah, Back Siniora Sept. 6, 06 A Feast Awaits At Annual Assyrian Festival Sept. 6, 06 Prominent Assyrian Christian Leaves Iraq. Says Work Situation 'Intolerable' Sept. 5, 06 Turkey's terror against Christians in Midyat Sept. 4, 06 Syria; Sanctuary for Iraq's Displaced Christians Sept. 3, 06 August = Tubbakh Assyrians honour the Lt General Sir Stanley Savige KBE CB DSO MC ED August 31,06 Assyrian archaeologist resigns amid threats by the fundamentalists August 31, 06 Assyrians: from Bebar Khan to Saddam Hussein (a new book) August 28, 06 Donny George of Iraq's State Board of Antiquity, Heritage Flees to Syria August 28, 06 A New Film by Lina Yakubova August 27, 06 PM Maliki urges tribal unity in Iraq August 27, 06 Lebanese Bishops Appeal for a Stop to the Christian Exodus August 24, 06 Iraqi Christians Caught in the Crossfire August 23, 06 Assyrian Universal Alliance, Australian Chapter Meeting in Canberra August 23, 06 Iraqi Christians on Edge After Priest's Kidnapping August 23, 06 The Secrets Of Mustafa Barzani In KGB Archives August 23, 06 Pope urges release of priest in Iraq August 20, 06 Heading Toward an (Inevitable) War in Kirkuk August 20, 06 TWO CHALDEAN PRIESTS KIDNAPPED IN BAGHDAD August 18, 06 Confiscation of the Assyrian villages by the Kurds August 18, 06 The Kurdish Democratic Experiment: an Assyrian Tragedy August 17, 06 Assyrians Experience Slow Cultural Revival In Southeastern Turkey August 17, 06 Lebanese Bishops Call for Single National Leadership August 16, 06 Lebanese Cardinal Concerned About Christian Exodus August 16, 06 In Turkey non Muslims are listed as Foreigners August 14, 06 Murdered Assyrians in Iraq in August August 14, 06 Why Can't A Christian Be More Like A Muslim? Revisited August 13, 06 Peter W. Galbraith's 'The End of Iraq' August 12, 06 Babylon the Great lives August 12, 06 We Don't Want a Proxy War in Lebanon:' Cardinal Sfeir August 10, 06 Go-ahead for dam that will drown history August 9, 06 750,000 Christians Caught in Middle East Crossfire August 8, 06 Arabist Indoctrination At Middlebury College August 8, 06 Middle-Eastern conference: from worship to ‘reunion’ August 8, 06 Hezbollah Uses Christian Villages As Shields in Missile Attacks August 7, 06 Family Pays Ransom in Iraqi Kidnapping August 7, 06 Johanns meets with Iraqi leaders to help rebuild agriculture August 6, 06 Half of all Christians have fled Iraq since 2003, says Baghdad bishop August 4, 06 Christian Persecution Groups Express Concerns for Mideast Believers August 3, 06 Assyrians and Australians will honour Captain Savige for his world war one help August 3, 06 Nuri Kino Wins Swedish Award of: good role model for the youth Aug 1, 06   Archives June, July 06 March April May 06 January- February 06