Demonstration in Baghdad's neighborhood of Karrada against the expulsion of Christians from Mosul

Fadi Youssef Kamal / Ankawa Com / Baghdad
Translated from Arabic

In Baghdad's Karrada neighborhood a popular demonstration was held by the municipal council of Karrada against the expulsion of Christians from the city of Mosul. Demonstrators started in front of the Church of St. Joseph Chaldean church and advanced toward the Chaldean charity center where Christian and Muslim prayers were said (By Father Louis Shabi, Algerian and Mr. Hadi. A number of organizations of civil community, participated in this demonstration.

In a statement Mr. Mohamed Al-Rubaie (Head of the Municipal Council of the City of Karrada), asserted that:

Indeed, the demonstration had been coordinated between the municipal council of Karrada district, and among the group (Mbadron Aljemtema civil organizations, as a protest against the violence against our Christian brothers in Mosul. He said what happened to the Christians is totally unacceptable and reprehensible and the Government must do its part to protect them, and we call on our fellow Christians to remain in their towns and they are the sons and not house guests, they are the indigenous people. We want to give Karrada as example of the oldest cities where Christians and Muslims have lived side by side as an example of peaceful coexistence and a city of brotherhood to this day. The demonstration also included a mass prayer by Father Louis Shabi, amd Mr. Hadi Algerian offering olive branch of peace, love and brotherhood to the Christians ... We also thank Colonel Ahmed the local police Colonel Iyad Karra da, commander of the National Police in central Baghdad who attended the demonstration ..

A group of young Christians and Muslims Iraqis at the forefront of a demonstration in the Karrada district of central Baghdad yesterday to support the Christians in Mosul (a. P. B)

Demonstrations in Baghdad and Hilla condemns targeting Christians in Mosul
Kurdish Immam denies issuing fatwa calling of targeting christians and Yezidies.

Baghdad, London: «Middle East»

Rallies organized by the government and civilian in Baghdad and the city of Hilla (south of the capital), yesterday, denounced targeting Christians in Mosul, largest city in Nineveh province in northern Iraq.

Mohamed al-Rubaie, head of the municipal council in the Karrada district, central Baghdad deplored and condemned attempts to target Christians in some areas and forcing them to flee, despite being part of the Iraqi civilization ». He called for the government to provide security for them and secure a stable life so that they can return to their homes ».

For his part, Lewis Shabi a pastors of the Chaldean St. Joseph church , expressed resentment over the forced displacement of the Christians of Nineveh », adding that« the majority of the protestors were Muslims who had joined with fellow Christians ».

The participants carried Iraqi flags, amid tight security also raised banners condemning the attacks against Christians who are our brothers ». In turn, "said Mohammed Zuheiry on behalf of civil society organizations« We stand united against the terrorist practices which can not uproot us from our Christian roots ». few kilometers) south of Baghdad, hundreds of civic organizations and governmental organizations gathered in the courtyard of the Church of the Virgin Mary to condemn violence against Christians.


The Christians in Mosul were subjected to a series of attacks highlighted by the kidnapping of a Bishop, last February, who was found dead two weeks later. Christians also suffered a wave of attacks in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Basra which forced many to flee to northern Iraq or abroad.

In a subsequent development, yesterday, the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs of the Kurdistan Regional Government denied the reports that a province mosques imams in Erbil had issued a fatwa to kill Christians and the Yezidies.

The Fatwa is said was directed to the Kurdish Peshmerga forces and other Iraqi security personnel who have been accused of being behind the campaign against Christians in Mosul. The statement said that «newspapers and Web sites had published in the recent period that Mullah Ffersnd Mziuri mosque imam and preacher of justice Hall of the province of Irbil had ordered a fatwa in his Friday sermons to kill Christians and Yezidies. A Times writer had asked the Ministry of Awqaf to put an end to such opinions and flagrant threats », .

The statement added that «the imam called the ministry to deny the validity of the news, saying that he has not mentioned Christians and the Yezidies in his sermons for over a year and a half , the last time he commented about them was when a young girl was killed by the Yezidies, at that time he dealt with this issue in most of his Friday sermons, he acknowledged that his sermon were a bit enthusiastic».

The statement quoted Mullah Ffersnd KFOR as saying "Since then I have spoken in Ktabi only for peace and coexistence in the region."