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Iraqi Police Station Set Up Near Mosul Church


Mosul (AsiaNews) - The opening of a police station near a church in Mosul gives cause for "great concern" to the local community. What in any other country would be a guarantee of more security has the opposite effect in Iraq. Here, churches and police are the preferred targets for attacks and reprisals of all kinds, Fr Ragheed Ganni told AsiaNews. He is the Chaldean parish priest of the Church of the Holy Spirit, already the victim of an attack in summer of 2004. "Last month, they opened a police station next door to my church. If this means a guarantee of security for you, for us, it poses a great danger." The priest talked of "an Easter of explosions and fear" but added that he had never seen such a large number of believers at the celebrations as this year.

"More than four months after historic elections in Iraq, we are still without a government," said Fr Ganni. "There is no security to manage the escalation of violence of daily blasts and murders. The idea is gaining ground that human beings are the least precious commodity, in fact, that they cost nothing. The aim of these criminals seems to be 'kill as many you like, there are many in Iraq and they are worth less than animals'."

Despite bomb blasts and threats, Easter celebrations in Mosul were well attended by the community. "On Good Friday, the city woke up to a massive blast: a car bomb struck a police station, killing six people and injuring dozens. Another blast went off in the street leading to the Church of the Holy Spirit, frequented by civilians, army and police," said the parish priest. Despite all this, the churches were packed with people, "even more than last year".

Saturday was little better. "There were explosions everywhere from the early morning, but we were heartened by the baptism of 10 children. At 4pm, we celebrated the Easter vigil and on Sunday, in the presence of more than 1,500 people, we held Sunday Mass."

On Easter Monday, believers going to church came in for intimidation. Fr Ganni himself received a telephone call early in the morning, warning of three car bombs -- the vehicles were allegedly encircling the church in a bid to attack it. "Fortunately, it was untrue", but in any case, "we would have had no authorities to turn to for protection. At times, we get the impression that no one in the world can hear the voice of the innocent who cry."

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Who are the Christians of Iraq? 

May = Ayar 

Iraqi Police Station Set Up Near Mosul Church May 9, 06

What Arab Civilization? May 9, 06

Seyfo 1915: Lecture about The Missing Chapter of Ottoman History May 7, 06

Assyrian Village in Syria Under Siege by the Security forces May 6, 06

Lamassu, ancient Assyrian Evil repellent May 6, 06 

An in-depth profile of Narsai David the food guru May 5, 06

"Ninavah al Hurra", Arabic For "Free Nineveh" May 4, 06

Assyrians Face Escalating Abuses in "New Iraq" May 3, 06 

The Dangers of Being Christian: Religious Freedom in the Islamic World May 3, 06

Iraqi Christians seek asylum here May 3, 06

No Talabani! Assyrians are an imprtant part of Iraq's roots May 2, 06

April = Neesan

The Friodil Institute and the Assyrian Seyfo April 30, 06

Threats Force Cancellation of Assyrian Genocide Conference in Holland April 29,06

European Parliament Meets Assyrian Politician on Assyrian Question April 28, 06

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Teenager charged with shooting murder of the Assyrian April 28, 06

Assyrian Geoncide Seyfo Monument in Sweden  April 28, 06

Northern Iraq city's fragile ethnic mix perseveres April 27, 06

Angered Copts March to Break Their Long Silence April 25, 06

Stolen Away: Girls of Iraq Gone Missing April 25, 06

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Assyrian Delegation Visits Iraq  April 21, 06

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March = Addar (a's as in Art) 

Mortar Shell Kills Three Women in Baghdad Assyrian Market March 31, 06

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Violence Spreads in Turkey's Kurdish Region March 30, 06

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Brussels Prosecutes Immigrant Priest for Islamophobia March 30, 06

Iraqi Chaldean Prelate Says Christians Feel Desperate March 28, 06

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Leader of the Assyrian Democratic Organization summoned to apear in Court March 27, 06

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US government report on Syria's human rights March 25, 06

Turkey to Renovate Churches and Synagogue  March 25, 06 

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The American Premiere of ASSYRISKA: A National Team Without A Nation March 18, 06

Sectarian divides and violence distress Many Bay Area Iraqis March 18, 06

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Assyrian Genocide on The Liberal Party's Agenda in Sweden March 15, 06

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Announcing the American Premiere of ASSYRISKA: A National Team Without A Nation March 14, 06

Turks' planned demonstration in Berlin stopped March 14, 06

US government report on Iraq's human rights Iraq, Politics March 13, 06

Another Priest attacked in Turkey March 13, 06

Assyrian Elected President of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences March 13, 06

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Muslim's Blunt Criticism of Islam Draws Threats March 11, 06

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In Turkey Assyrians/Syriacs are being robbed of property they owned for thousands of years March 8, 06

Iraqi Women Attacked for Removing Headscarves, NGO Says March 7, 06

Car bomb in Turkey injures Assyrian March 6, 06

ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS KEEP THE FAITH  March 5, 06

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Iraqi Catholics Donate to Rebuild Samarra Mosque March, 3, 06

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A Preliminary Investigation into Assyrian Identity March 3, 06

Firodil Institute Meets The Christian Fair Trade Group March 2, 06 

UNESCO funding reconstruction of destroyed mosques but not Churches March 2, 06

Christian Churches in Iraq Subjected to Synchronized Terrorism March 1, 06

 

 

 

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