Christians of Iraq
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Christians of Iraq
Contact Comments & Feedback Historical articles Historical pictures Photos of Bombed Churches Home Only this link has access to all News articles
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Enough Is Enough - Six Assyrian Christian Churches Bombed in Iraq! Ken Joseph Jr.
Thursday February 2, 2006
Following a series of bombing of Assyrian Christian Churches in Baghdad and Kirkuk which left one dead and 14 wounded the commuinity is demanding help.
Lost admits the discussions of the "Shiites", "Sunnis" and "Kurds" in Iraq
are the most important people in Iraq - the Assyrian Christians!Referrred to as the `canary in the mine` they are viewed as the barometer for progress in Iraq. If the original people of Iraq feel they have a future then there is a future for Iraq - if they do not then all of Iraq will suffer.
Often mistaken as referring to religious communities for Iraqis the names of the various sects simply refer to where one was born - one can be a complete non-believer and still be counted as a "shiite" or "sunni" the names simply being references to geographical areas of Iraq.
The reality on the ground? Thanks to the long rule of secular Saddam Hussein
few Iraqis' are religious at all and are staunchly secular just as afraid of falling under the influence of neighboring Iran as they were of Saddam.In contrast the Assyrian Christians are deeply religious and many attend
daily services.Unfortunately caught between the Americans who refuse to help them in any
significant way lest they be seen in any to favor "Christians" and the
massive assistance from every moslem country in the world which is never
given to any "non-moslem" they have been abandoned to a cruel fate.The recent string of bombings is testimony to the failure of the Coalition authorities and international community to balance the lopsided massive support for radical moslem elements in the country with that for the Assyrian Christians and other non-moslem, secular communities.
And yet in the midst of it all there is hope for this wonderful community
which are the people of Nineveh in the story of Jonah and the Whale, the
first Christian nation in history and the only people who still speak the
language of Jesus Christ - Aramaic.While the southern half of Iraq is already being referred to as "Western
Iran" much to the consternation of her residents who have seen one dictator
replaced with another, the Northern part of Iraq is doing very well.Divided in reality into what is practically "shiastan" in the south,
"sunnistan" in the middle, "kurdistan" in the North East and "Assyria"
sandwiched between them all Assyria and Kurdistan are doing very well!A proposal is coming to the fore to provide for the Assyrian Christians what
the Kurds enjoy - The Assyrian Regional Government complete with a
Constitution written word for word after the Kurdistan Regional Government
Constitution, a flag, a local parliament and local self government.Recently both Prime Minister Jaffari and Foreign Minister Jaffari both
privately and publicly expressed support for such an arrangement provided
for in the Iraqi Constitution.`The Kurds have Kurdistan - the Assyrian Christians have the same rights and
in fact should have a province of their own` said Iraqi Foreign Minister.`Whenever I travel I make it a point to meet with the Assyrian Christians.
They are the original people of Iraq. Whatever they need to continue to live
in their homeland we will do.` commented Prime Minister Jaffari of Iraq.Further in recent days a shift has been seen in the United States Congress
with recent comments by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joseph
Biden who said when presented the idea of an Assyrian Regional Government as
a way to keep this community in the country and encourage many have to left
to return `I fully agree with this assessment of the situation in Iraq and
support fully the concept. What can we do to see it happen?`In a rare agreement across the aisle on Iraq, Republican Senator Orin Hatch
echoed Biden's comments by saying `It is a good idea. I fully support the
concept and whatever we can do to see it happen has my support.`As in everything the devil is in the details.
According to State Department sources support from the Iraqi Government,
United States Congress joined with support by the Administration would
enable the State Department through the the Embassy in Baghdad to move
forward with such a plan.`There are of course many details that would have to be worked out - voting,
residency, careful protection for minorities in the areas. security and a
host of items but if support can be found on the ground and in the
International Community it might very well be a solution to the current
situation in Iraq` said a State Department source.Further conditional support from the Japanese Government and the EU - the
second and third largest donors to post war reconstruction in Iraq are
moving the momentum forward for such a proposal seen by some as a solution
to the `brain drain` taking place in Iraq.`If we do not provide adequate protection in the form of not only security
but political cover for minority communities including the Assyrian
Christians in Iraq than as is already happening the precise people we need
to stay in the country to help rebuilt it will continue to leave`. said one
expert.`If we fail to provide an area for the Assyrian Christians they will all be ultimately forced to migrate to the United States, Europe, Australia and other areas. The solution is one in their own homeland.`
A fourth `homeland` in Iraq after `shiastan`, `sunnistan` and `kurdistan` a
novel idea to some but a possible solution to others.In addition to an area that encompasses the historic `Assyria` the community has put together their own Regional Government Law based on the Kurdish Regional Government law provided for in the Iraqi Constitution.
A recent CNN program featured a commentator comparing the situation to the
United Kingdom where the whole is preserved by maximum autonomy to the
parts - Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland which have their own
similar local autonomy.With growing momentum and support from the Iraqi Government, US, EU, Japan
and others a possible solution to the situation in Iraq is unfolding.While the original plan for Iraq to become a thriving democracy in the
Middle East seems to have largely been lost at least the Northern part of
Iraq - Assyrian and Kurdistan if provided the proper autonomy and protection
can succeed so that at least part of Iraq moves forward.Much like Hong Kong and its freewheeling capitalist and free system has been
the impetus to move China towards liberalization as its influence `bleeds`
across the border into the mainland the future of Iraq could very well hinge
on whether the International Community steps up to the plate and insists on
the original people of Iraq - the Assyrian Christians being provided their
constitutionally guaranteed autonomy.This his community with an estimated 10% of the population of Iraq according to pre-war figures may well decide the future of Iraq.
The bombings may very well be one last message to the outside world to help provide for an area for the original people of Iraq so they can have a future.
Ken Joseph Jr.
www.assyrianchristians.com