Christians of Iraq

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

USCIRF Testifies to Killing, Harassment of Mideast Christians  July 2, 06          WASHINGTON (Reuters) --- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) vice chair testified Friday before a house subcommittee that Christian minorities in the Middle East are killed and harassed by governments. In a hearing titled "The Plight of Religious Minorities: Can Religion Pluralism Survive?" Nina Shea, USCIRF Vice Chair, spoke about the religious freedom conditions in Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and offered recommendations for U.S. policy. "One of the common themes that cuts across each of these countries, and several others for that matter, is the extent to which a government perpetuates hatred against religious minorities and fosters religious extremism within its society or even beyond its borders through its education system, the official media, and other government policies," Shea summarized after reporting on the situation in each country before the House International Relations (HIRC) Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations yesterday. The USCIRF vice chair began her testimony with Egypt, which has been on the Commission's Watch List since 2002. Shea reported that "discrimination, intolerance, and other human rights violations" is affecting a wide range of religious groups including Coptic Orthodox Christians and those that do not adhere to the state-favored interpretation of Sunni Islam occur in Egypt. Shea noted that relations between Egypt's Muslims and Christians are "increasingly strained," giving as an example knife attacks on Christian worshippers at three churches in Alexandria in April that left an elderly man dead and up to 16 injured. "Although the government claimed that a mentally disturbed man was the lone perpetrator, there is evidence that these attacks were religiously motivated," said Shea. Christians were also attacked by extremists earlier this year near Luxor, where more than a dozen were injured, and last October in Alexandria, where three were killed during clashes. In addition, permits to build or repair non-Muslim houses of worship are difficult under restrictive rules, according to Shea. Iran's religious freedom record was said to have "deteriorated" over the past year as "all minority groups are facing intensified harassment, detention, arrests, and imprisonment. Repression has risen to a level not seen since the years immediately following the 1979 revolution," testified the international human rights lawyer. In particular, reports indicate that many Iranian Christians have fled the country after falling victim to persecution. "In the face of this violence, members of these fragile communities continue to flee the country in an exodus that may mean the end of the presence in Iraq of ancient Christians and other religious minority communities that have lived on those same lands for 2,000 years," said Shea. As example, Shea noted that in the past 15 years, many Christian have been reportedly killed at the hands of government authorities and more than a dozen are reported missing or "disappeared." The indigenous, ancient Iraqi Christian community is also under the threat of fleeing the country under the constant threat of violence, including the target of coordinated bomb attacks, over the past two years. In Pakistan, religious extremism resulting in violence and discriminatory legislations were stated as the two sources of problems. Similarly, in Saudi Arabia, the government violates religious freedom through the strict enforcement of intolerant laws banning all forms of public religious expression other than the government's interpretation and enforcement of the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam. Commissioner Shea has served on the Commission since it began its work in 1999, has been an international human rights lawyer for 25 years, and is the director of the Center for Religious Freedom, a division of Freedom House. The USCIRF was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State and the Congress. ----

Who are the Christians of Iraq?  July = Tammuz USCIRF Testifies to Killing, Harassment of Mideast Christians July 2, 06 ‘Seyfo’ Monument Design Competition July 2, 06 June = Khzeeran Text of Rosie Malek-Yonan's testimony before the House Committee on International Relations June 30, 06 UK Assyrians Honour British MP June 30, 06 The forgotten Assyrian Christians of Mesopotamia June 28, 06 The Assyrian Empire revisited in China June 30, 06 Rosie Malek Yonan will Testify about Genocide before a Congressional Committee June 29, 06 The Plight of the Assyrians of Iraq June 28, 06 Living in the Grave Yard June 28, 06 Yes! Ashur Yousif is Dead but he Speaks June 26, 06 More Threats Against Basrawi Christians June 25, 06 Kurds Block Assyrians, Shabaks From Police Force in North Iraq June 18, 06 Iraqi Catholics in U.S. See Continuing Challenges in Their Homeland June 18, 06 Assyrian University Students Beaten By Iraqi Police June 18, 06 Assyrian leaders meet with Laura Bush June 17, 06 Assyrians in the World War I Treaties: Paris, Sèvres, and Lausanne June 16, 06 Iraqi Christians In Saskatoon Canada Want Peace in Their Homeland June 14, 06 Priceless Assyrian Relics Used for Target Practice June 14, 06 Kurd's Plan to Change the Demographics of Northern Iraq in their Favour June 14, 06 Questions assyrians would like to ask Turkey June 14, 06 Iraq's Minority Communities Look Abroad for Asylum June 13, 06 Assyrians Demonstrate in Washington, D.C.  June 12, 06 Turkey turns the confiscated church into a pornographic movie theatre June 12, 06 Continuing Persecution Renews Calls for Assyrian Safe-Haven in Iraq June 9. 06 Assyrian Demonstrations in Washington D.C. June 8, 06 Safety Zone Could Be the Answer for Iraq's Endangered Peoples June 8, 06 Assyrian Christians Object to Exclusion in Iraq Homeland June 07, 06 Welsh Members of UK Parliament Recognize the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide June 6, 06 Violence against the Assyrians in Iraq updated  June 4, 06  New Book Release by Sargon Donabed June, 2, 06  The European MP letter to the Syrian Embassy June 1, 06 Asking for Equal rights is considered racist by the Kurdish Regional Government June 1, 06 May = Ayar  Australian Parliamentary Debate Focuses On Plight Of Assyrians May 30, 06 Kurdish Democratic Party Using Ishtar to undermine Ashur May 27, 06 New CD of Assyrian Songs May 25, 06 Kanno and Cardoz prepare for District 18 election May 25, 06 Kurd's Treatment of the Assyrians May 24, 06 Iraq's Christians face ethnic cleansing May 24, 06 Update inforamtion about Iran's Markers for none Muslim May 23, 06 British Museum joins puzzle craze as host to TV gameshow May 22, 06 The Relentless Kurdish Campaign to Undermine Assyrian Rights May 22, 06 Iran's Draft Law on Dress Has Many Worried  May 22, 06 Judge Sentences the Iraqi Christians to Six Months in Jail May 21, 06 Iran eyes badges for Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians May 20, 06 Fallacy of a Kurdish Intelectual May 19, 06 Continuing Kurdish Denial of Iraqi Assyrians and Their Plight May 18, 06 Kurdish Mob Attacks Assyrian School Children in North Iraq May 18, 06 Jameel Rafael Reply to the Chladean Church Patriarch May 18, 06 Bringing Security To The Chaotic South Iraq May 17, 06 Dutch Assyrian MP Raises Issue of Assyrians in North Iraq May 17, 06 Kirkuk Christians Fear Rising Violence May 17, 06 Excluions of ADM from the northern Iraqi Government May 16, 06 Tourism could tear page from history books May 16,06 Lost Page in History, Finally Discovered May 15, 06 Violence Robs Iraq of Christian Heritage May 14, 06 Turkey Bombs Christian Village in Northern Iraq May 13, 06 Was the Assyrian 'Rimu' mistranslated as unicorn? May 13, 06 Kurdish Selective Amnesia & the Endless Genocide of the Assyrians May 11, 06 Assyrians Face Escalating Abuses in "New Iraq" May 11, 06 Who will save Iraq's Christians May 10, 06 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 The West vs. Christianity? April 28, 06 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 Islamists Down Under April 25, 06 Assyrian Delegation Visits Iraq  April 21, 06 Assyrians hope to dispel myths April 21, 06 `Idol'-style contest spotlights music for a new generation April 21, 06 Assyrian Dutch politician Gamri visits the Assyrian's in Iraq during Ha b Nisan. April 20, 06 A Day Dedicated to St. Ephrem the Assyrian April 18, 06 Iraqi Christians brave violence to celebrate Easter April 17, 05 Iraqis Find Respite in Faith, Priest Says April 16, 06  US Colonel Offers Iraq an Apology of Sorts for Devastation of Babylon April 14, 06  Unesco intends to put the magic back in Babylon April 14, 06 Christian Killed in Islamist Raids on Egypt Churches April 14, 06 Shore Senior Center chooses 7 directors April 14, 06 Assyrians of Australia Divided By Fear After Shooting Death April 12, 06 County Legislators Endorse Assyrian Candidate April 12, 06 The Shattering of the Syriac Orthodox Church! April 12, 06 Islamizing American Schools April 10, 06 Cry unheard - Genocide and Me April 9, 06 Should We Constantly Be Victims? April 7, 06 European Parliament Report; Iraq: Situation in prisons and the Assyrian community April 7, 06 Assyrian new Year in the Advance News paper Australia April 6, 06 Neglect of Iraqi Christians by President Bush  April 6, 06 Ignoring Christians and Ethnic Minorities in Arab Muslim Countries April 6, 06 Iraq's Greatest Treasure to Start World Tour in Washington April 6, 06 Lifetime Detention of an Assyrian in Syria Violates Human Rights April 5, 06 Substitution of Civilizations Is the Real Risk: European MP April 5, 06 Assyrian New Year Celebrations in Sweden April 5, 06 A Tribute to Nuri Kino April 4, 06 Outside View: Condoleezza's Folly April 4, 06 Petition aksing for Assyrian Territory in Iraq April 4, 06 Killings Stoke Fear Among Assyrian Shopkeepers April 4, 06 The West Versus Christianity? April 3, 06 Assyrian New Year Celebrations in Iraq April 2, 06 The Ghost in the Baghdad Museum April 2, 06 Conversations with the Assyrians of Mardin April 1, 06 Turlock's Assyrian community rings in year 6756 with dinner, dance April 1, 06 Italians find ancient Ur tablets April 1, 06 March = Addar (a's as in Art)  Mortar Shell Kills Three Women in Baghdad Assyrian Market March 31, 06 Creulty of Nations and the Hollier than thou preaching  Mrch 31, 06 Violence Spreads in Turkey's Kurdish Region March 30, 06 Iraqi Commander Says, 'We Didn't Find a Mosque' March 30, 06 Brussels Prosecutes Immigrant Priest for Islamophobia March 30, 06 Iraqi Chaldean Prelate Says Christians Feel Desperate March 28, 06 Press Release about ASSYRISKA: the Movie  March 29, 06 Who will save Iraq's Christians? March 28, 06 Leader of the Assyrian Democratic Organization summoned to apear in Court March 27, 06 Therefore Jews call their script 'ketuv Ashuri'; Assyrian script March 27, 06 The Future of the Assyrians of Iraq: A Safe Haven vs. Self-Administrative Region Mach 27, 06 A Child in need of help March 26, 06 3 Years of War Wither a Family's Seed of Hope March 26, 06 Kurd's - Persian New Year and its Assyrian - Babylonian origin March 26, 06 US government report on Syria's human rights March 25, 06 Turkey to Renovate Churches and Synagogue  March 25, 06  When Islamic Laws Contradict the Universal Declaration of Human Rights March 23, 06 The Foolishness of imposing Oppressive Arab Nationalism on None Arabs March 23, 06  Afghan Man Faces Death for Being a Christian March 21, 06  THE QUR'AN: MISINTERPRETED, MISTRANSLATED, AND MISREAD March 21, 06 Human tragedy of the Syrian citizen Yacoub Hanna Shamoun March 21, 06 The Treasure Hunter March 19, 06  Kha b'Nissan Assryian New Year Celebrations in Los Angeles 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 Trouble in Kurdistan March 17, 06  'TALAT PASHA RALLY' GATHERS 15 CHAUVINISTIC TURKS March 17, 06 Investigating Assyrian canals across time, from space March 17, 06 Turkey Should not Deny the Truth if it wants to be believed March 16, 06 Assyrian Genocide on The Liberal Party's Agenda in Sweden March 15, 06 Turkish Large-Scale campaign Project 2006 - so called "The Lie of the Armenian and Assyrian Genocide." March 15, 06 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 In Syria's prison without cause for More than 20 Years  March 12, 06 Muslim's Blunt Criticism of Islam Draws Threats March 11, 06 An Interview with Rosie Malek-Yonan by akitu.de.vu March 11, 06 IRAQI CHRISTIANS: CAUGHT IN A REFUGEE WEB  March 9, 06 Will You be an Assyrian Actor? March 8, 06 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 "Christians do not wants to leave Iraq for good" March 4, 06 Iraqi Catholics Donate to Rebuild Samarra Mosque March, 3, 06 Relatives and friends gather at store where 2 were slain March 3, 06 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       January- February 06  Archives