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The persecution of the Christians

14 March 2005
International Herald Tribune - By Cecilia Wikstrom 


STOCKHOLM - Every day we hear about suicide bombings and kidnappings in Iraq. Most people are probably not aware, however, that the continued existence of one of the country's oldest minorities, the Christian community, is also threatened.

These Christians, nearly one million strong and known as the Chaldo-Assyrians, are in urgent need of the world's forceful assistance. A wave of anti-Christian violence began in earnest last year on Aug. 1 with a bombing campaign against six churches in Mosul that left several people dead. After a series of explosions on Oct. 16, against five churches in Baghdad, some 40,000 Iraqi Christians fled to neighboring countries out of fear of further extremist attacks.

Before January's elections, insurgents intensified their persecution by linking the Christians to the occupying forces. Assassination is one terror tactic used; another is the abduction of Christian businessmen who are held for ransom and often murdered. Christian girls who walk in the streets unveiled have been attacked with acid. Nina Shea of Freedom House has reported how Kurdish administrators have withheld U.S. reconstruction funds from Chaldo-Assyrian areas and confiscated Christian farms and villages. Tens of thousands of Christians were prevented from voting in the January elections.

Many Christians feel they have no option but to consider leaving their ancient homeland en masse. This would be a terrible setback for the vision of a pluralistic, secular and democratic Iraq. The Chaldo-Assyrians still speak the ancient Aramaic language, but they constitute one of the most modern, skilled and educated communities in Iraq.

And a serious long-term policy for Mideast democracy must prioritize the fair treatment of ethnic and religious minorities.

In order to prevent an exodus, Europe must act in concert with the United States, and it needs to be done urgently. Though many Europeans rightfully had qualms about the invasion of Iraq, it is now time for all European states, including my Sweden, to abandon the position of nonengagement. A successful reconstruction of Iraq requires trained soldiers to protect civilian contractors, civil servants, plumbers, electricians, teachers, clergymen and ordinary civilians in their daily lives. Soldiers, police officers and reliable courts are required to safeguard equal rights for various minority ethnic and religious groups.

But so far, Sweden, for one, has done disgracefully little to preserve such rights. It refuses to reopen its embassy in Baghdad or to train military forces inside or outside Iraq. The policy of nonengagement is of course not exclusively Swedish, but it is particularly irresponsible, since a Swedish citizen, Minas Ibrahim al-Yousifi, remains kidnapped and under a death threat in Iraq. He is a prominent member of the Chaldo-Assyrian minority. The need for Sweden at the very least to establish a diplomatic presence in the country is obvious.

The Chaldo-Assyrians are gradually being driven out of their ancestral homeland. Can Western Europeans afford to look away from a safe distance as this forced ethnic cleansing takes place in the very cradle of civilization?

Cecilia Wikstrom is the Swedish Liberal Party's spokeswoman on Middle East affairs.

International HeraldTribune,

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Who are the Christians of Iraq? 

The persecution of the Christians in Iraq  March 14, 05

An open letter form Turkey to the people of the world. March 14, 05

Yonadam Kanna on ChaldoAssyrians and Iraq Assembly March 10, 05

Interview: Iraqi cleric -- Civil war impossible: March 8, 05

How Ancient syrians helped communities to prosper March 8, 05

Iraqi women face uphill battle to maintain their rights March 8, 2005

The eagerly awaited Assyrian dictionary by Gabriel Afram March 7.05

Torment of the Assyrians of Turkey after world war one by the Turks and the Kurds March 5, 05

The Tragic Situation of the Assyrians of Barwari Bala March 4, 05 

The persecution of the Christians in Iraq March 2, 2005

Relentless pressures drive Christians from the Middle East  March  1, 05

Iran Sentenced Protestant clergyman to three years in prison  March 1, 05 

Demonstrators Protested The disenfranchisement of the Assyrians in Iraqi Elections in Front of UN  Feb. 27, 05

Assyrian Christians of Iraq wanted to vote but were not allowed. Feb. 27, 05

Is Christianity Growing in Iram? Feb. 26, 05

Letters of Protest to the Independant Elections Council of iraq  Feb. 24, 05 

Assyrians a forgotten minority  Feb. 24, 05 

SAT-7 to Broadcast First TV Show Made by and about Iraqi Christians Feb. 24, 05

Iraqi Assyrians are victims of Kurdish ethnic cleansing Feb, 23, 05

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Assyrians from the fall Nineveh to the Present Feb. 20, 05

Iraqi Prelate Confident Exiled Christians Will Return Feb. 20, 05

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Iraqi exile voters put Chaldo-Assyrian Christian in Iraqi assembly Feb. 16, 05

Assyrian demonstrations protest Iraqi voting lock out Feb. 16, o5

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Assyrian Christians Here Say Iraq Vote Unfair Feb. 14, 05 

Iraqi Militant Group Claims Kidnapping of a Christian Feb. 13, 05

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Protest in Europe to Bring Attention to the Iraqi voting Injustice  Feb. 12, 05

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AUA appeals to World Governments to restore voting rights to Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs and Yazidis Feb. 11, 05  

Iraqi Assyrian Christians Flee to Safer Ground  Feb. 10, 05

Iraq electoral commission admits ballot box irregularities In the Christian Assyrian Region Feb. 07, 05

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Iraqi Turkmen Accuse Kurds of Voting of Fraud  Jan. 30, 05

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Christian Assyrians Face Obstacles in Iraqi Elections Feb. 3, 05

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Iraqis Report a Variety of Complaints About Irregularities on Election Day Feb 2, 05

Iraqi Christians claim their votes blocked   Feb. 2, 05

Assyria: 150,000 Chaldo Assyrians Protest Their Exclusion From Voting  Feb. 2, 05

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ADM Press Release protesting the prevention of the Assyrians in northern Iraq from voting.    Jan. 31, 05

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Assyrians Prevented By Kurds From Voting in North Iraq  Jan. 30, 05 

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Arizona Assyrian Iraqis travel to California to vote Jan. 30, 05

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Assyrian Christians Protest Iraqi Election with Crucifixion/Fast in New York! Jan. 29, 05

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Artifacts Give the Ancient Assyrian Side of the Old Testament Story  Jan. 28, 05

Iraqis in Canada prepare to hit the polls Jan. 28, 05

Iraqi Christians Pray and Brace for Election Outcome  Jan. 27, 05 

Campaign in London to Save Assyrian Christians Jan. 26, 05

Ex-archbishop in fight to save ancient Christians Jan. 24, 05

Trek to democracy Ariz. residents heading to LA to register, vote Jan. 23, 05

Iraq Overseas Voter Registration Extended   Jan. 22, 05

Map and Driving Directions to the Iraqi Voter Regestration center 

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Iraq Overseas Voter Registration Extended   Jan. 22, 05

Travels of the First Assyrian to the New World

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Critics: Limited number of Iraqi po lling places in United State disenfranchises Christians Jan. 19, 05

CSI Founder Welcomes Release of Kidnapped Archbishop in Iraq Jan. 19, 05

Local Iraqis make long journey  Jan. 18, 05

Seyfo: The Unmentioned Genocide of the Assyrians during world war one Jan. 18, 05

I prayed and was ready for the worse, says the Bishop of Mosul Jan. 18. 05

Many Iraqis travel far to register to vote Jan. 30  Ja n 18, 05

Relief after kidnapped Iraqi archbishop is released Jan, 18, 05

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Armed Kurdish Groups Terrorize Assyrian Town in Iraq Jan. 15, 05

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Chaldean population in Sterling Heights to take part in shaping new Iraq  Jan. 4, 05

Minority Christian groups want more parliamentary clout  Jan. 4, 05

Egypt frees Christians detained over December unrest  Jan 4, 05

Bleeding of the Week  Jan. 3, 05 

World's Assyrians savour Swedish soccer saga Jan. 2, 05  

Christians provide their own security for Christmas  Dec. 25, 04

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USCIRF Letter to President Bush about the Non-Moslems in Iraq Dec. 21, 04

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Despite Fear of Attacks Baghdad Christians celebrate birth of Christ Dec. 21 ,04 

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Christmas services canceled by fearful Iraqi Christians Dec. 20, 04

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The Advantages of a Governate Region Versus Safe Heaven  Dec. 1. 04

AINA: Appeal for a ChaldoAssyrian Safe Haven in Northern Iraq  Nov. 30, 04

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Appeal for a ChaldoAssyrian Safe Haven in Iraq  Nov. 24, 04

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Iraqi Christians seek U.S. support  Nov. 23, 04

A Conference for the Defense of Human rights for Minorities in Iraq  Nov. 18, 04

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Northern Iraq's Mosul Tense After U.S. Air Strikes Nov. 12, 04

Bombs explode at Baghdad Orthodox churches Nov . 8, 04

Militants bomb Orthodox church in Baghdad  Nove. 8, 04

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Iraqi Christians Face Escalating violence: Urgent Appeal For Help  Nov. 4, 04

Update of Opression and Murder of the Assyrians in Iraq Nov. 4, 04

Two Assyrians Killed in Syria  NOv. 3, 04

Assyrian Family Attacked in Baghdad, Two Killed  NOv. 2, 04

Restoring Sanity to Iraq  Oct. 25, 04

Apeal for an Administration region for the Christians of Iraq  Oct. 24, 04

Kurd's Confiscation of Assyrian Villages  Oct. 25, 04

Christians of Iraq under Siege Oct. 25, o4

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