Christians of Iraq

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

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---- Iraqi bishop calls for Christian gathering: unite to be counted and more secure 8 November 8. 2006 IRAQ Iraqi bishop calls for Christian gathering: unite to be counted and more secure The bishop of Kirkuk made an appeal to religious and political Iraqi leaders: meet to draw up a common position on the situation in Iraq, to face the scourge of migration and to play a more pro-active role in national reconstruction. We publish the text of Mgr Sako’s appeal. Kirkuk (AsiaNews) – Drawing a “common line” about conditions and problems of Christians in Iraq, “uniting demands” for political and civil rights and duties, researching “development projects” for villages in a bid to contain growing emigration. This would be the agenda of a meeting of all political and religious leaders of the Iraqi Christian community called by the Archbishop of Kirkuk, Mgr Louis Sako. The bishop told AsiaNews such a meeting needed to be held urgently, especially in view of the “difficult and risky” idea of creating a “safe zone for Christians” in Iraq. In fact, the possibility of creating a new “administrative region” around the northern province of Nineveh is being discussed more and more, recently winning the support of the US Church. Such a region would be directly linked to the central government of Baghdad and would aim to offer Christians more security and control over their activities. Mgr Sako launched his appeal from the columns of the Arab-language website ankawa.com. The bishop himself sent AsiaNews the translation of his appeal, which we publish below. Appeal for a conference of the state of Christians in Iraq! The current tragic situation of Iraqi Christians calls for the organization of a general conference in which all parties will take part: leaders of Christian parties (at least eight), religious leaders (their role consists in guiding and conserving human values, Christian and national, not to indulge in politics), intellectuals and experts. Some experts could be Muslims, in order to study the Iraqi situation in general and the Christian one in particular. At the end of the meeting, it would be necessary to draw up an official document on the Iraqi situation and the position of Christians in this regard. The meeting should be prepared in serious, prudent and global way, and with the consensus of all participants. Points to be discussed: - Choosing a name that unites all Iraqi Christians. For example: Assyrian-Chaldeans, Chaldeans, Syrians, Assyrians, or Armenians. Or else Christians, including everyone. Their strength lies in their unity and in their cultural and economic clout: division leads to a loss of their rights and diminishes their national role in the construction of the country. - Clarify an objective and integral vision of the future of Christians of Iraq. In fact, they reveal themselves to be marginalized and weak. But the fault is theirs, because they are divided. - Unite demands about their rights and duties as citizens, both as regards the Iraqi Constitution as well as that of Kurdistan, so that both texts will be to the satisfaction of all. - Agree on a plan to develop Christian villages, where the majority of people are unemployed and paying high rent. The project should evaluate factors like lodging, agriculture, schools, private universities, and cultural and social centres. Thus the problem of emigration, with the consequent drain of human capabilities, could be resolved. European religious institutions could help and open missions at least in the safe zone. - Forming a committee (a sort of League) that unites diverse Christian activities and that could become the mouthpiece of Iraqi Christians, respecting the unique aspects of each party and church without getting lost in details. The aim would be to draft a clear official document that outlines the history of Christians in Iraq and their contribution to cultures – Arab, Kurdish, Muslim – and articulates their stand on the current situation. + Louis Sako Archbishop of Kirkuk http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=7691

Who are the Christians of Iraq? Tishrin II = November Iraqi bishop calls for Christian gathering: unite to be counted and more secure Nov. 8, 06 Proud Assyrian Survivor Can Move on Nov. 7, 06 Assyrian Genocide Victims Discovered In Turkey: Report Nov. 6, 06 Lecture by DR. DONNY GEORGE former Chairman, Board of Antiquities, Iraq Nov. 6, 06 Assyrian areas in northern Iraq as shown in a map by Newsweek Nov. 3, 06 Church calls for action over gruesome violence toward Christians in Iraq Nov. 2, 06 Evidence of Turkey's World War One Massacres Covered up by the Military” Nov. 2, 06 This Was Genocide, But Armenians Were Not Its Only Victims Nov. 1, 06 Assyrian UN Delegation Calls for Autonomous Region for Iraq's Assyrians Nov. 1, 06 Tishrin 1 = October The West Turns a Blind Eye to the Ethnic Cleansing of Christians in Iraq Oct. 31, 06 U.S. Bishops Call for Protection of Iraq's Christians Oct. 30, 06 Hood celebrates 150th anniversary of Assyrian reliefs Oct. 30, 06 Assyrian History On Display Oct. 29, 06 Freedom of Religion Key for All in Iraq Oct. 29, 06 14 years young Assyrian boy decapitated in Iraq Oct. 29, 06 Assyrian civic club marks 60 years Oct. 27, 06 From Discovery to Dartmouth: The Assyrian Reliefs Oct. 27, 06 Sargis Aghajan: A Saint or a Wolf in Sheep's Clothing? Oct. 26, 06 Priest Sends SOS for Christians in Iraq; Faithful Flee, Churches Close in Baghdad Oct. 25, 06 The World Must Speak About the ongoing Assyrian Genocide Oct. 25, 06 Iraqi Militias Conducting Ethnic Cleansing Campaign Against Baghdad's Christians Oct. 23, 06 Pope Urges World Leaders to Help Iraqis Rebuild Troubled Nation Oct. 23, 06 Iraq's Christian Assyrians: Living in Fear Oct. 23, 06 Assyrians built aqueducts to bring water to Nineveh predating Romans by 400 years. Oct. 23, 06 Hope for Assyrian Christians 'Rapidly Dying,' Says Former Iraqi Minister Oct. 20, 06 Christians Live in Fear of Death Squads in Iraq Oct. 20, 06 Congresswoman Esho's Letter to Rice about the endengered Christians of Iraq Oct. 20, 06 IRAQ: CHRISTIANS LIVE IN FEAR Oct. 20, 06 Iraq: Christian Minority Seeks Haven From Violence Oct. 19, 06 GEORGIA: Will mob halt Assyrian Catholic centre? Oct. 19, 06 Ancient ruins inspire hope in U.S. forces in Pre-Christian Iraq . Oct. 18, 06 Christian Migration From Mid-East At Heart of Patriarchs' Meeting Oct. 19, 06 Assyrian language Lecture and Seminar in London Oct. 19, 06 Save Us from the Time of Trial Oct. 18, 06 Persecution of non-Muslims increases in Iraq. Oct. 18, 06 In Iraq, a New Level of Threat to Christians Oct. 17, 06 World Has Forgotten Iraqi Christians: Chaldean Patriarch Oct. 16, 06 Some 500 people attend funeral of beheaded priest Oct. 16, 06 Christians are vacating land of Christ Oct. 15, 06 Threats force Iraqi Christians to flee to Syria Oct. 15, 06 Turkey starts to admit it has an ‘Armenian Question’ Oct. 15, 06 Some Turks change religion as way to West Oct. 14, 06 Beleaguered Yazidi find peace high in Iraq's northern mountains Oct. 14, 06 Beheading of Iraqi priest latest attack on minorities Oct. 14, 06 Kurdish Militia Attacks Assyrian TV Station in North Iraq Oct. 13, 06 Iraq priest 'killed over pope's speech' Oct. 13, 06 More than 35,000 Christians have fled violence in Iraq Oct. 13, 06 Prominent Assyrian Priest Beheaded Oct. 12, 06 Father Paulos Iskandar Killed by Terrorist Abductors Oct. 12, 06 Who Will Remember the Assyrian Genocide? Oct. 11, 06 Abducted and raped, young Christian women and girls are driven to suicide in Iraq Oct. 11, 06 Was the genocide of the Ottoman Empire in1915 only against the Armenians, or included Assyrians also? Oct. 10, 06 Traditional Assyrian Costumes Oct. 9, 06 Organisation and Substitutionism Oct. 8, 06 A Nation Without a Country Oct. 8, 06 Swedish authorities honor Malfono Gabriel Afram Oct. 7, 06 Christian husband and wife converts from Islam released Oct. 7, 06 Terror campaign targets Christians of Iraq Oct. 6, 06 In 20 years, there will be no more Christians in Iraq' Oct. 5, 06 \FIRST-PERSON: Assyrian haircut Oct. 5, 06 The Assyrians: Ignored Among Fears of an Iraqi Civil War Oct. 4, 06 Two Iranian Christians arrested in Mashad. Oct. 4, 06 Car Bombs at the Christian Assyrian shopping district in Baghdad killed 16, injured 87 Oct. 4, 06 30 Christian families receive threats to leave Mosul - Iraq Oct. 2, 06 Mr. Sarkis Aghajan, the Finance Minister of the Kurdistan regional Government Asks for more rights for the Assyrians Oct. 2, 06 Ealool = September National Council of Churches Ignores Christian Suffering Sept. 29, 06 Violence Against Christians Grows in Iraq Sept. 29, 06 EP Report Drops Genocide Clause, Calls for Investigation Sept. 28, 06 Nenveh Essa, 21, studied accounting, Dies in Car Accident Sept. 27, 06 Kurds and Arabs Vie for Control of Mosul Sept. 26, 06 Iraq ensnared in quest to escape Arab politics Sept. 25, 06 Two Assyrian churches attacked in Mosul and Baghdad Sept. 25, 06 Turkey invites Assyrian and Armenian dignitaries to meal that breaks daily Muslim fast. Sep. 25, 06 Dutch Lawmaker May Remove Assyrian Genocide Reference in Report on Turkey Sept. 25, 06 Tense Time for Christians in Iraq Sep. 24, 06 Assyrian Church Bombed in Baghdad; 2 Dead, 17 Injured Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian Police Officer Murdered in Mosul Sept. 24, 06 Assyrian-Swedish journalist investigates the arrest of the Assyrian-Georgian General Sept. 21, 06 Muslims react to the speech of Pope Benedict XVI Sept. 20, 06 Iraq: International Religious Freedom Report 2006 Sept. 19, 06 Fear Strikes Iraq's Christians Over Pope Words Sept. 19, 06 Assyrian Cultural Day Sept. 19, 06 When Iraqi Christians Vanish, Locals Pay the Price Sept. 18, 06 Dozens Dead in Kirkuk Bombings Sept. 17, 06 Book Exhibit in Baghdeda Iraq Sept. 17, 06 Second Assyrian Christian Killed in Retaliation for Pope's Remarks Sept. 17, 06 The Hellenic, Armenian and Assyrian Communities in the Late Ottoman Empire and Modern Turkey Sept. 16, 06 'I Felt God Was With Me,' Says Released Assyrian Priest' Sept. 15, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 15, 06 Rosie Malek - Yonan Documentary, My Assyrian Nation on the Edge Sept. 14, 06 Two Assyrians Killed in Separate Terrorist Attacks Sept. 14, 06 Kirkuk: The potential spark for civil war Sept. 14, 06 Sabri Atman in Sweden Sept. 14, 06 Assyrian Candidate Gains Republican Endorsement Sept. 13, 06 Priest Abducted in Baghdad Was Threatened and Tortured Sept. 13, 06 Assyrians Accuse Kurdish Authorities of Discrimination Sept. 12, 06 Priest Kidnapped in Baghdad Released Sept. 12, 06 Turkey's refusal to acknowledge the Assyrian, Armenian genocide Sept. 10, 06 Rosie Malek - Younan; The Assyrian Woman of the Year Sept. 10, 06 Lebanese Bishops Chastise Hizbullah, Back Siniora Sept. 6, 06 A Feast Awaits At Annual Assyrian Festival Sept. 6, 06 Prominent Assyrian Christian Leaves Iraq. Says Work Situation 'Intolerable' Sept. 5, 06 Turkey's terror against Christians in Midyat Sept. 4, 06 Syria; Sanctuary for Iraq's Displaced Christians Sept. 3, 06 August = Tubbakh Assyrians honour the Lt General Sir Stanley Savige KBE CB DSO MC ED August 31,06 Assyrian archaeologist resigns amid threats by the fundamentalists August 31, 06 Assyrians: from Bebar Khan to Saddam Hussein (a new book) August 28, 06 Donny George of Iraq's State Board of Antiquity, Heritage Flees to Syria August 28, 06 A New Film by Lina Yakubova August 27, 06 PM Maliki urges tribal unity in Iraq August 27, 06 Lebanese Bishops Appeal for a Stop to the Christian Exodus August 24, 06 Iraqi Christians Caught in the Crossfire August 23, 06 Assyrian Universal Alliance, Australian Chapter Meeting in Canberra August 23, 06 Iraqi Christians on Edge After Priest's Kidnapping August 23, 06 The Secrets Of Mustafa Barzani In KGB Archives August 23, 06 Pope urges release of priest in Iraq August 20, 06 Heading Toward an (Inevitable) War in Kirkuk August 20, 06 TWO CHALDEAN PRIESTS KIDNAPPED IN BAGHDAD August 18, 06 Confiscation of the Assyrian villages by the Kurds August 18, 06 The Kurdish Democratic Experiment: an Assyrian Tragedy August 17, 06 Assyrians Experience Slow Cultural Revival In Southeastern Turkey August 17, 06 Lebanese Bishops Call for Single National Leadership August 16, 06 Lebanese Cardinal Concerned About Christian Exodus August 16, 06 In Turkey non Muslims are listed as Foreigners August 14, 06 Murdered Assyrians in Iraq in August August 14, 06 Why Can't A Christian Be More Like A Muslim? Revisited August 13, 06 Peter W. Galbraith's 'The End of Iraq' August 12, 06 Babylon the Great lives August 12, 06 We Don't Want a Proxy War in Lebanon:' Cardinal Sfeir August 10, 06 Go-ahead for dam that will drown history August 9, 06 750,000 Christians Caught in Middle East Crossfire August 8, 06 Arabist Indoctrination At Middlebury College August 8, 06 Middle-Eastern conference: from worship to ‘reunion’ August 8, 06 Hezbollah Uses Christian Villages As Shields in Missile Attacks August 7, 06 Family Pays Ransom in Iraqi Kidnapping August 7, 06 Johanns meets with Iraqi leaders to help rebuild agriculture August 6, 06 Half of all Christians have fled Iraq since 2003, says Baghdad bishop August 4, 06 Christian Persecution Groups Express Concerns for Mideast Believers August 3, 06 Assyrians and Australians will honour Captain Savige for his world war one help August 3, 06 Nuri Kino Wins Swedish Award of: good role model for the youth Aug 1, 06   Archives June, July 06 March April May 06 January- February 06