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Catholic World News News Feature

Iraq priest: Not all is bombs and violence October 01, 2004

The true situation in Iraq is not just bombs and violence, according to a Catholic priest who just returned to the country in the past month.

Father Nizar described the local situation to the Fides new service: "Life is difficult but we keep hoping that the future will be better. The first problem is lack of security, the second is a lack of jobs.

"The work of rebuilding homes, schools, and roads continues but there is not much other work around except state jobs where there has been some improvement. Under Saddam, state workers were paid 3,000 dinars, or 2 US dollars, which was enough to buy 2 kilos of meat. Today state salaries range from 250,000 to 500,000 dinars, which suffices to keep a family." He added, "These higher salaries have boosted the local economy because many state workers can afford to have work done on their homes and buy home appliances something they had not done for at least 15 years."

With regard to day to day living, Father Nizar said, "Children and students are getting ready to start a new school year despite fears of terrorist attacks on schools. In my town this is a time of weddings and we have as many as six every day. This week we celebrated 25. This year we have 200 new families."

He continued, "Food supplies are not a problem: the markets sell everything, even fruit rarely seen before such as bananas. Food prices are acceptable and accessible to all."

With regard to the situation of the Catholic Church in Iraq, Father Nizar said, "Pastoral activity goes ahead as usual: youth meetings, catechism, opening new social centers, courses in computer techniques and languages."

He added, "Eighteen months after the fall of the regime, people now realize that a change was necessary. I have spoken with many people of all ages and not one of them said they would like to return to the past." Father Nizar expressed the sentiments of the local Christians: "Iraqi Christians continue to hope for and want a better future for Iraq, despite fear of increasing Islamic fundamentalism. In Mosul, for example Islamic fundamentalist movements are strong and our girls cannot go anywhere without being insulted and threatened."

With regard to security, Father Nizar said, "Even in Baghdad people are used to terrorist attacks. And a new bomb blast comes as no surprise: one or two hours later everyone goes back to what they were doing. Everyone carries a gun, some for self-defense and others to order people about. At the moment, criminal gangs that have nothing to do with politics are an emerging problem. They take hostages and demand money for their release. There have been 3 or 4 cases in our town. The targets are doctors, engineers, university teachers, all at the mercy of criminal gangs and groups of Muslim extremists. Anyone working with the Americans or humanitarian organizations is in danger and especially if they are Christians."