Christians used as scapegoats as Sunnis, Shi'ite struggle for power, Iraqi prelate says

April 28, 2015

Christians in the Middle East are being caught up in a power struggle between Islamic sects, says Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako.

The Iraqi prelate said that Christians are being used as “scapegoats” in the conflict between Sunni and Shi’ite Muslims. Christians are not involved in that struggle, he said, and the Christians have no intention of setting up their own sectarian regime. But both Islamic sects portray Christians as their enemies, he said. In fact, he argued, the struggle within Islam is a battle for political power, not a religious crusade.

The Chaldean Patriarch renewed his criticism of Western nations for their failure to take action in defense of Christians in the Middle East.

 

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Further information:

• Patriarch Sako: Christian minorities "scapegoat" of power struggle between Islamic sects (MCN)