Iraqi Christian refugees fear Turkish bombing

August 06, 2015

Turkish warplanes have crossed into Iraqi territory to bomb Kurdish separatists, causing deep concern among Iraqi Christian refugees.

Last year, thousands of Iraq’s Christians fled to Iraqi Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq, to escape the advance of the Islamic State.

“At night, from the village of Komane, we can see Turkish planes bomb the Kurdish mountains,” said Chaldean Catholic Bishop Rabban Al-Qas of Amadiyah (Amedi) and Zaku. “Villagers and Christian refugees are scared.”

The prelate called for “direct international pressure” on the Turkish government to stop the bombing.

 

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Further information:

• For Kurdish bishop, Turkish airplanes are a new threat for the Christians who fled the Islamic State (AsiaNews.it)
• Turkey steps up bombing -- but on Kurds, not Islamic State (Los Angeles Times)
• Turkey–PKK conflict (Wikipedia)