Christians boycott Iraqi parliament's 'peaceful coexistence' conference, saying talk produces no action
February 09, 2016
Iraqi Christians boycotted a conference on "the protection of peaceful coexistence," sponsored by the country's parliament, to protest the lack of effective action to protect minorities, the Fides news service reports.
"What need is there in participating in meetings like this, and repeating the formulas that give the title to the conference, if then one does not see initiatives and changes in concrete terms?" asked Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Louis I Sako.
The Chaldean prelate told Fides that he has met with govenrment officials and Islamic leaders, seeking assurances that the rights of minorities would be protected. "Unfortunately, none of their promises has become reality," he said.
Other minority groups, such as the Yazidis, also chose not to particupate in the parliament-sponsored conference.
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