Baghdad bishop decries persecution of Christians, blasts ‘Nineveh plan’

December 18, 2009

In a recent interview, Chaldean Catholic Auxiliary Bishop Shlemon Warduni of Baghdad painted a bleak picture of the life of the Catholic community in Iraq but disputed the idea put forward by a fellow bishop that “ethnic cleansing” of Iraqi Christians is taking place.

“The consequences of the last war and military occupation are tragic,” says Bishop Warduni. “The political instability and anarchy has generated misery and destruction. This is why many Christians-- along with thousands of other citizens-- have had to leave the country. We have lost about a third of our community. It is a tragedy of vast dimensions, which is witnessed by the world.”

“Attacks on churches and Christians continue,” he added. “In the last two weeks there have been explosions in three churches in Mosul, not to mention in Baghdad, where three months ago a car bomb outside a church killed two young people and wounded 30, causing great material damage. [For us], tranquility is a small break between two attacks.”

He continued:

These episodes have a very negative effect on Christians. They sow fear and rob us of hope. It is not a question of "ethnic cleansing," but looking at the overall situation there is a plan that intends to hurt us. Placing ten bombs in churches on the same day has a precise intention of intimidation. The fear and discouragement that circulates in the community leads to the flight of the faithful who fear for their lives and their families, rightly so.

[The ‘Nineveh plan’ to gather Christians in one place] is absurd and senseless. It would mean reducing the Christians to a ghetto, putting them in a cage, crushing them in the conflict between Arabs and Kurds. Christ told us to proclaim the Good News to the whole world: we are called to be salt, light, and leaven for the nation. They cannot be confined to a single territory on the grounds of religion.

We ask the government to identify, pursue, and prevent terrorist attacks. We seek protection. We simply want our rights. Iraq is our country, we are Iraqi citizens just like the others. We have been in Iraq since the first century AD, when St. Thomas went to preach in our land. We were in Iraq for 600 years before the Muslims. We do not demand any special treatment, only respect for our dignity, for our freedoms and fundamental rights: to live in peace, proclaim the Gospel and help build our nation

We ask the international community to offer stronger and more decisive aid. Strong pressures are needed from Western governments to stabilize the framework of Iraq and restore legality and safety. The governments that promote democracy and human rights, who are ready to defend their economic interests in Iraq, should also work to eradicate terrorism and promote peace and legality in Iraq.

 

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Further information:

• Approaching Christmas amidst denied rights, violence, suffering, and fear (Fides)
• Iraqi bishop sees 'ethnic cleansing' of Christian minority in Mosul (CWN, 12/16)