Iraq
Northern Iraq shocked by first widespread violence against Christians
The Christian community in the once-safe Kurdish region of Iraq has been rocked by a series of attacks against Christian-owned businesses which took place last weekend.
A group of young men attacked and burned shops in the northern town of Zakho on 2 December after a local mullah gave a sermon claiming there was moral corruption in massage parlours in the town. Some of the assailants waved banners stating, "There is No God but Allah," according to Ankawa News. Local authorities were reportedly slow to respond, resulting in heavy financial losses.
Local sources said the attacks against Christian businesses, which were organised by a pro-Islamic political party, marked the first such destruction of Christian establishments in the Kurdish region.
The attacks were reportedly organised by the Kurdistan Islamic Union party, which is inspired by the Muslim Brotherhood, one of the region's oldest Islamist parties, founded in Egypt. The Muslim Brotherhood strives to influence governments in the region towards more Islamic values.
In retaliation for the Zakho attacks, members of the Kurdish ruling party, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) burned an Islamic Union office in Zakho and ransacked and destroyed ten Islamic Union offices in Dohuk province.
Thousands of Christians have fled to the Kurdish region since the US-led military intervention in Iraq in 2003.
Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk Louis Sako said he fears the attacks were premeditated and may inspire even more Christians to leave the country. "Now, maybe, because Christians are shocked and afraid, they will emigrate and this is a bigger challenge," he said. "We are encouraging them to stay."
Archdeacon Emanuel Youkhana of the Assyrian Church of the East said, "KRG [the Kurdish Regional Government] is, for the most part, safe and secure, and all inhabitants enjoy prosperity and security - until now at least. The future is, by all means, bleak for the Christians and other minorities living there."
Source: Compass Direct News
Please pray:
1. That self-restraint and peace will prevail in this troubled area
2. That local authorities will make wise choices in the best interests of all citizens
3. That Christians will draw strength and courage from each other and from God.
Source; Open Doors
