Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) – Fear has returned among the Christians of Baghdad. After a time in which hopes had risen for normalization of the social life of the nation, another series of attacks has taken place on nine churches in the cities of Baghdad and Mosul. Several were Chaldean Catholic Churches and others were Orthodox, struck by explosive devices on Saturday (July 11) and Sunday (July 12). The bombs exploded outside the buildings, causing damages and frightening the faithful as they exited the Sunday Mass celebrations. The most damaged church was a Chaldean Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Baghdad: the attack took the lives of four persons and injured various others. The other targeted churches were: the Chaldean Churches of Saint George, Saint Joseph the Worker, Saint James, Saint Matthew, and Sacred Heart; the Syro-Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul and the Assyrian Church of Saint Mary; they also attacked a Syro-Catholic Church in Mosul, which local sources say was dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima.
There were a total of over 30 wounded. According to the police, the attacks were carried out by groups linked to Al Qaeda, working to destabilize the country. There are also hypothesis as to their links with international events (such as the case of the “veil martyr” killed in Germany). Many observers find the presence of “dark forces” who are trying to impede Iraq's return to normality, to political and social peace.
The Christian minorities, in this plan of destabilization, are an easy target, given their vulnerability and their small number. Furthermore, Iraqi Christians are fatigued and frightened after years of conflict, discrimination, and attacks from Islamic extremists who wish to eliminate Christian presence from the country.
What the local Church fears is another flight of faithful from Baghdad, as they live in fear amidst conditions of insecurity. The Church is asking the government to protect the lives and security of the Iraqi Christian citizens.
In the meantime, in Mosul, civil authorities have imposed a curfew for all the surrounding areas, fearing more attacks in the predominantly Christian neighborhoods. The measure was taken to precent other attacks in the city, which is located in the northern part of the country, home to many of the Christians who live in Iraq and which has become the most violent part of the country.
There are nearly 500,000 Christians in Iraq, a small minority in a country with 28 million people, most of them Muslims. The Christians have been the target of attacks, especially in Baghdad and Mosul, forcing them to take refuge in other countries. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 13/7/2009)
