ASIA/IRAQ - Christians threatened by extremists “but we are still here” Iraqi priest tells Fides. Concern that new Iraqi television speaks only of Islam ignoring other faiths in Iraq

Baghdad (Fides Service)- “Christians are not running away from Iraq. Some media keep reporting that Christians are leaving en masse but this is not true,” Father Nizar Semaan, a priest in Mosul, northern Iraq told Fides.
“There are cases of people who go to another country for a while, especially to nearby Jordan. Most of them are rich people and they can be Christians and also Muslims, Sunni and Shiite. Because of insecurity in towns like Baghdad and Mosul, many think they will be safer in villages or across the border. But I am certain that they do not intend to leave Iraq for good”.
“Over the past weeks there were rumours that the Australian Embassy in Baghdad was issuing visas to Iraqis wanting to leave the country. These reports were later denied by the Australian diplomatic authorities and also by Iraqi priests in Australia. In fact Australia has an Iraqi community which might attract others to emigrate there. In any case I say again that for the moment there are only isolated cases” Father Nizar told Fides.
According to some media Assyrian Christians say they are being threatened by Muslim fundamentalists. Assyrians also complain that Iraq’s new television shows programmes on Islam four times every day but gives no space to any of the other religions present in the country. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 2/7/2004 righe 25 parole 287)