Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Mosul (Fides) - “The situation is serious. Christian live in constant fear of being attacked, kidnapped and killed by radical Islamic groups of terrorists. Once Mosul was a quiet town now life is impossible, an Iraqi Catholic nun who asked not to be named for the safety of the community, told Fides.
“Armed groups of Islamic fundamentalists break into homes of Christians to kill and steal. This is also because we know that in some mosques Imam teach that it is not a crime to kill a Christian”, the frightened nun told Fides.
The Sister speaks out of personal experience. “This is a manhunt for Christians and life is a nightmare. Not long ago one of my relations was taken hostage and kept tied up and blindfolded for five days without food. They tortured him to convince him to convert to Islam. He refused and eventually the family paid ransom money and he was released. But many other less fortunate people who were kidnapped were killed”.
“All our families feel threatened. The situation is chaotic and Christians are an easy target because they do not react with violence, they are unarmed. Our families are too afraid to send children to school and the women hardly ever leave the house. One of our Chaldean priests was threatened and forced to move away because he held a funeral for a Christian youth who was killed. In fact many Christians are leaving for Syria, Jordan or the Kurdish region of northern Iraq”.
“There is total anarchy in the absence of police and civil authorities. Many fundamentalists are known to all but no one does anything. Our peaceful Muslim neighbours can do nothing. All we can do is pray. Next Sunday we plan to have special prayers for the victims and for the perpetrators of violence, that they may be touched by God’s grace” the nun told Fides.
In 2003 Fides reported several episodes of Islamic fundamentalist pressure on Christians in Mosul. A year ago after months of threats the Chaldean Bishop’s residence in Mosul was attacked by a group of armed men. The Bishop had received many letters threatening Christians with death if they did not convert to Islam. After the attack Christian religious leaders appealed to all the people of Mosul to isolate the extremists.
(PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2004 righe 35 parole 392)
