Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Baghdad (Fides Service)- “The week was dramatic and very difficult for everyone here” Father Nizar Semaan, a Catholic priest in the northern city of Mosul, told Fides with regard to violence in over the past few days. “It was amazing to see how insurgents took control of most of Mosul in only 24 hours. They attacked police and army barracks, many police officers fled leaving arms and equipment to the rebels” Father Nizar told Fides. “The mayor of Mosul voiced harsh criticism of policemen who fled and praised those who stayed at their posts. The chief of police in Mosul was dismissed and is now being questioned in Baghdad”.
“It was the National Guard, formed mostly of Kurds, which intervened to take control of the situation in Mosul. But now Arabs in the city are concerned about the presence of Kurds” the priest told Fides. “It will take time to restore calm”.
The situation is tense also in surrounding villages where some of the people are Christian. “My home village Karakosh, where there are 25,000 people all Christians, has organised a sort of civilian militia to control entries and prevent the infiltration of terrorists” Father Nizar told Fides. “There has not been any fighting but tension is high since members of the National Guard stopped and confiscated a car full of explosives arresting its occupants. The companions of the arrested men now threaten acts of retaliation on our village. But the prisoners are being held by the authorities not by the people of Karakosh” Father Nizar said.
“Nonetheless, Christians in Iraq have not lost hope. A Karakosh for example we are rebuilding churches and chapels with the support of emigrants who send money” Father Nizar told Fides. “We entrust our safety first of all to Divine Providence and we continue to pray for peace and national reconciliation in Iraq,” the priest concluded. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 22/11/2004 righe 32 parole 377)
