ASIA/IRAQ - “They destroyed years of sacrifices made by countless Iraqis” Father Nizar told Fides with regard to the destruction of the Chaldean Archbishop’s residence in Mosul. “We are waiting for the Arab media to condemn the crime …”

Mosul (Fides Service) “Despite warnings which we launched through Fides with regard to the situation of Christians in Iraq, extremists continue to attack Christian individuals and institutions ”, Father Nizar Semaan, a Catholic priest in the diocese of Mosul told Fides after the latest attacks on an Armenian Catholic church and the compound of the Residence of the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop. “These criminals destroyed a place of worship built by our centuries’ old community which was dear to all Chaldean Catholics ” said Father Nizar referring to the Archbishop’s Residence. “They do not realise that the residence was the fruit of years of sacrifices by Iraqi Catholics at home and abroad. Many of our people who emigrated sent money back every year to pay for the compound ”.
“The Archbishop’s Residence was inaugurated ten years ago and even then it aroused envy and jealously on the part of extremists” Father Nizar said. “These criminals acted with cold calculation. First they sent the people away. Then they put explosives in place and blew up the whole compound including the church. When it was ablaze they set up a road block to prevent firemen from reaching the site and waited for the whole thing to burn to the ground” the priest said.
“The Archbishop’s House was a soft target. It was not guarded because the Catholic community did not want armed men in front of a place of worship” said Father Nizar.
“Now we are waiting for the Arab media to condemn this criminal act. But I fear we will wait in vain. So far none of the major Arab media have lifted a voice in support for the Christian minority in Iraq. But we too are Arabs? What have we done to deserve this?” (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 9/12/2004 righe 28 parole 323)