Baghdad (Fides) - Following bomb blasts in five churches in Baghdad on 16 October, the Christians in Iraq stated that they would not be intimidated and they would remain in Iraq. In a joint statement the leaders of the main Christian communities in Iraq Chaldean, Assyrians, Latins, Syrians, Armenians, Greek-Orthodox and others, firmly condemned attacks on Christian or Muslim places of worship aimed at breaking the country’s tradition of peaceful co-existence between believers of both faiths.
“Christians and Muslims have lived here side by side for more than 1,400 years and they intend to continue” the leaders say adding that they will not be intimidated by terrorist attacks. “We will not leave our country, we will stay here and help to build an Iraq of peace, freedom democracy and tolerance”.
Christian leaders have always had good relations with Muslim leaders. In August last year Christian, Sunni and Shiite Muslims formed the Interreligious Council for Peace in Iraq to promote meetings and join activities to further the role of authentic religion.
The Council has firmly condemned violence in the name of religion stressing that authentic religion promotes tolerance and solidarity values, which help people tackle daily difficulties of hardship and violence. The Council also said that the religion has an indispensable role to play in building a new Iraq.
Although the Constitution recognises freedom of belief for all citizens, in Iraq Islam can be considered the state religion since 90% of 25 million Iraqis declare themselves Muslim. Iraqi Christians are about 800,000 or 3%, Catholics and Orthodox. The largest group is the Catholic Chaldean Church with about 600,000. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 18/10/2004 lines 36 words 387)