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TechnoratiGen. Petraeus is a regular attendee at White’s St. George’s Church.
“The fact is we went to war. We actually were partied to enabling a lot of these problems; we can’t just leave. I know people might want us to say we should … but they haven’t seen them. They are not on the grounds,” said White. “If we leave them, if we pull out I dread to think what will happen.
The priest concluded: “It’s a dire situation but together we can make a difference and we must make a difference.”
USCIRF this year added Iraq to its Watch List of countries requiring close monitoring because of reports of religious freedom violations tolerated by the government. The commission acknowledges reported abuses in Iraq such as assassination of Christian religious leaders, bombing and destruction of churches, and violent threats intended to force Christians from their homes.
“In some areas, ordinary Christians have reportedly stopped participating in public religious services for fear of inviting further violence,” said USCIRF chair Michael Cromartie.
The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees estimated Christians make up nearly half of the refugees fleeing Iraq although they make up only three percent of the country’s population.
Over 1.8 million people have been displaced from their homes in Iraq and close to 2 million Iraqis have left since the 2003 U.S.-led offensive.
Others who spoke during the USCIRF hearing included Pasqual Warda, former Iraq Minister of Migration & Displacement and President of the Assyrian Women’s Union; Dr. Donny George, former chairman of the Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage and former director of the Iraqi National Museum; and Michael Youash, project director of the Iraq Sustainable Democracy Project.
Rep. Anna Eschoo (D-Calif.), the only Assyrian Christian in Congress, also spoke at the beginning of the hearing to share her concern and support for the issue of Iraqi minorities.
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