Iraq

Iraqi Christians are, for all purposes, unarmed and stuck being the political tool of the Arab or Kurdish government – either of which can be deadly to side with, according to a conflict-zone reporter in the Middle East.

The weak and ever-diminishing Christian community in Mosul, a northern city in Iraq, is locked in a political game where they can side with the nearby Kurdish forces and tacitly agree to support annexation of their area to Kurdistan, or support the Sunni Arab government of Mosul.

Many, however, want a semi-autonomous region in the Nineveh plain – the land where the prophet Jonah was sent to proclaim God’s message, as recorded in the Bible. Christians propose they and other persecuted minorities can govern themselves as a state within Iraq there, and work and live in peace away from the constant threat of militants elsewhere in the country. more >>

A ministry that supports persecuted churches has launched a new training program in Iraq to help the country’s traumatized children.

“Many of these children and youth have known nothing but chaos and violence; some since birth,” noted Carl Moeller, president and CEO of Open Doors USA, which supports and strengthens persecuted Christians in over 45 countries worldwide.

“Some have watched as loved ones have been killed or wounded. Trauma counseling is so important along with spiritual and physical help,” he added. more >>

Too many Iraqis who survive explosions end up dying in hospitals due to a lack of the most basic supplies, such as bandages, said a ministry worker in Baghdad.

Local television reports are showing footage of hospitals where people are crying because there are no bandages or other medical supplies for injured people, wrote a co-worker of Open Doors, whose name is withheld for security reasons, in an e-mail.

The Iraqi Christian went on to recall that a friend of his recently went to look for his mother in the hospital and “found a lot of blood on the floor.” His friend said the doctor would check each injured patient and if the person was losing a lot of blood the doctor would order the body to be moved to the fridge for the dead. more >>

Though churches were not the target of the latest wave of explosions in Iraq, church leaders are appealing to the international community to do what they can to encourage and support the violence-plagued country and its people.

In the deadliest day of coordinated bombings since Feb. 1, 2008, simultaneous truck bombs struck Iraq's Foreign and Finance ministries in Baghdad Wednesday, killing at least 95 people and wounding more than 400.

One Baghdad church, Our Lady of Fatima, was reportedly badly damaged in the blasts, but Latin-rite Archbishop Jean Sleiman of Baghdad told the Catholic News Service that he did not believe the church was specifically targeted and reported no casualties. more >>

The Assyrian people, most popularly known as Iraq’s Christian population, are observing Martyrs Day on Friday to remember those in their community who have died due to persecution.

From Los Angeles to North Iraq, the Assyrian (also known as Chaldean and Syriac) diaspora are holding events to remember past persecutions as well as highlight the ongoing suffering of the community. Events are planned for San Jose, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit, New York, London, Paris, Stockholm, Amsterdam, North Iraq, Syria, Iran and other locations.

The date, Aug. 7, was chosen to commemorate the 1933 massacre of 3,000 Assyrians by the Iraqi army. more >>

A 30-year-old Iraqi Christian was shot dead Sunday, after gunmen in four cars showed up at the soft drink factory that he worked at, according to authorities.

A police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported Sunday that the gunmen approached the factory, located half-way between Mosul and the predominantly Christian town of Talkeef, beat the factory's guard and demanded to see the facility's boss.

When Ala Bashir, the factory manager’s brother, appeared, the gunmen shot him on the spot and fled, the officer told Agence France Presse. more >>