Fleeing Iraqi Christians on road to Damascus

[DoYouEverWonder]

Facing more danger and persecution since the Iraq war began, many Christians choose self-exile in Syria.

May 23, 2005

DAMASCUS, Syria - When President Bush, a born-again Christian, launched the 2003 war against Iraq, he probably didn't expect one result - that Iraq, once a secular nation, would become especially dangerous for Christians.

Islamic extremists have bombed churches. They have burned liquor stores and killed their Christian owners. They harass Christian women who don't shroud themselves in black.

The president probably didn't expect another result - that Iraqi Christians would find refuge in Syria, a country that he often criticizes but that has a strong record of religious tolerance. In the past two years, Syria has taken in as many as 20,000 Christians fleeing violence and persecution in their native land.

Among them: Sabah Guryal.

"Christians in Iraq paid twice after coalition forces entered," says Guryal, until recently an executive of the Middle East Council of Churches in the northern city of Mosul.

"First, the Iraqi Muslims accused the Christians of supporting the coalition because we are Christians like the American soldiers. This is why they insult us, because we are "unbelievers.' And we pay the second time because the American forces consider us all Arabs, not Christians."

http://www.sptimes.com/2005/05/23/Worldandnation/Fleeing_Iraqi_Christi.shtml

[LynnTheDem]

1. Yet more "WORSE than under Saddam" news.

Electricity; WORSE now than it was under Saddam.

Water; WORSE now than it was under Saddam.

Malnutrition; WORSE now (by double) than it was under Saddam (and sanctions).

Food shortages; WORSE now that it was under Saddam.

Citizens' safety; WORSE now than it was under Saddam.

Unemployment rate; WORSE now than it was under Saddam.

Women; WORSE off now than they were under Saddam.

Iraqi Christians; WORSE off now than they were under Saddam.

Religious tolerance;WORSE now than it was under Saddam.

Buildings, schools, entire cities; DESTROYED now.

Deaths of Iraqi citizens WORSE now, with 100,000 dead the past 2 years, than it was under Saddam.

Iraqis detained with no charges; WORSE now than it was under Saddam (with record levels of Iraqis detained by US forces.)

Fact; Iraq under BUSHCO is WORSE THAN SADDAM.

[LynnTheDem]

2. Maybe one of those invasion-supporters would post some of that "GOOD NEWS"

they always whine about never being posted.

[rpannier]

3. Do you have a number on how many Christians there were in Iraq

before the War. I would be curious as to what the % is of Christians that have fled.

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. I believe they make up about 3% of the population

Since there about 25 million people in Iraq that would be about 750,000 people.

[rodeodance]

5. whow--i did not know that Christians fleed to Syria.

.....In the past two years, Syria has taken in as many as 20,000 Christians fleeing violence and persecution in their native land.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. It's especially ironic

that it was on the road to Damascus that Saul was converted to Paul.

Most fristians are followers of Paul or Tarsus, rather than Jesus but they don't know the difference.