Iraqi Christians demand protection from Al-Qaeda

[Barrett808]

Source: AFP

BAGHDAD (AFP) - The leaders of Iraq's Christian minority on Thursday called on the country's beleaguered government to protect their community from attacks by Al Qaeda-inspired Muslim extremists.

In a joint statement, Patriarch Mar Dinka IV of the Catholic Assyrian Church of the East and the Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Emmanuel Delly of Babylon said Baghdad's remaining Christians were facing persecution.

They blamed the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq", an alliance of Islamist insurgent groups that serves as an Al-Qaeda front, for much of the violence.

"Christians in a number of Iraqi regions, especially those under the control of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq, have faced blackmail, kidnapping and displacement," the statement said.

The churchmen expressed surprise that Al-Qaeda's influence has "reached parts of Baghdad while the government has kept silent and not taken a firm stance to stop their expansion."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070510/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestchristian

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. i read the headline the other way

that they asked al qaida to protect them because the government could not.

either way, I bet the religious reich in the US blames Pelosi for this development.

[shenmue]

2. Yeah, that was oddly worded...

In any event, no one seems to see the oppression of smaller groups within these societies. :cry: They should be able to take up their cause as well. I think everyone ought to be able to live in safety.

[David__77]

3. As a group, Christians had it better before March 2003.

It should be acknowledged. Where's the "freedom" for them? I'm not crediting the previous regime, which was truly criminal, but so is the current one. Furthermore, it cannot be said that, on average, Iraqis are better off.

[treestar]

4. Christians are probably not the only ones in Iraq experiencing

"blackmail, kidnapping and displacement."

but it's a wonder the M$M does not make more of their plight. Fits right into the ring wing meme that it is a religious war.

[rodeodance]

5. I think they will have to get in line with others in Iraq seeking protection.