More Iraqi Christians Flee
July 13, 2009 by DH
Filed under Mormon Middle East
I’ve written previously about how the war in Iraq has adversely affected Christian adherents in Iraq with one article stating that the number of Iraqi Christians has dropped from 800,000 to 400,000 since the 2003 invasion. (As usual I write this piece with politics put aside.) So of course it was disheartening to see an article on CNN yesterday about more attacks on the Christians that continue faithful in Iraq. (There were other attacks on religious adherents that are just as despicable.)
Some of the “lowlights” of the article:
- 7 “Christian houses of worship” have been bombed in the past 3 days
- One attack occurred in the Northern city of Mosul while the majority that were bombed are in and around Baghdad.
- The article contains the following quote: “…If this continues…there will be no Christians left in Iraq.”
The full article can be found here:
Wave of Iraq church bombings stretches into thrid day
Clearly I don’t believe nor advocate that war should be used to establish a religion but clearly there are native Iraqis who wish to practice Christianity and a select few who wish to deprive them of this right. Whether it be Christians or Muslims in this position I think it is abhorrent and hope that they all might have their right to worship who, what and when they wish.
This is very disheartening. This was also happening during Saddam’s dictatorship — I remember working with refugees who were Iraqi Christians fleeing persecution back in the mid 1990s.
@John
Makes you appreciate even more the religious freedom North America enjoys, no?
DH
I am praying for the people who are behind these attacks to soften their hearts. I pray for the gospel to be able to flourish these war torn countries I believe it can happen… the wall fell in Germany. I’m praying hard for miracles.