EEC Blog

About Iraq

Iraq lies between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers and was known in Europe by the Greek word ‘Mesopotamia’ (land between the rivers).  The region is identified as the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of writing and the wheel.  Iraq has been home to continuous successive civilizations since the 6th millennium BC, including the Assyrian, Babylonian, Roman and British empires.

Recent events in Iraq have been dominated by the 2003 invasion and its aftermath.  The invasion was led by the USA backed by forces from Britain, Australia, Spain, Poland and Denmark. According to leaders of the USA and Britain, the reasons for the invasion were to disarm Iraq of weapons of mass destruction (none were subsequently found), to end Saddam Hussein’s support for terrorism, and to free the Iraqi people.

Considerable damage resulted from the invasion and there have been attempts by the international community to improve and repair the infrastructure including water supply systems, sewage treatment plants, electricity production, hospitals and health clinics, schools, housing, and transportation systems.  There have been some successes but problems have arisen because of inadequate security, pervasive corruption, insufficient funding and poor coordination among international agencies and local communities.

Iraq has a population of approximately 30 million of whom 75-80% are Arab.  Ethnic Assyrians account for most of Iraq’s Christian population, along with Armenians.  The province of Nineveh, which has Mosul at its heart, has been home to Assyrian and Chaldean Catholics for 2,000 years.  Estimates for the numbers of Christians suggest a decline from 8 – 10% in the mid-20th century to 5% at the turn of the century, to around 1.3% currently.

In November 2006, the UNHCR estimated that 1.8 million Iraqis had been displaced to neighbouring countries, with nearly 100,000 Iraqis fleeing to Syria and Jordan each month, while another 1.6 million were displaced internally.  Of these refugees, about 600,000 are thought to be Christians who have fled to Syria, Jordan or other countries or relocated to Kurdish-controlled areas.

“Dramatic Mover”

Open Doors describe Iraq as a “dramatic mover” on the World Watch List of countries in which Christians are persecuted – it has risen this year from 21st to 16th.  Iraq’s Christian minority experienced much violence in 2008.  Bomb blasts regularly damaged churches and Christians continued to receive death threats, some clearly intended to expel all Christians from areas of Baghdad and Mosul.  At least five Christians were kidnapped and 35 murdered for their faith in 2008.  The violence has forced tens of thousands of Christians out of their homes, some out of the country.  Having ‘Christianity’ on an ID card is sufficient to get killed.  Another motive when targeting Christians in kidnappings is financial, since many Iraqi Christians are perceived as middle class.

In April of this year four Iraqi Christians were killed in 2 days in Baghdad and Kirkuk, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).  “The killing of four innocent people within the last two days has put a renewed fear in our hearts.  What is important is to keep these continuous atrocities in the media and on the policy makers’ radars.  What we need is a more safe and secure Iraq for all Iraqi’s, especially for the Christians who have faced ethno-religious cleansing,” said the president of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council, in an interview with ICC.

ICC also reported the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Kirkuk, Louis Sako, saying recently, “A total of 750 Christians have been murdered in the past five years, including the Archbishop of Mosul.” ICC’s Regional Manager, Jonathan Racho, said in a news release, “The suffering of Iraqi Christians has been beyond description and is not yet over. More than ever, the Iraqi Christians need our prayer and support. The latest martyrdom of our brothers should serve to awaken churches in the Western countries to come to the aid of their Iraqi brothers and sisters.”

Robert Marcarelli, a filmmaker who journeys across the world on humanitarian and faith-driven missions, says the most shameful things he has ever documented came in isolated, violent corners of northern Iraq. He has made a 30-minute documentary, “Facing Extinction: Christians of Iraq”. Mainstream Muslims have learned to live in peace with people of other faiths but the fundamentalists and jihadists strike out against Christians and anyone else who doesn’t fit their definition of a true Muslim. There are some who predict that, unless the violence stops, there may be no Christians left in Iraq in a decade.

Prayers Needed

• That the authorities will intervene to restore homes and liberty for Christians to live and work freely in their own country
• That those who have lost loved ones will be comforted, strengthened and able to forgive their persecutors
• For an end to violence in Iraq.