IRAQ: Archbishop says "Fast and pray against these heinous acts" after Mosul murders
By John Newton
Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk in Iraq, who is leading a day of fasting following the deaths of Christians in Mosul
A leading bishop in Iraq has organised a day of prayer and fasting in response to the murder of several Christians in Mosul.
Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Louis Sako of Kirkuk is leading a national day of fasting today (Monday, 1st March) following the killing of at least eight Christians in Mosul over the last two weeks, which has led to a renewed exodus of Christians from the city in north Iraq.
In a homily given to a full Kirkuk Cathedral yesterday (Sunday, 28th February) Archbishop Sako decried the recent attacks.
He said: “The targeting of innocent Christians, especially in these days in Mosul, in a barbarous manner, coinciding with the elections, is a shameful act – it affects the design of God who created us different, violates human rights, hits the national partnership and insults religious values.”
Explaining the reason for holding a day of prayer, he said: “Wiping out Christianity from the region, or forcing them to follow the Islamic banner, will only lead the country to become more radical.
“Therefore we have chosen to fast and pray in protest against these heinous acts and in solidarity with our brothers, confident that the justice of God is inevitable.”
Archbishop Sako told Aid to the Church in Need that the Church had covered the walls of Archbishop’s house and the cathedral in Kirkuk with billboards in Arabic and English condemning the murders.
While the reason for the killings is still unknown, several reports suggested the murders were connected to the parliamentary elections scheduled for next Sunday, 7th March.
In his homily Archbishop Sako said that the events in Mosul were the result of “tension and struggle between political forces” and added that without national unity there would be no stability in Iraq.
He called for harmony between the different political parties in the country – but acknowledged that this would “not happen automatically”, but required partnership and dialogue.
Archbishop Sako said: “It is unfortunate that the country today is going more towards ethnic intolerance, religious and sectarian division.”
Acknowledging that many Christians had fled Iraq to neighbouring countries such as Syria and Turkey, the archbishop called on the congregation to stay and help to rebuild Iraq.
He said: “We Christians can look for a shelter in other lands to ensure our lives and our children’s future, but we do not want isolation from the [other] Iraqis.”
The archbishop went on to say that they have a shared history in Iraq and played a role in reconstructing the country.
He continued: “Our position and our decision is to build our future with our fellow Muslims: Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen in the south, centre and north."
Archbishop Sako encouraged the faithful to play their part in the future of the country.
He said: “Therefore I call upon Christians not to give in to pressures or drift in obscurity and isolation, and we demand the central government and local communities and parties located in Mosul to protect citizens, especially the Christians who have been targeted more than once!”
The day of fasting will end with evening prayer and a press conference.
The last murder in Mosul occurred on 23rd February when an armed man entered the home of a Christian family, killing the father and two sons in front of his wife and daughter.
Supporting the Church in the Middle East is now a priority for Aid to the Church in Need, which received a request on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI to support the Church in a region “where the local Churches are threatened in their very existence”.