Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Christian exodus from Iraq gathers pace
Guardian News ^ | 23 December 2010 | Martin Chulov

Posted on 12/24/2010 7:19:16 PM PST by george76

Churches empty and Christmas decorations are put away after al-Qaida renews deadly threat.

Their cathedrals stand silent and their neighbourhoods are rapidly emptying. Now Iraq's Christians face two further unthinkable realities: that Christmas this year is all but cancelled, and that few among them will stay around to celebrate future holy days.

It has been the worst of years for the country's Christians, with thousands fleeing in the past month and more leaving the country during 2010 than at any time since the invasion nearly eight years ago. Christian leaders say there have been few more defining years in their 2,000-year history in central Arabia.

The latest exodus follows a massacre led by al-Qaida at a Chaldean Catholic church in central Baghdad on 31 October, which left about 60 people dead, almost 100 maimed and an already apprehensive community terrified. Since then, the terrorist group has targeted Christians in their homes, including family members of those who survived the attack.

In Baghdad, as well as the northern cities of Mosul and Kirkuk, Christmas services have been cancelled for fear of further violence. Church leaders said they would not put up Christmas decorations or celebrate midnight mass. They told families not to decorate their homes, for fear of attack after al-Qaida reiterated its threat to target Christians earlier this week.

"Now more than 80% of Christians are not going to the churches," said the head of Iraq's Christian Endowment group, Abdullah al-Noufali. "There is no more sunday school, no school for teaching Christianity. Yesterday we had a discussion about what we would do for Christmas. We took a decision just to do one mass. In years before we had many masses."

There has not been a mufti who has stood up and said this is wrong.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: alqaida; christian; christianpersecution; christians; churches; exodus; flee; g71; iraq; iraqichristians; islam; muslimworld; religionofpeace
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

1 posted on 12/24/2010 7:19:19 PM PST by george76
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: george76

WHAT am I missing here?

Do we have no influence on the Iraqi govt? Is there nothing we can do?
I just can not figure this one out....call me naive, or dumb, but I just can not figure this one out.


2 posted on 12/24/2010 7:21:58 PM PST by Recovering Ex-hippie (Ok....Joke's over...Bring Back Bush!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

You can be sure that Obama won’t let them in. They are not Muslim, and they are not Mexican.


3 posted on 12/24/2010 7:24:58 PM PST by Brilliant
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie
The majority of Christians left BEFORE we went into Iraq. I'm not sure the numbers are real.

This is a terrible consequence of a Muslim Government.

4 posted on 12/24/2010 7:29:10 PM PST by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie

We will send more money to Iraq and ignore the plight of Christians.

That is what we will do.

If Christians are smart they will leave. The Koran tells the Islamics to convert them or destroy them. We call Islam a religion of peace and send them more money so they can destroy more Christians.

Obama invites thousands of Islamic Palestinians to come to America, but there in no room at the Inn for Christians.

Just as FDR turned away the Jews during WW2 we turn our back on Christians in Islamic countries.We ignore their plight because we want to suck up to the Muslims and send them oil money that should be spent drilling for oil right here.

Hussein was as rotten an SOB as anyone who ever lived , but he did tolerate Christians.

I suppose it is ok because right here in thios country Christians or rather Christianity is under attack too, By the ACLU, the Media, Atheists and Heathen Liberals who wish to kill the unborn.


5 posted on 12/24/2010 7:29:52 PM PST by Venturer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie

0 threw Iraq’s Christians under the bus ?


6 posted on 12/24/2010 7:30:15 PM PST by george76 (Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: george76

Like it or not, Saddam Hussein was actually good for Christians in Iraq.


7 posted on 12/24/2010 7:33:39 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: george76
Best Christians get out now while they can. There's no doubt at all this area is going to get burned over by nukes.
8 posted on 12/24/2010 7:40:27 PM PST by muawiyah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: george76

Its what we sent good men to die for.


9 posted on 12/24/2010 7:51:11 PM PST by dalebert
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican
Soon, Iraq's Muslims will find out the mistake they made. They were silent when the Jews were murdered and driven out. They were silent when the Christians were murdered and driven out.

They'll be silent when the Muslims are murdered and driven out by AQ in Iraq so that they can create the Iraqi Caliphate.

If anyone is deprived of their GOD-GIVEN rights, then all can be deprived of them.

10 posted on 12/24/2010 8:20:56 PM PST by HeartlandOfAmerica (Insane, Corrupt Democrats or Stupid, Spinless Republicans - Pick America's poison.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: george76

After 9/11, as President, I would have cleaned house of Islam from Morocco to Indonesia to Mecca.

Most Muslims are peaceful. They let 10% do the dirty-work for them.


11 posted on 12/24/2010 8:26:09 PM PST by UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide (REPEAL WASHINGTON! -- Islam Delenda Est! -- I Want Constantinople Back. -- Rumble thee forth.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie

We wanted democracy for Iraqis.

Here’s the result.

However: suppose we replaced the Christian ex-patriots with
Palestinians, and allowed these Christians to take over the homes the Palis vacated ?


12 posted on 12/24/2010 8:28:02 PM PST by tsomer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: george76
Revelation 18:4
And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.


...It's gonna go down over there soon. Slimes with nukes??? Just a short matter of time.

13 posted on 12/24/2010 8:45:09 PM PST by rawcatslyentist (Jeremiah 50:31 Behold, I am against you, O you most proud, said the Lord God of hosts.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie

Just as predicted: as the US pulls out, the vacuume left allows the old ways to come right back in.


14 posted on 12/24/2010 9:02:11 PM PST by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: MinorityRepublican

That is a rather large exaggeration. Saddam was not “good” for or to Christians. He was just not as bad as those in power now. Not all can afford to pay protection money now....


15 posted on 12/24/2010 9:04:09 PM PST by TheBattman (They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie
Iraq is an Islamic Republic. After we leave expect Islamic f=fundamentalists to take control. I fear we have exchanged one evil (Saddam) for an even greater evil.
16 posted on 12/24/2010 9:15:38 PM PST by bwc2221
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Sacajaweau
Actually, Saddam didn't treat Christians much different than he treated Muslims. He wasn't a Muslim fundamentalist - one of his few virtues.
17 posted on 12/24/2010 9:18:30 PM PST by bwc2221
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Brilliant

They are not Somali either but I bet if they were let in they wouldn’t be involved in the prostitution of young women, terrorist plots or damning the country that took them in.


18 posted on 12/24/2010 10:18:44 PM PST by Americanexpat (Everytime I see that guy's face ot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: muawiyah

Damn I was just thinking the same thing, I think Iran will nuke Iraq or one of the American bases if push comes to shove.


19 posted on 12/24/2010 10:20:23 PM PST by Americanexpat (Everytime I see that guy's face ot)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: george76

Genesis 16, you can’t and won’t ever tame the Arab. He’ll kill you and then turn on other Arabs.


20 posted on 12/24/2010 10:23:09 PM PST by lurk
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson