Amnesty calls on Iraq to protect Christians

2049
Malcolm Smart
Tough talk: Stop the violence against Iraqi Christians
Malcolm Smart
Tough talk: Stop the violence against Iraqi Christians

AMNESTY International (AI) has asked the Iraqi government to protect the country’s Christian minority from an expected spike in violent attacks as they prepare to celebrate Christmas.

Amnesty is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and generates action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated.

Last year, armed groups carried out fatal bomb attacks on churches in Mosul on Dec 15 and Dec 23. As many as 65 attacks on Christian churches in Iraq have been recorded between 2004 and 2009.

The increase in violence against Christians in the last month takes place against a backdrop of sectarian violence in Iraq. On Oct 31, more than 40 people were killed when fundamentalists stormed into a Baghdad Assyrian Catholic Church and took over 100 Christians hostage. The Islamic State of Iraq, an armed group linked to al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack.

AI director for the Middle East and North Africa Malcolm Smart said: “Attacks on Christians and their churches by armed groups have intensified in past weeks and have clearly included war crimes. We fear that militants are likely to attempt serious attacks against Christians during the Christmas period for maximum publicity and to embarrass the government.”

After the Oct 31 incident, Christian families in Baghdad have been subjected toincreasing bomb and rocket attacks on their homes as well threats to their lives through email or SMS on mobile phones. According to AI, dozens of Christian families have fled Baghdad, Mosul and Basra and have sought refuge in the Kurdistan region of the country.

“The new Iraqi government’s effectiveness will be measured by whether it achieves an actual reduction in sectarian attacks by armed groups, and helps stem the flood of Christians fleeing Iraq to escape the violence,” Smart said.

Your Comments