“Put an end to the criminal operations against Christians in Mosul, or give them means or weapons to defend themselves. They are killed like sheep and this is no longer tolerable”. Syrian Catholic Patriarch of Antakya Ignatius Joseph III Younan declared that to SIR, reporting the contents of one of his letters sent to Iraqi Premier Nuri al-Maliki to support the cause of local Christians. “I don't want to incite to armed rising in the least – stated the Patriarch – Christians are actually peaceful people, with no weapons nor militiamen; however, I want to pose the question of defence and protection of the Christian community. Now they also enter houses to kill the people. In my letter, I ask the local and national government to take measures in this respect, making armed soldiers and guards available to defend houses and Christian places. Everything under the government roof. It is not an impossible thing. In Mosul, the areas populated by Christians and the churches near which there are families of believers are well known”. “As Christians – he added – we are asked to be hopeful and to build peace, but we must denounce injustices. If they want Christians to leave Mosul, they must tell us”. In my letter to the Premier, I also asked for the establishment of an inquiry commission to throw light over these massacres. I know there have been meetings with tribal leaders, too; all parties promised to commit themselves to find out murderers and to prevent these criminal acts”. As to the reason for attacks against Christians, Joseph III Younan said that “it is not just political. In fact, Christians do not own oil wells, they have no militiamen, and have never threatened anyone. Above all, they have no great political influence. These are just excuses with no links with reality. There are also reasons of religious fanaticism. This is the reality which can no longer be hidden: Christians are killed like sheep, or lambs, anywhere, in the streets, in school, churches, and now even inside their houses. And everything without knowing nor arresting the people committing these crimes. How can this be possible?”. “We ask Europe – he concluded - to defend human rights and not to close their eyes in front of this intolerable massacre of innocent people with no weapons. The EU is part of the UN and talks about rights, but it has to know how one lives under threat, because of one's religious faith”. In the meantime, said the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate with headquarters in Lebanon, “on 13 March, in Beirut, there is a prayer's day which will end with a demonstration march in the district of the United Nations, in the capital”.

© SIR - 26 february 2010