IMAN Chairman shares concern for Christians in Iraq
Saturday, 26 July 2014
Iraq crisis: End 'very near' for Christianity after Isis takeover, says Bishop
The vicar of the only Anglican church in Iraq has warned the end for Christians in the country appears “very near” as he appealed for help after a deadline set by Islamic militants to convert or be killed expired.
Canon Andrew White, dubbed "the bishop of Baghdad" for his work at St George's church in the capital, spoke after the ultimatum handed to Christians in the northern city of Mosul by the Islamic State of Iraq Levant (Isis) to convert, pay a tax or be put to death passed last week.
For those Christians who did not comply with the decree by 19 July, Isis warned that "there is nothing to give them but the sword.” Many have since fled their homes and Rev. Andrew-White told BBC Radio 4 Today desperate Christians were trapped in the desert or on the streets with nowhere to go.
"Things are so desperate, our people are disappearing," he said. "We have had people massacred, their heads chopped off.
"Are we seeing the end of Christianity? We are committed come what may, we will keep going to the end, but it looks as though the end could be very near."
The vicar is in London to speak about the crisis and raise awareness of the urgent need to provide more help to the persecuted minority.
"The Christians are in grave danger. There are literally Christians living in the desert and on the street. They have nowhere to go," he told the programme.
"We do not want Britain to forget us. We - and I'm saying 'we' talking like an Iraqi Christian - have always been with the British because they have already been with us.
"Individual churches, individual Christians in Britain, have been a bigger help than anybody around the world."
Up to a million Christians lived in Iraq prior to the US-led invasion in 2003, with many residing in areas such as Mosul where the communities date back to the first centuries of Christianity.
There are now thought to be fewer than half that number.
Responding to the news, IMAN Chairman, Ribal Al-Assad said:
"I have been very concerned to follow the growing crisis for the Christian community, as well as other minority groups, in Iraq as a result of ISIS terror.
As I have said previously, if urgent action is not taken to confront these Islamists then it is very likely that the Christian community in the country and the region will be decimated.
Whilst I understand the actions of the French government, offering asylum to persecuted Christians, this is simply not a solution to the problem faced by the region.
No one should be forced out of their country in this way and the primary goal of the international community must be to protect the minority groups and civilian population in Iraq itself.
Much more needs to be done to combat these extremists and it is unacceptable to not confront the ISIS movement and rid the region of this cancer..
The only long term solution is for the international community to come together and rid Iraq, the region and indeed the whole world of Islamic extremism - as it stands these radical groups will continue to massacre everything who does not share their perverted ideology.
We simply cannot allow this to continue.
My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Christian community at this time."
