Christian population in Iraq has dwindled from 1.4 million in 2003 to about half of that number today. This figure was contained in a report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom.
‘A recent commission report outlined chilling abuse that Christians suffer in Muslim-dominated Iraq. It sounded an alarm about the treatment of minorities such as Chaldo-Asyrian Christians, an ancient people who embrace the Christian faith in its early years and still speak a form of Aramaic, the language of Jesus. The community has endured displacement, killings and kidnappings, with churches being attacked and occupied’, the report said.
There is a very small number of Christians in Iraq. In 2003, it was estimated that only 3% of the population of Iraq are Christians. They live predominantly in the northern part of Iraq particularly in the city of Mosul. The small Christian community in Iraq includes well educated people mostly professionals and businessmen who live mostly in Baghdad, Kirkuk and Basra.
Christians in Iraq are oftentimes subjected to intimidation and discrimination. In a report by CNN International, atrocities are committed on hapless Christians, with crosses removed from churches, priests afraid to wear their clerical garb, the faithful reluctant to attend church and churches hiring private security guards.
On a brighter side, a first-ever Christmas celebration happened in Baghdad last Saturday as reported by CNN.com.The event took place in a public park in the eastern part of Baghdad. Checkpoints were installed in strategic areas while the event was being celebrated. Though there was no sign of Christmas carols, there were decorated Christmas trees, image of Santa Claus with Iraq flag draped over Santa’s shoulders. It was definitely a welcome sign for all Christians in Iraq to see.
Some people attending the Christmas celebrations appear to be Muslims with women wearing head scarves. The affair was obviously part of the public relations campaign of the new Iraqi regime to address the growing religious gap between the Muslims and Christian minority in Iraq.
During the Christmas celebrations, Fr. Saad Sirop Hanna, a Christian priest who just returned from Rome, said, ‘I came back to Iraq because I believe that we can live here. I have so many Muslim friends and we are so happy, they started to think about things from another point of view and we want to help them’
The show of friendship and respect for each one’s religious belief was evident in the first-ever Christmas celebration in Baghdad. It is indeed a good sight to see. Hopefully it will mark the beginning of a new friendship between Muslims and the Christian community in Iraq.
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