In the present post-modern world nobody would dare to mention the word persecution without showing his utter dismay at it. Let alone practise it or let it happen on such an alarming scale as is happening now in Iraq. The abhorrent nightmare of persecuted Christians is urgently calling the international community to step in and do something about it to normalise the situation as quickly as possible.
You needn’t be a scholar to ask some pivotal questions that every person of goodwill would sincerely put.
For justice’s sake, how can the world remain silent and astonishingly indifferent to the Iraqi Christians’ plight?
How can the civilised world tolerate the fact that Christians are evicted out of Niniveh, have their property confiscated, being forced to convert to other religion other than what their own conscience rightly dictates, pay a religion tax or else seriously risk being mercilessly executed?
The international media is reporting that ISIS, a fanatical jihadist army that carries the name of an ancient Egyptian goddess whose worship was widespread throughout the Greco-Roman world, has ushered a cruel version of Sharia law under the banner of jihadism.
Obviously, moderate Muslims would oppose such an extreme interpretation of their faith since they do not want it to be equated with terror and bloodshed.
The blood of Christian innocent people is urging all people of goodwill to the streets so justice may be done in these lands of ancient Christian roots.
Till now there have been numerous demonstrations against the Islamic extremists who literally have cleansed Iraqi Christians from lands they have dwelled in for the last 2,000 years.
It is interesting to see that while the militia started seriously menacing Christians in Mosul to convert or else face execution sporadic protests were held to counter this condemnable terror.
How can the world remain silent and astonishingly indifferent to the Iraqi Christians’ plight?
Both convinced Christians and Muslims would not subscribe to such horrendous crimes.
For instance, Alan Pary, a poet originally from Sulaimaniya who is a self-described Chaldean-Kurdish-Christian living in Denmark, criticised the silence of western leaders.
“It’s horrible that ISIS comes in and expels people from their homes. The west went into Iraq in 2003 to create freedom but now there is terror and turmoil,” he said.
Marcus Sabri, the organiser of a demonstration in Copenhagen and a leader in the Iraqi Christian Mar Abba parish, said: “These are inhumane acts against Christians in Iraq. That is our country, where we have always lived. These are our historic buildings, heritage and churches that are being destroyed by ISIS.”
From the Muslim front, Khalil Yassin, an Arab Sunni and leader of the Iraqi Cultural Centre in Copenhagen, made the following comment to Rudaw, a newspaper run by a Kurdish media group: “I’ve come here to show that we all stand together and say no to discrimination, regardless of religion and ethnicity.”
According to The New York Times, Muslims have also been a presence in Baghdad churches during this difficult time, consoling Christians who are fleeing from persecution.
“You are the true original people here and we are sorry for what has been done to you in the name of Islam” one Muslim woman told another at a Christian Sunday Mass also heavily attended by Muslimsupporters.
On August 10, Pope Francis made an ardent appeal at St Peter’s Square for peace both in Iraq and Gaza.
On the Iraqi situation, the Holy Father said: “The news coming from Iraq leaves us in disbelief and dismay: thousands of people, including many Christians, brutally driven from their homes; children dead from thirst and hunger during the escape; women who are abducted; people slaughtered; violence of every kind; destruction everywhere, destruction of homes, destruction of religious, historical and cultural patrimonies.”
Facing such an outright violation of what true religion stands for, the Pope courageously said:
“All this greatly offends God and greatly offends humanity. You cannot bring hatred in the name of God. You cannot make war in the name of God!”
Let us heed our bishops’ plea for prayer and solidarity with the persecuted Iraqi Christians.