Alarm at the increase in the number of assassinations and acts of violence inflicted upon the Christians in Iraq has been expressed by the Maltese Dominican Province.

Reiterating the declaration of the bishops of Mossul (Province of Nineveh), the Order called upon government authorities and all forces on site to take responsibility for putting an end to these systematic crimes perpetrated against Christian communities.

In their declaration, the bishops called for full responsibility to preserve the Christian presence in Mosul and for international intervention to push the central and local government to act immediately.

In Mosul, there seemed to be no sign of an end to the kidnappings and murders of Christians. Two days ago the last victim, the fifth in a week: Adnan al Dahan, an Orthodox Christian age 57, who had been kidnapped a week ago, was found murdered.