Sako issues warnings of the demise of the Church and Christianity in Iraq and the countries of the r

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[size=52]Sako issues warnings of the demise of the Church and Christianity in Iraq and the countries of the region[/size]

[size=45]Translation: Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]The Patriarch of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world, Cardinal Mar Raphael Sako, warned of future dangers that may lead to the demise and disappearance of the Church and Christians in Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, criticizing the situation of treating Christians as second-class citizens at a time when they constitute an original component of Iraqi society.[/size]
[size=45]Cardinal Sacco said during a meeting of the Synod of the Chaldean Church in Baghdad that "Iraqi Christians, as well as Christians in Middle Eastern countries as well, are heading towards extinction unless there is a change in the way of thinking in government, social and economic policies."[/size]
[size=45]In the introduction to his speech at the Synod, Sako referred to “the warning of the dangers that Christians in Iraq may be exposed to in the future, who constitute an original component of the Iraqi society,” and said that “the historical heritage made Christians second-class citizens, and the expropriation and confiscation of their property.”[/size]
[size=45]He added, "For this reason, it is necessary to rewrite the basic provisions of coexistence, starting with the constitution, in accordance with the principles and ideals affirmed by Pope Francis during his visit to Iraq in March 2021."[/size]
[size=45]For their part, the priests who attended the meeting appealed to Iraqi politicians to expedite the formation of a new executive government capable of promoting the necessary reforms, recalling the passage of 20 years of violence and instability and the current political impasse that has negative repercussions on society and the economy.[/size]
[size=45]"Iraqi Christians, and perhaps also Christians from other countries, will soon disappear and disappear unless there is a change in the perception of them and a change in the national system," Sako said.[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "Christians are treated as second-class citizens, which allowed for their property to be trespassed and raped, and there are many examples of that." In this regard, Sacco called for “rewriting the constitution and laws. Our mission is to cooperate with our partners to create an appropriate environment for coexistence in which diversity is respected and full enjoyment of the right of citizenship, which makes people open to hope and face challenges with strength.”[/size]
[size=45]Cardinal Sacco had said in a message to Christians last week that "eight years after the exodus of Christians from the Nineveh Plain, following the advance of the terrorist organization ISIS on the region, the pain is still tender, and the lack of recovery opportunities increases the state of fear and despair."[/size]
[size=45]In his letter, Sako criticized "the lack of a minimum rate of citizenship rights and respect for human rights," noting that "until today, after many years have passed, many Christian homes and properties that were usurped have not been restored."[/size]
[size=45]Tens of thousands of Christians had fled their homes in the Nineveh Plains when ISIS militants invaded their area on the night of August 6 and 7, 2014. ISIS militants wrote the letter “Noun” on the doors of their homes, indicating that it was a Christian house, and on that terrible night, the militants took control of the lands The homes of Christians are forcing them to migrate to the Kurdistan region without taking anything with them.[/size]
[size=45]Sacco said that "Iraqi Christians must be recognized for their full citizenship and enjoy just rights."[/size]
[size=45]He expressed his hope that "calls for reform in the next government will include the rights of Christians and other religious minorities of Yazidis and Mandaeans, under the slogan, the spirit of common citizenship."[/size]
[size=45]However, Sako said, "Nevertheless, after many years have passed, the situation in the Nineveh Plain is still difficult," noting that "a portion of the families began to return to Mosul, and some of the lands and homes were returned to their true owners." According to the latest statistics, only 40% of the Christians who left Mosul and the Nineveh Plain have returned, while most of the Christians who were in Erbil immigrated to Europe, the United States and Australia in search of security and a future for their children.[/size]
[size=45]As for those who remained or who returned after defeating ISIS, they are still struggling to restore their living and economic conditions and rebuild their churches and homes.[/size]
[size=45]Earlier, the President of the Republic, Barham Salih, called for overcoming the obstacles facing Christians in the country. The Presidency of the Republic said in a statement issued last Tuesday, "The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, received Sako and a number of bishops of the Chaldean Church in Iraq and the world." Saleh congratulated Cardinal Louis Sako on the convening of the annual conference of the Chaldean Church and the sessions of the Chaldean Synod, wishing them success in their work, praising the conference’s recommendations that are keen on the homeland and support peaceful coexistence. Salih added that "the Christians of Iraq are an authentic component, and they stood by their brothers from all sects to face the challenges," noting that "there are some issues and obstacles facing them in the country and they must be overcome and not tolerated, and that the abuses that affect them are condemned and rejected by all Iraqis."[/size]
[size=45]He stressed, "the need to ensure the real participation of Christians in political, social and cultural life without discrimination, and the need to establish the principle of citizenship, justice and equal opportunities, so that Christians and the rest of the components contribute to shaping the country's present and future."[/size]
[size=45]For his part, Sako expressed his "thanks and appreciation to the President of the Republic, for his follow-up and continuous support for Christians in the country, his contribution to solving many of the issues and obstacles they faced, and his role in establishing social coexistence among all components of the people."[/size]
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