Efforts to keep Christians in the country after leaving 80% of them

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[size=52]Efforts to keep Christians in the country after leaving 80% of them[/size]

[size=45]Translated by: Hamed Ahmed[/size]
[size=45]An international report stated that there are efforts to keep Christians in Iraq despite their numbers decreasing by 80%, and talked about a proposal to establish a governorate for them to run their own affairs through which it represents self-rule for them, and stressed the need to find an electoral system that guarantees their real representation in Parliament.[/size]
[size=45]A report by (The National) news website, translated by (Al-Mada), stated that “Iraqi Christians of Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs, whose numbers have decreased significantly since the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, are still, after two decades, struggling to maintain their presence in Country".[/size]
[size=45]The report continued, "Christians have deep roots in the country, especially in the Nineveh Plain region in northern Iraq, but the war has greatly endangered members of religious minorities."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that "tens of thousands of them were forced after the invasion to leave their villages and leave the country, and the situation got worse in 2014 after the terrorist organization ISIS took control of Mosul and the villages of the Nineveh Plain."[/size]
[size=45]The report stated, “Concern is growing today about the danger of the Christian presence being eroded. With reports confirming the decline in the number of Christians since the American invasion in 2003 by more than 80%, and their number reached 250 thousand, after their number was more than one million and 500 thousand Christians.[/size]
[size=45]And he stated, "The Shalama Foundation, a non-governmental organization that takes care of the affairs of Christians in Ain Kawa, reported that estimates indicate that the Christians present in Iraq today are Assyrians, Syriacs, and Chaldeans, with a number of only 141,346 Christians."[/size]
[size=45]The report pointed out that “efforts aimed at preserving the heritage of Christians in Iraq included a call to establish an area restricted to Christians and religious minorities in the Nineveh Plain.”[/size]
[size=45]He noted, "Steve Oshana, an American congressman and executive director of A Demand for Action, an organization concerned with monitoring Christian affairs in the Middle East, believes that finding a safe haven or area for Christians in the Nineveh Plain is necessary."[/size]
[size=45]Oshana said, according to the report, that "the only way for Assyrian Christians, Chaldeans, Syriacs and other minorities to remain in the land of their ancestors and maintain their existence is for us to provide them with a place to run their affairs and protect themselves by themselves."[/size]
[size=45]Oshana continued, "This means providing their own land and managing their security affairs independently, on the model of self-rule."[/size]
[size=45]Oshana pointed out that "creating a province of their own is a legal matter, and that the Iraqi government has shown preliminary approval regarding this matter."[/size]
[size=45]The report spoke of “the Iraqi government launching, in June 2014, an initiative to form a governorate in the Nineveh Plain, whose mission is to protect religious minorities, but this matter stopped after the terrorist organization ISIS took control of Mosul in June of that year.”[/size]
[size=45]He stressed that “the fall of the city resulted in widespread calls to find a safe haven for religious minorities, after 125,000 Christians were forced to leave their ancestral lands and abandon the city.”[/size]
[size=45]And the report quotes, according to the “Shalama Foundation for Christian Affairs, that since the liberation of the city of Mosul, many Christians have returned to their homes, and the villages of the Nineveh Plain have witnessed a kind of progress.”[/size]
[size=45]And he continued, "The organization confirmed that many of the people of the Nineveh Plain, just five years before the years of displacement, did not believe that they would be able to return to their homes in the Hamdaniya area."[/size]
[size=45]And the report added, “Many of those who returned and witnessed the destruction and devastation decided to stay in the hope of an improvement in the situation in the future, and with the funds and donations of international organizations, most of the villages of the Nineveh Plain witnessed a lot of development.”[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that “villages have been restored, churches have been restored, roads have been repaired, and markets, homes and shops have been rehabilitated.”[/size]
[size=45]And the report continues, “Despite this progress, Congressman Oshana referred to allegations that Christian properties, including lands and homes, were confiscated and illegally seized.”[/size]
[size=45]And he continues, “Five members of the US Congress signed in August of last year a letter to the delegated ambassador of the International Religious Freedom Organization, complaining that the property of Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq would be seized.”[/size]
[size=45]The report added, "The letter included a warning of the consequences of this, saying: Christians' loss of their lands and their loss of confidence in the authorities cause the risk of increasing waves of migration of these groups from Iraq."[/size]
[size=45]And he stressed, "Advocates of Christians say that having political representation for Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs in the Iraqi parliament is vital to moving forward in achieving the interests of these groups."[/size]
[size=45]The director and member of the Assyrian Aid Society of America, Carmela Borashan, said, "The real representation of Assyrians in parliament helps push for the enactment of specific laws that defend the rights of the Assyrians."[/size]
[size=45]She added, "The expropriation of land ownership is a loss for our people, and the loss of our seats in Parliament puts our sect in a critical position without any voice for them."[/size]
[size=45]On the other hand, one of the officials of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, Athra Kadu, confirmed that “efforts have been made to change the election laws.”[/size]
[size=45]Kado continued, "The amendments may ensure that the seats reserved for Christians in parliament are voted on by members of the sect only."[/size]
[size=45]Kado pointed out, "Working hard to change these laws in the upcoming elections, so that only our children have the right to vote in these seats reserved for Christians."[/size]
[size=45]Kado explained, "Iraqi Christians have no future anywhere outside their mother country, Iraq," continuing, "If we go to America or any other place, we are no longer considered Iraqi Christians, but rather American or German Christians, we will not have a future anywhere else but Our country, and that's what I think, that's why we're trying to work to have a future here."[/size]
[size=45]About: (The National) news site[/size]
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