Iraqi Christians Again Under Attack in Deadly Bombings
- Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:01pm by
Meredith Jessup
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This holiday season, Christians in Iraq are not celebrating for fear of their lives. While many have fled the country under pressure from Islamic extremists, some brave individuals have remained, trying to retain their ancestral homes:
BAGHDAD (AP) — The latest bloody attack on Iraq’s Christians was brutal in its simplicity. Militants left a bomb on the doorstep of the home of an elderly Christian couple and rang the doorbell.
When Fawzi Rahim, 76, and his 78-year-old wife Janet Mekha answered the doorbell Thursday night, the bomb exploded, killing them, Mekha’s brother told The Associated Press on Friday. Three other people, apparently passers-by, were wounded.
“When I went there, I found both of them cut to pieces near the gate of their house,” said the brother, Falah al-Tabbakh, 47, who had been at a funeral nearby in the eastern Baghdad district of Ghadir. He rushed to his sister’s house after neighbors called him, and they told him what happened, he said.
The bombing was among a string of seemingly coordinated attacks Thursday evening that targeted at least seven Christian homes in various parts of Baghdad that wounded at least 13 other people, a week after al-Qaida-linked militants renewed their threats to attack Iraq’s Christians.
The attacks are the latest since an Oct. 31 siege of a Baghdad church by al-Qaida killed 68 worshippers, terrifying the minority community, whose numbers have already fallen dramatically in the past seven years of violence in Iraq.
The repeated attacks have infuriated many Christians who question why the government seems unable to protect them despite its repeated promises since the church siege to do so.
“The Christians in Iraq are always targeted because they do not have militias and they do not believe in the power of weapons,” said Father Nadhir Dakko, a priest at St. George Chaldean Church, who performed the funeral service for the slain couple.
Speaking to reporters after the service, Dakko railed against what he called the government’s inability to “establish peace and security” for all Iraqis, Muslim and Christian. All Iraqis are suffering, he said, but the situation is harder for Christians because they are a minority.
“Iraq is bleeding every day,” he said.
The government, while calling on Christians not to flee Iraq, has beefed up security around churches and dispatched extra police patrols in Christian neighborhoods. They’ve placed concrete blast walls around the Our Lady of Salvation church where the siege occurred.
Still, authorities and Christian leaders have acknowledged that security forces cannot protect every single house, and asked Christians to be vigilant. Violence has gone down across the country the past two years, but the government still struggles to protect even its own police forces.
Iraq’s violence has struck all its various religious groups, and hundreds of thousands have fled the country since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. But the ranks of Christians have been particularly depleted, in part because their numbers were not large to begin with — estimated at 1.4 million before the war. Now an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 Christians are left, according to a recent U.S. State Department report.
The Ghadir district where the elderly couple were killed shows the signs of the flight. In the past its population was predominantly Christian, with some Sunni Muslims. Both communities have fled in large numbers since 2003, and many houses have since been bought by Shiites from the nearby Shiite stronghold of Sadr City.
Al-Tabbakh said his sister’s children had left Iraq even before 2003, but that his sister and her husbands were holdouts, determined to stay in their homes.
“Today, we stand next to two martyrs whose crime was that they preferred to stay in their country,” Dakko, the priest, told the congregation in the funeral service.
Christians have been targeted in the past. But the October church siege was the deadliest ever, and it was followed by several dire warnings from al-Qaida’s branch in Iraq that it intends to directly target the community. That prompted several thousand Christians to flee Baghdad for the relative safety of the Kurdish-run north in the past two months.
Father Mukhlis, a priest at Our Lady of Salvation church, the target of the October siege, said as many as 12 violent incidents occurred against Christian homes across the capital Thursday night.
Police officials confirmed seven attacks against Christian homes. They and hospital officials confirmed the deaths of Rahim and Mekha and 13 wounded in the various attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
In the other attacks Thursday night, four bombings targeting Christians wounded six people. A stun grenade landed inside a Christian house in the Dora district in southern Baghdad, injuring three others, and a rocket hit a Christian home in downtown Baghdad, wounding one person.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but such attacks have generally been the work of Sunni militants linked to al-Qaida.
Deputy interior minister, Maj. Gen. Ahmed Abu Ragif, blamed Thursday’s attacks on “terrorists who expressed hatred of Iraq in general and of the Christians in particular,” Ragif said. The assailants’ aim was to “prevent our Christian brothers to celebrate the New Year,” he added.
At the Our Lady of Salvation church, both Christians and Muslims gathered Friday morning in a show of solidarity and to see a play performed by Iraqi actors about a woman whose son is killed in the church siege.
One Muslim woman said she wanted to demonstrate to the Christian community that they are not alone.
“What has happened in this church was so painful to all of us. We wish that we died instead of them. Those who plan to steal Iraq won’t succeed because we all share joy and sadness together,” said Hiba Shihab.
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Comments (73)
ChiefGeorge
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 2:11amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcOvWGuQTow
Please watch this mans story and you will take heart in that knowing that these deaths and others like them are horrible you will be comforted to know that eternity exists and it is only a heart beat away.
Another great testimony on eternity with God is Ian McCormicks story of both a visit to Heaven and Hell. You will be changed for the better or your money back!
God Bless and have a safe and prepared 2011. Spiritually connect with God, Physically stay strong!
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 2:06amMan can be and evil basterd! These people were ushered immediately into the Arms of the heavenly father. They are in the real world now not this fictious evil one.
Report Post »joan k
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 1:13amLittle 3 year old Adam of Bagdhad who was martyred at the church before Christmas
http://lisagraas.com/2010/12/14/adam-of-baghdad-enough-enough-enough/
Report Post »HOOT
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 1:02amKill a muslim save a Christian.
Report Post »johnnyo2525
Posted on January 2, 2011 at 10:03amabsolutely
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 12:53amGod bless the Christians who are under attack all over the world. These cowardly attacks in Iraq are from the religion of satan. They cannot tolerate the name of Jesus Christ & will kill any of His followers. They will kill each other. They will kill the infidels.
Report Post »WHITE LOTUS2x
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:15pmits hard to understand why anyone would kill another human being other than to protect their life or someone else. i feel for the christians in iraq and hope they find away to survive but can understand if they dont want to leave their homeland. GOD will take care of them in this life or the next.
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:46pmIf anyone can help, I just donated to the Americans right to work that helps us fight againt Unions, and thy are having trouble meeting their quota, It ends at midnight, you may already belong and donate, but if not check out their web site and see if you can help. I have no interest in this except donating but I would like to see them reach their goal.http://nrtw.org/ I can’t get it to highlight so you can click on it, You may be like me and have donated “out” but if you believe in this please help, Thanks
Report Post »dcwu
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:23pmIf there were only muslims alive, they would hate and murder each other. This religion is but a creed of hate and murder.
Report Post »tobefreeinmt
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:48pmChristians stand strong. Christianity is what it is for a reason. We don’t pretend to be anything else. Doesn’t matter who you say you are, what matters is what you do. We know who we are, and we don’t believe in the Lord in order to be able to screw 72 virgins in the afterlife. THAT is why we will always be victorious in the end.
Report Post »joeliberty
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:42pmGonzo is right! Christians had protection under Saddam Hussein. Also, Saddam’s personal doctor was a Christian because he was the only one the dictator could trust. That place is a joke! These brave Christians will probably not leave their homeland, but the best thing we could do is try to persuade them to and close down shop there ourselves. We just made the place worse than it ever was under Hussein! Hussein was also installed by us and check on Iran! Imagine that!
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 10:24pmWhat were those leaders in the past supposed to do?
You have to basically start with Eisenhower to begin with the blame for involvement with muslims…
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 1:11amJoeliberty – The Christians were not protected under Saddam. No one was. He would kill anyone based on a whim, even his own children. He gassed entire villages & towns based on rumors that one citizen spoke out against him. If he passed by one of his guards & didn’t like the look on his face he would torture & behead him. Our soldiers have uncovered mass burial grounds & torture chambers. Please investigate this & you’ll learn of the true horrors of this animal. I cannot, will not, believe that these people are worse off now than before. I know too many soldiers who have gone back & forth on many tours to know differently. With God’s help things will improve. The people over there have had enough also & are standing up for themselves.
Report Post »soldierofthecross
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:12pmIf everybody knew Jesus you wouldnt need armys, police or the federal goverment.
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:21pmTo muslims, Jesus was just like mohammad… Look up Issa.. yes, just like the politician…
Report Post »scguitar
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:11pmWE should kill all muslims. They are nothing but a threat to humanity and society
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 12:45amPlease stop.
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:06pmFind out why George Soros was taught Esperanto from birth.. Find out why Maurice Strong made Agenda 21 Baha’i and subsequently Islam compliant..
You must understand, the Baha’i believe they supersede Islam as Islam supersedes Christianity and Christianity supersedes Judaism … The Baha’i Faith is the definition of Progressivism… They are also the source for Universalism in Religion…
The “New World Order” is a Baha’i prediction…
Get with the times..
It’s the spiritual driving force looking for ways to supersede American Judeo-Christian way of life…
Now you know, and knowing is half the battle…
Report Post »mcpbob
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:35pmWish i knew a way to help fund them so they can kick some muslim ass there
Report Post »clockwatcher
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:30pmReligion of peace, follow it or we will kill you and your family.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:41pmNot if we kill them first.
Report Post »moelarrycurly
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:29pmReligion of peace? Religion of tolerance? Islam is evil. And why liberal women would ever defend their actions and place it as an equal to Christianity or even try to compare are beyond me. Lets see…Institutionalized pedophilia, Treating women like livestock, And violence to all other races and religions but their own….HHmmm…I think I’ll stick with Christianity (not that I was ever tempted)
Report Post »8jrts
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:22pmGod sees all and will judge accordingly…I would not deny Jesus….It’s time for those who would stand up to do so, and those who will not to run. It is not an easy choice in any given situation, but the choice must be made in one’s heart and then declared aloud. I pray for all the people who choose God and Christ! I also pray for those who don’t.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 12:58amAmen!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:20pmChristians are being attacked and persecuted all over the world and they are not and will not stop there. We see bits and pieces of it here and I sadly believe it is just the tip of the iceberg.
Report Post »Rodster
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:49pmIt’s nice to see the religion of rest in peace back in the news.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:38pmIn all fairness the muslim’s hatred is not solely targeted against Christians…..they hate everyone who is not a muslim. I suppose you could call them equal opportunity haters. For all of those who think that if they appease the muslims and also hate Christians, sorry, they will gladly cut your throats too.
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:27pmUnfortunately, Jesus predicted this 2,000 years ago.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” – John 15:18
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:19pmAmen and amen to that.
Report Post »WISEPENNY
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:33pmMat 18:7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:26pmOnce again the “religion of peace” shows it’s true colors.
Report Post »Sledgehammer
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:16pmThe only problem in the middle east is Islam, am I the only one who thinks ham bombs might do some good? Happy New Year!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:48pmPork em!
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:19pmUnfortunately it’s not only a Middle East problem anymore , radical fanatic muslims are spreading everywhere .
Report Post »waggie
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:06pmSome good old fashioned bacon might do the trick!
Report Post »dawgPound
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:50pmThe “Middle East” as people like to call it , is too often countries ruled, not by “laws” but by :“religion” Teaparty/repub/glennbeckfans seem not to realize that ther are going down the same road as the muslim extremist’s are going. Let your religion guide you down a path to destruction, Damn you sheep!
Report Post »WAR PIGS CRAWLING
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 8:51amMmmmm……“bacon” smothered “sheep” “dawg”
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 10:14amNo- I have been saying for a long time all our ammo should be dipped in pigs blood.
Report Post »This will never happen – not PC you see. – The ******** would go nuts
AlaskaRick
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 1:48pmDOGCRAP, are you ignorant or a fool? I suppose the song “Imagine” by John Lennon is your anthem. Yeah, the regimes of atheists like Stalin, Lenin, Mao were really great.
Jesus is the only reason this world is not in complete chaos!
Report Post »mossbrain
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:16pmI don’t know but does anyone have data about Christian persecution under Saddam, more or less?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:54pmSaddam was tolerant of Christianity and even had high ranking members of his regime who were christian.
Report Post »RobertCA
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:14pmGood question , Christians were protected under Saddam’s regime .
Report Post »Deuteronomy22
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:30pmWow good thing we spent $3 trillion dollars to free these people from tyranny. I guess all those Christians have George Bush and Dick Cheney to thank.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:34pmGet a clue gang, Saddam was an equal opportunity mass murdering dictator, “protected the Christians”? now thats a good one LOL!
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:39pmHey Deuterony! Surely you are not that dumb to simply spout liberal re-hash here, yawn…
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:53pmHappy New Year everyone!
http://www.donsmithshow.com – Over 300,000 conservative listeners in December.
Report Post »dontbotherme
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 12:41amMossbrain – Sorry, I have no data, but the answer is no, the Christians were not protected by Saddam. I gleaned this information from soldiers returning from the war who found their burial grounds from the mass murders and the torture chambers used by Saddam & his boys. Oh, but please feel free to Google it. I’m pretty sure you know how find this type of information by yourself.
Report Post »JROCCOD
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 6:03pmSaddam was a secularist. He pretty much disliked the islamists eventhough he was raised muslim, he really didnt practice his faith. He was a tyrant, but, the Christians were protected. We screwed the pooch with the Iraq thing. Saddam was a counter weight to the islamists. This would not happen under Saddam. It is really OUR responsibility now to protect the Christians. But we have a president who is EXTREMELY supportive of the islamists. So, I am afraid it is a very bleak situation for our fellow Christians. This will probably start here too in a few years as the number of islamists grow. Once they get to around 20 % of the population, Churches will burn here too. Brace your serves, we will see this in our lifetime, courtesy of out two friends, DIVERSITY and TOLLERANCE….
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:15pmA religion of peace under attack by a religion of war.
Report Post »DagneyT
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:29pmAmen, my brother. The only peace I have from this piece is that these are people I will be able to spend eternity with, and that 6 million muslims a year are coming to Christ. Thank you, Isaiah, prophet of God, for selling muslims on our Savior! Do a google or bing search on muslim to Christian. It will do your heart good!
Report Post »Rational Man
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 7:39pmGod bless them, their reward will be great!! Christians like these who stand strong in the face of adversity, persecution, and even death are my heros. I look forward to meeting them some day!
Report Post »And I may not have to wait very long the way things are going.
rwing
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 8:18pmMaybe if the world held these people accountable and sentenced them to the same fate they dish out then maybe they’d understand the world will not tolerate intolerance.
Report Post »VanGrungy
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:19pmMany muslims learn about their islam as they learn English…
Giving a muslim a New Testament is the greatest start a muslim could ever have..
Bibles are plentiful.. get to know your Bible.. muslims are thirsting for an alternative…
If we all give an NT bible to a muslim on the same day, lets say ‘groundhog day’, we could call it:
“Help a muslim become American Day”
*note.. the Bible is not the be all and end all of America, be prepared to go beyond Christianity to explain how we got ‘here’
Good Luck!!
Report Post »walkwithme1966
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 9:19pmWow, cool post – really cool!! Happy New Year! http://maboulette.wordpress.com
beebacksoon
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:19pmJ.C.McGlynn: Or, A religion of peace under attack by a war on religion.
Report Post »An extra special place is reserved for every single terrorist that takes the life of a person doing the Will of God.
The US, for the most part, pulled out of Iraq…this is the future of Afghanistan when the US pulls out. Our govt must realize our brave troops cannot fix the ills of every country, especially if religion rules the govt of that country.
dawgPound
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:46pmReligion of peace? AIN’T NO SUCH THING! Religion has always been about control and violence. ALL religion, not just islam. Religion is poison.
Report Post »82dAirborne
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:51pm@Into The Night
Either post to the topic or, better yet, get a life!!!
If this stiory doesn‘t help show which are the evil ones I don’t know what will.
P.S. PLEASE don’t download that junk.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on December 31, 2010 at 11:59pmSo simply put but deep in meaning. Great comment. Happy New Year, and God Bless
Report Post »TikeSissy
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 8:41amThere is only one reason for Islam, the Curse H423, look it up. Isa 24:6 Its because we have transgressed the lawsH8451 plural for Torah, changed the laws and broken the the everlasting covenant. Isa:24:5. In 2 Th2:9 it says the coming of the lawless one is because they did not receive the love of the Truth. What is truth? Psa 119:142 Your righteousness is righteousness forever, And Your Torah is truth, also Neh 9:13. Lets stop guessing at what the problem is and start fixing the problem. Happy New Year to everyone.
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on January 1, 2011 at 10:05amAHHH… The religion of peace rears its ugly head yet again. Just one more justification for whats to come.
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