Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church Condemns ‘Barbaric Acts’ Against Christians in Iraq
Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East – 28/7/14
The Holy Synod of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East, presided by His Holiness Mar Dinkha lV, Catholicos-Patriarch, Wishes to express its unequivocal condemnation of the terroristic and barbaric acts perpetrated against the Christians of the ancient city of Mosul (Nineveh) by the fundamentalist terrorist group known as ISIS. The utter cleansing of city of Mosul of its Christian inhabitants, who have dwelled in this city since ancient and apostolic times, is indeed a crime against humanity itself. The thousands of families who have been forced to leave the city, having their homes and properties confiscated and re-appropriated by this terrorist organization, must be publicly condemned by all the governmental agencies and bureaus of the Republic of Iraq, Without further delay.
This persistent campaign against the Christians of Mosul and its environs, which has escalated to a climactic degree as of Saturday, Iuly 19, 2014, must be condemned by the international community at large. ln a particular and primary fashion, We call upon the Iraqi government to protect the Christians of lraq and to safeguard the thousands who have had to flee their homes and seek refuge in churches, monasteries and other houses of Worship. The fundamental right to life is guaranteed in the Preamble of the UN Charter of 1945, to which the Republic of lraq is a signee. Further, the United Nations and other international agencies of good will must do all that is Within their means and spheres of influence to safeguard the Christians of Iraq who are being subjected to a calculated and inhumane policy of discrimination and extermination. The free and democratic countries of the Western World are also morally bound to intervene and to condemn this religious pogrom against the Christians of Iraq.
We join our voices with those of the heads of the various Christian Churches within and outside of Iraq and its neighboring countries, particularly the patriarchs and hierarchs, in denouncing this brutal and inhumane treatment of the Christians of Mosul. ln particular, we echo the statement made public on Iuly 20, 2014 by His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, who has condemned these atrocities and has cautioned that these barbaric acts against the Christians of Mosul are tantamount to a crime against humanity itself. We ask all moderate Muslims around the World to intervene and condemn these atrocities against the Christians of Mosul, and in the Middle East at large, as being acts that do not comply with the tenets of Islam. Furthermore, the rights of the Christians of Iraq on a more permanent and sustainable basis need to be addressed immediately in keeping with principles guaranteed by the Iraqi Constitution.
We supplicate and beseech our heavenly Father to safeguard all the Christians of Iraq, and all men of good-Will, and to shower His abundant blessings and refreshing dew upon those persecuted for His name’s sake. At the same time, We pray for the peace, tranquility and stability of a free and democratic lraq, Where the human rights of all of its citizens are equally insured under the lraqi constitution, without distinction of creed or ethnicity.
Given this 21st day of July, 2014; from the Secretariat of the Holy Synod of the Assyrian Church of the East.
By Grace
Mar Awa Royel
Secretary
