Christian community diminishing in Iraq says Patriarch
April 30, 2014: The Christian community in Iraq had more than a million followers,
600 thousand in Baghdad alone, now they have less than 400 thousand in the whole country,
said Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako I. Expressing deep concern over the
continuing decline of Christian presence in the country, he added that "If measures
are not taken soon, in 10 years' time there will only be a few thousand Christians
left in Iraq". Patriarch Sako said the main causes of this massive migration are poor
security, increased death threats against Christians from Islamists, and the seizure
of their property by armed groups. After visiting communities throughout the country,
Patriarch Sako said: "Christians are those who suffer most from the upsurge in violence
across Iraq. This is due to the fact that Christians do not maintain tribal affiliations,
as do Arab Muslims. The only way they have to resolve disputes is through the Iraqi
legal system, which is often criticized for its corruption, and which is subject to
political manipulation", he added Source: Ucan