Churches organise day of fasting on 9 December for the martyrs of Baghdad’s cathedral

(December 04, 2010) The Council of Christian Religious Leaders in Iraq has called on the faithful from all Churches to commemorate the martyrs of Baghdad’s Syriac-Orthodox Cathedral on 9 December. On 31 October, al-Qaeda-linked terrorists stormed Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cathedral in the Iraqi capital, as the liturgy was underway. Because of the attack and the subsequent gun battle between hostage takers and Iraqi security forces, 58 people were killed and more than 70 were wounded. Forty-six Christians, including women, children and two priests, were among the dead. Christian religious leader met Thursday in Erbil, northern Iraq, to evaluate the situation such as their violent attack in Baghdad and a renewed flood of refugees towards the north. In addition to the day of fasting, the religious leaders have decided to meet the leaders of political parties that have elected Christian members to discuss the motives behind these attacks and work out some solution. According to the religious leaders, the government has failed to provide the Christian community adequate protection. Religious leaders also want the Kurdish government to provide with housing, jobs and education in Kurdistan to more than five hundred migrant Christian families. Meantime on Wednesday, Christian leaders turned down an invitation to participate in a meeting in Erbil on “Coexistence and social tolerance” organised by the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights.