Committee formed to protect Iraqi Christians ‎

A committee has been set up by security forces in Iraq to collect information and provide practical measures regarding violence and abuse suffered by Christians in the country, especially in the capital Baghdad, the Vatican’s Fides news agency has reported.  Sources close to Fides noted the committee was set up on the orders of Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi, and aims to counter in particular the escalation of kidnappings and illegal grabbing of homes and land which Iraqi Christians have suffered in recent months.

The leaders of the committee have already visited the headquarters of the Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad and spoken with Patriarch Louis Raphael I in order to start collecting data and information about the abuses. The first step is to carry out a census of property grabbed from Christian families, collect the title deeds and find out individuals, groups and bodies that have grabbed the properties.  Parishes and Christian communities will be able to also provide information to the security committee regarding the cases of kidnapped Christians including clues to identify the kidnappers.  Patriarch Raphael had appealed on 13 July to political authorities and institutions for greater protection against gangs. (Source: Fides)