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“The intimidations have been published on an Al Qaeda website and are addressed to all Christians, not just those who live in Kirkuk, who are asked not to cooperate with the Americans, to release the two women in Egypt, and not to defend Tarek Aziz”. It was mgr. Louis Sako himself who told SIR about Al Qaeda’s threats, as reported by the pan-Arab paper al-Hayat. “These are not threats against me – the archbishop points out –, they are addressed to all the Christians who live in Iraq. They might have to do with the forthcoming Christmas for which we decided not to celebrate Midnight Mass and not to party as a sign of solidarity with and mourning for the victims of the terrorist massacre of the Syro-Catholic church of Baghdad”. The perpetrators of that terrorist attack, who are related to Al Qaeda, asked for the release of two women, according to them converted to Islam, married to Coptic priests in Egypt. “The response to such threats is that, despite all these sufferings, no Christians left their faith, and this is one of our strengths”.
“This is the sad reality experienced by our Christian communities”: this is the comment made to SIR by the Chaldean Episcopal vicar of Baghdad, mgr. Shlemon Warduni, about Al Qaeda’s threats. “We will still celebrate Christmas, without holding the Midnight vigils and celebrating early in the morning of 25th December. The authorities are intensifying security measures, going on a round of all the churches to prepare the best safety measures for the places and the devotees”. “To the terrorists and to those who threaten us, we respond with peace and faith, as we have been taught by the Pope in his latest message for Peace, who I advise anyone to meditate on. The Koran too – mgr. Warduni concludes – has the values of freedom, tolerance and respect at heart. If we put into practice what unites us, peace will not be a mere mirage, it will be a certainty”.

© SIR - december 23th 2010