2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul

Transcription

Mosul, Iraq's second largest city. Since the ousting of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, its' inhabitants have been trapped amid constant sectarian violence. Ubiquitous military checkpoints and shattered infrastructure make everyday tasks difficult. For the Chaldean Archbishop of Mosul, Emil Shimoun Nona, this harsh reality has not deterred him from serving those faithful who still remain. I always try to do what my people are doing and not have a different path, not travel a different route. We have to be like our faithful, our people: live the everyday, go to work, return, go to school... Serving others is for me, very important. Only then can I find my humanity, when I give of myself to others. But most importantly, when I give my life, in its' entirety. Christianity has been present in Mosul since the 1st century, long preceding the arrival of Islam. Before the fall of Saddam Hussein, Mosul was home to one of the largest populations of Christians in Iraq. Some 35,000 Christians lived side by side with Muslims. Today these numbers have dwindled to roughly 3000. Systematic attacks, like the 2004 bombing of the Chaldean Bishop's residence, have left this ancient community in ruins. Christians in Mosul have encountered inconceivable violence. Many have lost their lives because of their faith. Among them a young priest, Father Ragheed Ganni, was gunned down in 2007 not far from his church. In March 2008, Archbishop Nona�s predecessor in Mosul, Most Reverend Paulos Faraj Rahho, was kidnapped and murdered by Islamic extremists. Father Pios Affas, was born and raised in Mosul. In 2007 he and another priest were kidnapped at gunpoint by four young men. The first thing we did was to give each other the sacrament of reconciliation. For my young friend it was the first he had confessed another priest. I also gave him confession as we prepared to die. When this deeply emotional ritual was complete, a serenity overwhelmed us. Father Pios Affas and his colleague were released nine days later after a ransom had been paid. Money, however, is not the leading motive of for the atrocities carried out against Mosul's Christians. There exist Islamic fundamentalist groups who consider Mosul and Iraq as belonging to Islam. They don't want any other religion here. That is why Christians are persecuted and even killed. The Archbishop's residence was moved to a small family home after the former location was devastated by the 2004 bomb attack. The streets leading to the current bishopric are barricaded, with a military patrol guarding each entrance. Archbishop Nona lives here with four of his priests. So far, there are many people who ask me: "Are you still in Mosul?" I say yes, because of my faith, my feelings and my duty. I can feel the need of the people for a priest. Our presence is a strength for people and fills their hearts with comfort and encouragement. I am witness to this by my visits to the people in every church I serve. For Archbishop Nona and his priests it is difficult to talk of the future. Their mission during these troubled times is to provide their faithful with hope by remaining with them despite the threats and violence. At the root of hope is faith. Our Christian faith always gives us hope where there is pain. In darkness there is always a light somewhere; there is always hope. We are filled with hope that the Lord is with us; that our Christian life and that our faith deserves this kind of sacrifice. Our Christian faith is, according to us, our life. It is everything to us.