www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Persecution of Assyrian Christians

This was posted on the Orthodox forum. I have included my response.

Christians in Iraq
by Glen Chancy

Many public services such as water and electricity may be spotty in Iraq, but at least mail delivery seems to be going well enough. Christian Assyrian families all over Iraq have been receiving versions of the following letter delivered to them in their homes:

By the name of God the most merciful and compassionate!
"Do not adorn yourselves as illiterate women before Islam."
From the leadership of Islamic troops of "Al-Bader"

To this noble family:

We hope that the head of this family will stand with the "brothers of Muslims" group and follow basic Muslim rules of wearing the veil and possessing honorable teaching of Islam that Moslems have continued from old epoch. We are the Iraqi people, the Muslim people that do not accept any mistakes.

If not � and the message will not be followed, we will take the actions of:

1. Killing.
2. Kidnapping.
3. Burning the house with its occupants or exploding it.

For the Christian community of Iraq, one of the oldest on Earth, the message is crystal clear. Convert to Islam, or at least comport yourself to Islamic law � including the veil for your women. Or else you will regret it.

The threats contained in this letter are, unfortunately, all too real. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, Assyrians have been the targets of numerous fatal attacks. In Shiite-dominated Southern Iraq, there have been many accounts of Assyrian businessmen being shot dead on the street for such crimes as running liquor stores or selling other goods prohibited by Islamic law.

Under the regime of Saddam Hussein, Christians had been allowed to peacefully conduct such business without fear. Under U.S. and British liberation, many Christians are closing their shops or switching to other merchandise. Church officials have also been attacked. His Grace, Bishop Mar Adai of the Assyrian Church of the East was attacked on the streets of Baghdad. His assailants wanted to steal his gold cross from around his neck.

In the Kurdish enclave of Northern Iraq, America�s Kurdish allies have also been paying attention to the Christians in their midst. It has been reported by Assyrians in various villages scattered throughout Northern Iraq that they have been illegally forced out of their own homes and off their land. They report being constantly pressured to convert to Islam in exchange for guarantees of their safety from the Kurds.

Perhaps the worst of all have been the kidnappings. On August 6th the LA Times reported of these crimes, "The kidnappings have a dark, ruthless quality, often targeting children and teenagers, usually from Iraq's tiny Christian community where no tribal networks exist to fight back against the gangs."

Who Are the Iraqi Christians?

Most Christians in Iraq are ethnically Assyrian. The Assyrians are the original inhabitants of the land now referred to as Iraq. The Gospel was preached to the Assyrians by the Apostle Thomas himself, shortly after the Resurrection of Christ. The majority of the Assyrian population had converted to Christianity by the second century, giving the Assyrians a legitimate claim to being the first Christian nation in history.

Fired by their new faith, the Assyrians began one of the most successful missionary enterprises of all time. By the end of the twelfth century the Assyrian Church spanned the Asian continent, from Syria to the Philippines. Marco Polo reported that during his visit to China in the thirteenth century, he was astonished to find Assyrian priests in the Chinese royal court, and tens of thousands of Chinese Christians. The Assyrian missionaries had been there since the sixth century, and had made such an impact that the first Mongolian system of writing used the Assyrian alphabet.

Over the next centuries, however, Muslim rule and its attendant repression eventually reduced the Assyrians in number and sapped the vigor of their culture. By the mid-1800s wholesale slaughter of Assyrians was being reported at the hands of the Ottoman Turks, under whose control their homeland had fallen. Between 1914 and 1918, two-thirds of all living Assyrians were murdered in a genocide the world has chosen to ignore.

Today, on its ancestral soil, all that is left of the world�s oldest Christian nation is a desperate minority of less than one million people. It didn�t have to be this way. As one Assyrian anonymously wrote, "Today�s Assyrians are the descendents of courageous Christians who resisted many attempts of Arabization and surrender to the Islam. They repeatedly paid with their lives and all their possessions to preserve their beliefs in Jesus Christ. What is so sad, is that I honestly believe that if my ancient ancestors had chosen to adopt Islam instead of Christianity, today, Iraq would be an Assyrian country, not an Arab one. Just like Turkey or Iran, we would be a Muslim country with our own language and identity, instead of a persecuted minority whom the world has forgotten. For Christ, we have sacrificed all."

A Difference of Opinion

There are Assyrians, both in and outside Iraq, who believe the current U.S. occupation could be the answer to their prayers. They hope that U.S. forces will convert Iraq into a modern state, with a secular constitution and an autonomous region in which the Assyrians can live in peace. To this end, some Assyrians have supported U.S. troops in various ways, even risking their lives as guides and interpreters in the field. A few have been killed in action serving alongside U.S. troops.

There are other Assyrians who are not convinced that the occupation will make life better. They remember that when the British ruled Iraq, in the middle of the 20th Century, their situation actually got worse. Saddam Hussein was a brutal tyrant. He led his people into senseless wars that got hundreds of thousands of them killed. But, as these Assyrians point out, Saddam and his regime did have at least one redeeming characteristic � the genie of Islamic militancy was ruthlessly bottled up. Now that the U.S. and Britain have seized control of Iraq, the cork has been popped.

Islamic militancy is growing, and appears to be gaining steam. To make matters worse, civil wars appear to be brewing within, as well as between, the major ethnic factions such as the Sunni, Shiite, and Kurds.

So far the skeptical Assyrians seem to be the most prescient. U.S. forces in Iraq are spread thin, and taking casualties everyday. They are unable to prevent themselves from being assaulted, even when traveling in armed convoys. U.S. forces also appear unable to guarantee the security of Iraqi civilians. Many Assyrians view the rising tide of anti-Christian violence as evidence of U.S. impotence to protect them.

But even if the U.S. forces could protect the Assyrians from their Muslim neighbors, there is no guarantee that they would even want to. The Wall Street Journal has reported that U.S. policy makers in Iraq consider the Christians to be a "most inconvenient minority." Evidencing too much concern for Iraqi Christians, it is feared, would reinforce the idea that the U.S. is fighting a "war on Islam," thereby strengthening the resistance to U.S. forces. It is obvious to observers on the ground that Washington would prefer if the whole messy problem of Iraqi Christians would just go away.

Occupied Iraq is an unstable and dangerous place. Only now that the true bill seems to be coming due, are members of Congress and concerned citizens asking questions they should have posed months ago. In the cauldron of violence that is Iraq, the U.S. stands ready to lose men, money, and equipment seemingly indefinitely. They are losses that will be grievous, but as a nation, the U.S. will survive.

The Assyrians, in contrast, stand to lose everything, and no one seems particularly concerned.

Conservatives Don�t Care About Foreign Christians

No one expects liberals to care much for the fate of Christian communities in the Third World. On the other hand, almost anyone would expect conservatives to care about the persecution and suffering endured by Christians throughout the world. After all, aren�t conservatives pro-life, pro-Bible, and pro-prayer? Isn�t the Republican Party the party of the God-fearing? Given the rhetoric of many Republican politicians and pundits, one would definitely expect a great deal of concern.

Sadly, this just isn�t the case. Prior to the invasion of Iraq, no conservative politicians or pundits of note expressed concern over what an invasion would mean for the Christian community there. Now that the U.S. has occupied Iraq, and is failing miserably in its obligation to protect the Christian minority, the topic goes unmentioned.

Why Don�t Conservatives Care About Christians?

The answer to this question is surprisingly simple. Conservative politicians and pundits care little for the welfare of Christians outside the United States for one primary reason.

The Evangelical Christian base of the Republican Party doesn�t care. There have been no demonstrations protesting the inability/unwillingness of U.S. forces to protect Iraqi Christians. Their cause has not been championed by any of the televangelists. Christian persecution in post-Saddam Iraq has not been a centerpiece article in any of the Evangelical magazines. At the same time, there have been large protests against the Bush Administration�s �Roadmap for Peace,� a plan many Evangelicals opposed as being too tough on the Israelis. The message is clear to Christians outside the U.S. � Israel matters and you don�t.

Worse still, even when Evangelicals do pay attention to Christians outside American borders, it is often tinged with hostility. Ask the Serbs or the Israeli Christians about that. Of course, the Evangelicals do not consider Catholic or Orthodox Christians to be Christians. Somehow, though, one has to doubt that Jesus feels that way, especially when so many of those suffering persecution for His name are from those communions. If strength in the faith under adverse conditions is the measure of a Christian, then surely many Catholic and Orthodox believers are among the greatest living. Would that the Evangelicals only recognized that fact, while there is still time to prevent any more suffering.

September 15, 2003

Glen Chancy [send him mail] is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Political Science, and a certificate in Eastern European Studies. A former University lecturer in Poland, he currently holds an MBA in Finance and works in Orlando, Florida as a business analyst for an international software developer.

My response:

Thank you for this post. It is one element of the equation that is rarely considered in the US.

My old Theology professor warned us of this problem. He said, "Theology (insert 'history' or almost any subject) is like packing a suitcase. Just when you think everything is accounted for you notice that a sock is sticking out. After repacking a shirt sleeve will stick out. Though the task is endless we are doomed to repeat it forever." Just when I thought the Shia's might be easier to work with than the Wahhabis we run into this reality that we all knew existed but hoped would go away. It obviously has not.

No wonder many young people look at religion with exasperation and say that it is better to be irreligious. At least then we don't have any excuse for our barbarity. I don't agree with that at all, but outside of Buddhism do we have an example of a religion that refuses to bear arms?

Chancy is right about the religion and politics of America. The Evangelicals consider any Christian not of their ilk as non-Christian. The Liberal "Christians" have virtually the same opinion and their own "theology" is hardly Christian at all. How is one to understand these groups?

Are the politicized Christians the tail or the dog? Are the politicos the tail or the dog? Which wags which? A curse on all their houses.

One, of many questions is this, is there any value for Christians to try to have serious discussions with the Sufis? The question is critical for me. I'm trying to be a faithful follower of Christ and teach Comparative Religions.

Another question, is there any way to help our Assyrian brothers and sisters?

Dan Lauffer

Excellent article Dan !!! And we should keep in mind that the man responsible for launching this disgraceful war, George W Bush, has referred to the Koran as a God inspired book.

Dear Dan,

Which Orthodox forum was that?

I thought this was the best Orthodox forum!

Alex

Alex,

Lord, have mercy!! What did that old devil do to me? I did speak in error. This is the best Orthodox forum going but the other one can be found at http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/

Lawrence,

I understand. Who can we vote for who actually has some grasp of Islam and traditional Christianity?

Dan Lauffer

I don't understand how Dan's "This was posted on the Orthodox forum" led to Alex's "Which Orthodox forum was that? I thought this was the best Orthodox forum!" and then Dan's "I did speak in error. This is the best Orthodox forum going but..." Dan never referred to that forum as "the best", did he?

Anyway...

Yesterday I read this article, and I thought it was interesting, but this particular passage touched me. All in all, we've had it pretty good over the years and centuries. How many of us can truly say "For Christ, we have sacrificed all"?

Mor,

When I read that paragraph my heart got caught in my throat. How much we take for granted!! How much we owe these saints and martyrs for their faithful witness!! How small their temporal reward yet how great their eternal!

Dan Lauffer

Glory be to Jesus Christ!! Glory be to Him forever and ever!!!

A number of years ago, some organization sent me a simple little lapel cross that looked like a pair of tiny nails crossed. They didn't ask for money--that's what sparked my interest. They merely asked me to pray for persecuted Christians all over the world--from Communist China, to Iraq and Iran, to Sudan, etc.

I recommend praying for them because persecution is often not reported by the Western media.

"Be mindful, O Lord, of all my brothers and sisters, who here and in all the world are persecuted for the sake of Thy Holy Name. Grant them Your grace and Your strength and a sense of Your abiding Presence that they may evermore remember that this life which passes so quickly away is but as nothing compared to that life of blessedness which You have promised to those who remain faithful. Grant that none may be lost due to human weakness but let all be saved by Thy grace and great mercy. AMEN."

In Christ,

BOB

I have read with great concern the accounts of the persecution of Christians in Iraq. Zenit has reported that the Chaldean bishops have asked Paul Bremer, who is responsible for the administration of Iraq, to guarantee the rights of Christians in Iraq.

The US government has been oddly silent about persecutions of Christians, even when many of its leaders proclaim their Christian faith. Our leaders really should set a better example of insistance on human rights.

Unless the war against Iraq leads to increased respect for human rights, and a guarantee that they will not be violated, then it will go down in history as simply another senseless, needless war.

Glory be to Jesus Christ!! Glory be to Him forever and ever!!!

Unfortunately, we seem to be caught in the same dichotomy that the pro-abortion politicians are in. They're concerned for their Christian faith only when it suits their purpose: to cull votes from their base constituencies.

On the other hand, many of our "Christian" leaders are of the stripe that views Catholics and Orthodox Christians as not being Christian.

But I think we should let that last sentence echo in our hearts: "For Christ, we have sacrificed all." This haunts me. I'm not even up to the top of the heels of these blessed people when it comes to dedication to Christ and it makes me ashamed. Here I sit, safe and sound; fat and complacent. There they are in constant danger just for being part of the Faith.

"O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory to all Orthodox Christians over their adversaries and by the power of Thy Holy Cross preserve Thy Habitation. AMEN."

In Christ,

BOB

Well, I see it has taken a lot of time for American Catholics and Orthodox to realize that people who belong to Evangelical and Neo-Protestant sects are followers of a totaly different religion, opposed to Christianity (after all, not only in the USA, we all have protestant friends who are good people, and who are still good christians). To me, the differences between Evangelicalism and Apostolic Christianity are as enormous as those we have with Islam or Judaism.

Evangelicals have been smarter than us, they realized we weren't "Christians" before, you know why? Cause they are Christians of a different "Christ" which is not the real one.

Non Christians (Non Christian is what I consider an Evangelical or Protestant religion to be) have never shown any interest in Eastern Christianity, They use charuty groups to introduce their religion, Their interests are different.

I think the newer Protestant groups have a very messed up Christology and poor understanding of the two natures of Christ. Their understanding of the Trinity is also severely lacking. I think many of the Pentecostal groups border on Arianism, if not fully espouse it. In that sense they are not really Christian. However, I would say the classical Protestants such as Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists are still Christian (At least the conservatives in those groups are).

In Christ,
Anthony

Gee, maybe the Pope knew what he was talking about when he said war on Iraq was a bad idea? Imagine that!

I was shocked when I first heard he didn't want us to go in there and liberate the poor Iraqi people from that awful dictator... Some of us, myself included, need to learn not to put our American political ideals ahead of our Catholic moral and ethical values.

Hey Everybody,
Don't hold your breath waiting for our current leadership to do anything about the Iraqi Christians. As we have seen, this war has little to do with human rights concerns, or terrorism, or WMD or any of the excuses offered up prior to the invasion. It has instead a lot to do with continuing the agenda of Bush I and revising the assumed unsatisfying conclusion of the Gulf War in 1991. Readers might be interested to check the overlap of Bush I and Bush II administrations: Cheney, Libby, Wolfowitz. You can also include figures of influence who later became Bush II players like Rumsfield and Pearle. Interesting overlap and influence is also seen among members of the Neo-Conservative journalist movement, most notably editors/contributors of the Weekly Standard. People can learn a lot about this years' long drive to a renewed war in the Gulf area (a drive that long pre-dated 9/11) by looking at the website of an outfit called Project for a New American Century. See: http://www.newamericancentury.org/
here the basic argument for a muscle-bound US foreign policy is laid out. In their archives you can easily trace the development of the decision to attack Iraq and the grafting of that policy to the tragedy of 9/11. BTW the British and US governments announced last week that the forthcoming report on WMD is on indefinite hold and President Bush has directly stated that he knows that Iraq had no direct involvement in 9/11.

The Holy Father was spot on right about this one: US invasion plans were far too steeped in specific US national policy to be helpful to peace or to the region.

Also, before anybody jumps on me: I am a Republican voter, voted for Bush and agree with the basic premis that 9/11 would require a military response as we saw in Afghanistan (and to which the Holy Father agreed ?) I just don't believe in an expansive war or in grafting on other outstanding international problems to the War on Terrorism. Also, if we were really serious about human rights abuses and specifically the persecution of Christians, then where on our radar is Sudan, China, Indonesia, etc. or even Canada for that matter if you want to include restrictions on political speech and public persuasion. How about Britain where certain topics like criticism of homosexuality are barred from the public airwaves so that Protestant radio preachers cannot broadcast certain sermons there?

The Administration has made it clear that it considers religion, if it figures into this mess at all, as a device of calculation not of principle. It has also made it abundantly clear that we will have a selective view of human rights in this war; that Israel has essentially a blank check as long as they are potentially useful as an ally in the region; that, as another poster has pointed out, the only "Christian agenda" that counts is the Evangelicals since they tend to vote much more uniformly for Republicans than do Catholics.
No, don't waste too much time seeking principle in this mess; we missed that turn in the road last spring and took the road to Baghdad instead.

I disagree strongly with Ken�s statement. The war had everything to do with freeing an enslaved nation from an evil, murderous dictator. The problem is that we Americans have now acquired a television mentality when it comes to international affairs. We want everything to be accomplished and tidied up in a half hour and get upset when things aren�t perfect. It is my belief that Iraqi Christians will be better off over the next generations as part of a free, democratic society than they would be under a Hussein dictatorship (or, worse yet, a dictatorship run by one of his sons). A working democratic society in which Islam is the predominant religion can eventually transform the entire Mid East.

There are so many subtopics that can be addressed. Yes, Iraq was not directly involved in the attacks on 9/11 but we can�t ignore the evidence of the hundreds of millions of dollars that Hussein funneled to terrorist organizations or that he freely choose not to provide evidence of the WMD that the inspectors earlier had proved he had. I think it was a very wise move as part of a comprehensive response to the many terrorists who seek to destroy us.

I do agree that our response to the horrific events in Sudan and elsewhere has been unacceptable. But a failure to respond in one area does not mean that a nation shouldn�t respond elsewhere.

It's funny that the Bushies didn't use this as their justification until the vaunted WMD's didn't show up.

It's also funny that the evil, murderous dictators who are willing to play ball (e.g. in the Sudan), or who have nothing to offer (e.g. in Zimbabwe), or who actually pose a threat (e.g. in North Korea) are not the ones that Bush goes after.

Evil, murderous dictator? Saddam was that. But he had also been handcuffed for quite some time. This war has resulted in thousands of deaths that never should have occured, ESPECIALLY in light of the fact that Bush INTERRUPTED a weapons-inspection regime in order to wage it.

My Canadian nickel.

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