ICC Note: Iraq continues to lose Christians at an incredible rate. Pray for those that cannot escape.
Christians in Iraq Suffered Muted Christmas
Christians across Iraq celebrated a quiet and humble Christmas this year, as violence gripped the country as much as ever.
By Daniel Blake
For the full article, go to Christianity Today
One of Iraqs 800,000 Christians, Umm Salam, a 56-year-old widow gave a description of her festive season to AP, saying: It is very risky to go the church in our neighbourhood, so we will have a party at home and some of our relatives will come to celebrate. They’ll have to stay the night at our home due to the security situation and the curfew.
Salams Christmas Church Service, like many across the war-torn country, was cancelled.
The violence in Iraq has been centred around Sunni and Shiite Muslims, although the Christian community, which makes up approximately 3 per cent of the total population, has also been targeted.
The world was shocked when news arose in October that one priest was kidnapped by Muslim militants, who demanded that he retract the popes comments. He was later found beheaded.
Salam explained that she has to hide her Christian name, as she fears she will be targeted if people find out her real name.
She told AP: We cannot show our happiness (about Christmas) to neighbours. But every single Iraqi has his own wounds, and life must go on.
The UN has stated that according to its estimates, more than a million Iraqis have deserted the country since the war in 2003, and also comment that they believe about 3,000 are leaving each day. Approximately 40 per cent of those who have left are Christian.
