Religious minorities in Iraq face persecution, panel says
ICC Note
“Iraq’s non-Muslim religious minorities — particularly Christians, Mandaeans and Yazidis — have suffered religiously-based attacks and other abuses, and have fled the country, at rates far disproportionate to their numbers, seriously threatening these communities’ continued existence in Iraq,”
12/16/2008 Iraq (CNN) — Iraq ‘s smaller religious groups have been facing “ongoing severe abuses,” and the situation requires a response from the United States , a religious freedom watchdog said Tuesday.
The commission wants the U.S. State Department to designate Iraq as a “country of particular concern” — a status that would allow policy responses, including public condemnations, the denial of state visits, and even sanctions. Spokeswoman Judith Ingram said such a designation would draw attention to the abuses and “encourage a robust policy response.”
” Iraq ‘s non-Muslim religious minorities — particularly Christians, Mandaeans and Yazidis — have suffered religiously-based attacks and other abuses, and have fled the country, at rates far disproportionate to their numbers, seriously threatening these communities’ continued existence in Iraq ,” the report said.
