Last update: 2022-04-22 09:53:30
The Oasis international network of Oasis expresses its nearness to the Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon, H.B. Louis Sako, in these days of deep grief and suffering for the more than 100,000 Iraqi Christians who fled from their homes after receiving death threats.
Christians and Muslims who shares the journey of Oasis welcome the reiterated appeals by Pope Francis to pray for peace and to foster concrete solidarity initiatives for the Middle Eastern Christians. As Patriarch Sako says, ‘the quickly developing tragedy of the displaced families in Northern Iraq, urges everyone to act’.
The appeal of the Chaldean Patriarch, Baghdad 13 August 2014
Appeal to save the Niniveh Plain from the jihadists
The quickly developing tragedy of the displaced families in Northern Iraq, urges everyone to act as there are no signs of a quick solution to the fate of the more than 1000,000 people who have fled from more than 13 villages on the Nineveh Plain to towns and villages further North and who have been trying to survive in parks and public places for the past seven days.
From a spiritual and humanitarian point of view the present circumstances of these exiled people are not acceptable, while the suffering increases and the international efforts to alleviate their pain are insufficient.
Currently it is not possible to rely on the Central Government that is being formed as the process is going through troubled times. Moreover, it will require a good amount of time for a new government to bring back order and peace in the country.
So before further harsh and heartbreaking realities afflict these families, the United States of America, also due to their prior involvement in Iraq, the European Union and Arab League of Nations have the responsibility to act rapidly for a solution.
They must clear the Nineveh Plain from all elements of Jihadist Warriors, and help these displaced families return to their ancestral villages and reconstitute their lives so that they can conserve and practise their religion, culture and traditions through an active and effective International Campaign until the Central Government and Regional Government of Kurdistan become effective.
It saddens me to think of them choosing migration as a viable option. If the situation does not change the whole world will be called to take responsibility for the slow genocide of a genuine component of Iraqi society and of loosing its heritage and age old culture. ISIS tries to erase all traces.
This letter was sent with the full agreement of the bishops of Mosul, of all the churches.
H.B. Louis Sako, Chaldean Patriarch of Baghdad, and President of the Bishops' Conference of the Iraqi
