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Kurdish President Offers Refuge To Christians
 Erbil, 8 Dec. (AKI) - The President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, says they will welcome all Christians seeking refuge from the critical security situation in other areas of Iraq who want to stay definitively or temporarily in the region. At a meeting of religious leaders and members of the Christian community in Kurdistan, Barzani said: "We welcome any Christian brothers who choose to come and live in Kurdistan, whether temporarily or more permanently. This is their country and we will not prevent any of them from taking refuge."
"You are the owners of this land, you are the protectors of its ancient history, therefore no one can prevent you from living here," the leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party said, inviting Christians to "send letters to your relatives and your brothers in Baghdad, Basra or any other Iraqi city, or even abroad, to come and reside in Kurdistan, whether definitively or until the security conditions in the country improve." "I can assure you," he continued, "that we will not allow anyone to oppress you, you are free to accept this fraternal co-inhabitance and to help in the building of your country."
Barzani then went on to ask those present to turn out in force to vote in the upcoming elections, given "the decisive importance of this vote, as the next parliament will discuss more than 50 constitutional articles which must be turned into law. The greater our political weight and presence within the National Assembly, the more we will be able to contribute to the developing of these laws, which will guarantee our constitutional rights," he stressed. About 3 percent of Iraq's population is Christian - with most belonging to the Assyrian or Chaldean Catholic denominations. Over the last year, there have been several bomb attacks on Christian churches and Christian businesses in northern Iraq and Baghdad. A dozen Christians have been killed in such attacks, prompting a number of people to flee Iraq and closed down their businesses as a result. During Saddam's secular regime they were free to worship. One of the regime's most prominent Christian members was deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz. Posted by: Steve 2005-12-08 |
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