Paul KeenanPrelate issues stark warning
"If civil war breaks out it will be the end for us Christians in Iraq.”
This is the warning issued by a Chaldean prelate in Baghdad this week as the city prepared to face the threat of further advances by Islamic militants.
Speaking as fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) seized territory less than 40 miles from the capital’s northern suburbs, auxiliary Bishop Saad Sirop Hanna said that, Christians are working to flee the city, despite reassurances of a counter attack and international aid.
Revealing that Christians are urgently seeking "baptism and marriage certificates in order to leave”, Bishop Hanna explained: "They cannot stand the idea of suffering another blow, more violence and persecution as in the past. They hoped for so long that the situation might change, but it has not. We are back to square one of the civil war."
Describing the sense of “fear and foreboding” now gripping Baghdad, Bishop Hanna expressed the hope that “the prelates might meet to launch a message to the Christian community”. In this, the bishop was referring to a synod of bishops of the Chaldean Church which had been planned for this month but is now postponed due to the crisis.
"If civil war breaks out," Bishop Hanna warned, "it will be the end for us Christians in Iraq. Since 2010…we have tried to calm the situation and encourage Christians to stay, but every year the obstacles increase and the situation gets worse."