A Statement on Behalf of the Oppressed Iraqi Christian Community

We, the National Middle Eastern Presbyterian Caucus, are grieved by the barbaric bombing of 8 churches in Iraq (7 in Baghdad, 1 in Mosul) on Sunday, July 12, 2009. We denounce the cowardly aggression of militants against innocent and peaceful Iraqi civilians. We emphatically deplore all violence, in particular violence in the name of religion or political ideology, targeting Christians and minority groups, and all hostilities aimed to dehumanize, terrorize, persecute, and murder people in the name of God or any political cause.

We call upon the Government of Iraq to intervene immediately to protect its Christian population and to investigate and bring to justice perpetrators and supporters of violence; and to guard the sanctity of Christian homes and places of worship. We appeal to the United Nations and the Arab League to declare this deplorable and persistent evil as genocidal atrocities intended to drive out Christians from their homeland.

We call upon the Muslim community worldwide to categorically reject and condemn all hostilities against Christian minorities throughout the Middle East. We call upon Christians worldwide to pray earnestly and muster their recourses and influence to ensure the safety of the Christian community in Iraq.

Rev. Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel, Moderator
National Middle Easters Presbyterian Caucus