Pope criticizes persecution of Christians in Iraq

(IraqiNews.com) Pope Francis I expressed his solidarity with the displaced Christians from the city of Mosul, because of threats of the organization of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, addressing them by saying, “You can be overpowering violence to peace.”

Pope Francis said in front of the crowds in St. Peter’s Square, “we call on the Lord of peace to send in every human being a genuine desire for dialogue and reconciliation. You could not overcome violence with violence. You can be overpowering violence to peace.”

Pope added, “our brothers exposed persecuted, expelled, and forced to leave their homes with no possibility of taking anything with them.”

The General Secretariat of the Arab League, earlier, condemned the forced displacement suffered by Christians in Mosul, considering it “a disgrace” that cannot be tolerated.

On Friday, the Niveneh Council member, Zuhair al-Chalabi said that the leader of the organization of the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi gave Christians till Saturday to leave the province or they will be killed, while he pointed to his followers to loot their property and possessions:

• ISIL leader Al-Baghdadi gives Christians 24 hours to leave Nineveh, directs ISIL to loot Christian property
• Christians in Mosul flee after ISIS’ deadline expires
• Displaced Christians from Mosul welcomed by Imam Abbas Holy Shrine

On June 20, 2014, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Iraq revealed that the organization of ISIL imposed the Jizya tribute to Christian citizens in Mosul, in an attempt to pressure them and expelled them from the city, calling on the government and the international community to put an end to that.