Iraqi Christians reject calls to emigrate, Christian leader

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraq‘s Christians reject foreign calls to encourage them to emigrate abroad, Christian Member of Parliament Younadim Kanna has said on Tuesday. “Iraqi Christians refuse foreign calls by some states, calling upon this important component of Iraq, to emigrate abroad, particularly to Germany and France,” Kanna said in a speech in the Iraqi Parliament’s session, reiterating that “Iraqi Christians do not belong to any other state, other than Iraq.” Kanna also demanded that the Iraqi government “secure protection for churches and all other houses of worship that must be supplied by special security forces.” A number of Christian houses had been exposed to terrorist rockets and bomb attacks in different parts of Baghdad, causing several casualties and damaging the houses. The attacks followed an attack against the Lady of Salvation Church in west Baghdad’s Karrada District by a group of armed men, who took several worshipers hostage. Security forces were able to break into the Church, killing a number of armed men. The final toll from the attack reached 58 killed, including 5 of the attackers, 7 security men, while the remaining victims were church-goers. The number of wounded people had reached 75, including 15 army and police men. Al-Qaeda Organization had announced responsibility for the attack, threatening that Iraqi Christians would become targets for fresh attacks. SKH/SR 3