Christians Fear Persecution in New Iraq

[coda]

Middle East - AP

Christians Fear Persecution in New Iraq

Mon Jul 26, 1:47 AM ET

By JAMIE TARABAY, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq -

<snip>

Numbering some 750,000, Christians are a minority here, and even as secular Iraqis worry about the growing tide of Islamic fundamentalism, so long repressed under Saddam Hussein, their Christian compatriots are feeling the effects closer to home. They're anxious about their place in the new world around them, one that often sees them as collaborators with their American occupiers.


<snip>


"It never used to be something we talked about at work," said one woman, who asked not to be named, butterfly clips pulling blond streaks away from her face. "But I hear it all the time from the Muslims in my office — they say we should be part of the insurgency, they say we should all fight together against the Americans, that we should be involved."


<snip>


They were able to practice their faith in relative security, free from persecution under Saddam Hussein, and threats from Islamic radicals about liquor stores and beauty salons were always firmly dealt with.


<snip>


Islamic radicals have warned Christians running liquor stores to shut down their sales, and have turned their sights on fashion stores and beauty salons. The increasing attention on this minority community has many within looking for a way out.


<snip>


Shaking the hands of the last worshippers to leave the Cathedral, Father John could only shake his head at the dwindling number of parishioners coming to Mass each week. He said that while Saddam Hussein dragged the country through "war after war," Christians felt safer when he was in charge.

"We have no future in Iraq now," he said.


more.....

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040726/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_christians_on_edge_1

[thebigidea]

1. for some reason, I find Christians running liquor stores in Iraq hilarious

This could be because its almost 6am and I don't remember if I actually slept at some point.

Even funnier would be the wondrous irony of this phrase: "free from persecution under Saddam Hussein"

BWAHAHAHHA!

Oh, George. You sure liberated the HELL out of those poor people, huh?

[izzie]

2. I have read that they are leaving fast. This was a week or so age so--

I have forgotten where. Wonder where they will go? Maybe they will re-settle in the Southern part of the USA?

[no_hypocrisy]

3. That's pretty ironic, considering how * slipped and called Iraq a Crusade.

Guess he didn't think it all out.

Where are Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and all those "Christian soldiers" and/or missionaries when you need them? Oh, I forgot. They're busy in this country, to make sure * gets another four years.