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| Iraq |
| Clerics slam attacks on Mosul Christians |
| 2008-10-19 |
| Iraqi Sunni and Shia clerics have spoken out against a spate of deadly attacks on Christians in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The recent series of killings, which has been widely blamed on al-Qaeda in Iraq, are said to be a result of the Christian community's stepped up lobbying efforts to ensure Christian representation in upcoming provincial elections. Shia cleric Sadralddin al-Qubanji said Friday he disapproved of the attacks in "letter and spirit,'' adding that the violence represented a "malicious scheme against Christians and all Iraqis.'' Sunni cleric Abdul-Sattar Abdul-Jabar also called for respect for a religious group that has "coexisted with us since the emergence of Islam 1,400 years ago.'' Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul Karim Khalaf said last week that the Iraqi government is taking new measures to protect Mosul's Christians, including an increased police presence in their neighborhoods and more checkpoints and patrols near churches. "We don't deny that hostile acts occurred, but we have the ability to stop such acts and the situation is under control,'' he said. Iraq's parliament on September 24 approved a long-delayed provincial elections law that allows provincial elections to take place, but lawmakers scrapped a key clause, known as Article 50, that would have guaranteed seats for Christians and other minorities at the provincial level. In the Iraqi National Assembly they are guaranteed seats. Christians have strongly opposed the decision to eliminate the article and the Iraqi government has asked parliament to restore the quotas. |
| Posted by:Fred |