Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq 8 Dec. (AKI) - The
President of Iraqi Kurdistan, Massoud Barzani, says
they will welcome all Christians seeking refuge from
the critical security situation in other areas of
Iraq who want to stay definitively or temporarily in
the region. At a meeting of religious leaders and
members of the Christian community in Kurdistan,
Barzani said: "We welcome any Christian brothers who
choose to come and live in Kurdistan, whether
temporarily or more permanently. This is their
country and we will not prevent any of them from
taking refuge."
The gathering was part of a series of meetings
organised in the run-up to the forthcoming
parliamentary elections in the country on 15
December. |
Massoud Barzani
President of Kurdistan
Region (Iraq)
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"You are the owners of this land, you are the
protectors of its ancient history, therefore no one
can prevent you from living here," the leader of the
Kurdistan Democratic Party said, inviting Christians
to "send letters to your relatives and your brothers
in Baghdad, Basra or any other Iraqi city, or even
abroad, to come and reside in Kurdistan, whether
definitively or until the security conditions in the
country improve."
"I can assure you," he continued, "that we will not
allow anyone to oppress you, you are free to accept
this fraternal co-inhabitance and to help in the
building of your country."
Barzani then went on to ask those present to turn
out in force to vote in the upcoming elections,
given "the decisive importance of this vote, as the
next parliament will discuss more than 50
constitutional articles which must be turned into
law. The greater our political weight and presence
within the National Assembly, the more we will be
able to contribute to the developing of these laws,
which will guarantee our constitutional rights," he
stressed.
About 3 percent of Iraq's population is Christian -
with most belonging to the Assyrian or Chaldean
Catholic denominations. Over the last year, there
have been several bomb attacks on Christian churches
and Christian businesses in northern Iraq and
Baghdad. A dozen Christians have been killed in such
attacks, prompting a number of people to flee Iraq
and closed down their businesses as a result.
During Saddam's secular regime they were free to
worship. One of the regime's most prominent
Christian members was deputy prime minister Tareq
Aziz.
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