WORLD LEADERS REACT This
WORLD LEADERS REACT This horrific attack is a sobering reminder of what all should already know - that Iraqi Christians clearly continue to face a grave terrorist threat In the wake of this brazen and senseless attack, we urge the Iraqi government to proactively heighten security at Christian and other minority religious sites and the United States government to increase its support of such efforts. - Leonard Leo, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom This is our home, we have been together with Muslims for centuries, this is our destiny, and we will stay together. This is almost parallel to what al-Qaeda is doing against us. Al-Qaeda is pushing us out and you are pulling me out. Which is against my interest, against my people, against my country. - Yonadam Kanna, Assyrian member of the Iraqi parliament No terrorist act can reverse a path toward peace, democracy and reconstruction in Iraq. Bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism to justice.” - U.N. Security Council DESPAIR continued from page 22 Grand Opening West Bloomfield Location The archbishop called on the U.K. government to grant Christian Iraqis asylum and called on the Iraqi government to protect Christians from militant attacks. “Before they killed one, one, one but now, tens, tens. If they do that, they will finish us if we stay in Iraq,” he added. A German official has also called on his country to grant asylum to 2,500 more Iraqi Christians. In Iraq, the Kamil Shayaa Observatory Group (KSOG) said its members will not celebrate the Muslim religious holiday Eid Al-Adha or exchange holiday greetings in solidarity with their Christian brethren. KSOG is a group of more than 200 civil society organizations, in addition to professionals and intellectuals, representing all provinces. The group’s statement noted “respect for the pure lives stolen by blind violence in our country.” On November 11, Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Christians to stay calm and not leave the country. “These actions which affected all Iraqis [are] intended to create division among the religions,” he said. “The government will hunt down anyone who tries to sabotage Iraq and punish him with the strongest possible sanctions.” P Christians “are the owners of the first civilization which founded this country” and “are the complement part of the rest of the Iraqi spectrum,” said al-Maliki, according to aknews.com. Also on November 11, a Kurdish leader said Christians are welcome in the north. “I want to let them know that the Kurdistan Region is open to them. If they want to come, we will protect them and provide them with all services,” said Massoud Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Regional Government. “We are extremely sorry for the crimes they have been subjected to and we condemn these criminal acts, they are innocent people and a precious part of this nation.” “A catastrophe” is how Samir Sumaida’ie, Iraq’s ambassador to the United States, described the attack. “It is an extremely painful experience not only for the Christians of Iraq, but for all Iraqis, except for those who are rightly described as extremists and intolerant,” the ambassador said. “Personally I was very shocked and saddened and very worried.” Dozens of the injured have been airlifted to Paris and Rome where they are being treated in hospitals. - Compiled from the Associated Press, UK Guardian, Assyrian International News Agency and other sources. RIS P ASTRY We ship all over the Usa by Ups specialty cakes sWeets for all occasions www.parispastryweb.com New Location! Now Open! West Bloomfield 6275 Haggerty Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 Tel: 248.313.9914 Oak Park 22171 Coolidge Highway Oak Park, MI 48237 Tel: 248.541.6550 30 CHALDEAN NEWS NOVEMBER 2010
DECEMBER 2010 CHALDEAN NEWS 31
