1. Christianity in Iraq
By Dr. Suha Rassam
ICIN

4. The Matrix Mesopotamia under Persians /Zoroastrian
The Rest of ME under the Romans/Pagans.
The two empires in conflict
The majority of the population were Pagans
A large Jewish community in Iraq/exiles

5. Evangelisation Tradition: Thadaeus &Thomas/Aggai&Mari
Travel:Trade & pilgrimage
Jews from Mesopotamia (Acts 2:5-10)
Gradual infiltration amongst Jews, Pagans and Zoroastrians

6. The Churches of Iraq The Church of the East/Nestorian/Persian
The Syrian Orthodox Church/Miaphysite
The Chaldean Church 1553/ largest
The Syrian Catholic Church 1662
Protestant,Armenian.Anglican.Greek

7. The second Century Church Building
Intellectual Converts: Tatian, Bardaisan
King Abgar VIII converts to Christianity
Synod in Edessa AD 197:Date of Easter
The epitaph of Abercuis
Representatives in the Council of Nicea

8. The Third century
Ardashir in 224 had to deal with the Christians & included the church Kokhe within his new capital
The Zoroastrian religion was adopted as the official religion of the State in AD and apostasy was punishable by death

9. The Fourth Century
The Forty Years Persecution/ The Great Persecution/ Shapur II/ AD
Yazdgird I 399/peace with the Romans
Acknowledged the Christians as independent community

10. The fifth century
410 AD Attended by representative from the Western Church
424 AD The C.E becomes self-ruling.
Note: before the Councils of Ephesus 431& Chalcedon AD 451

11. Characteristics Dyophysite theology /School of Edessa
The Syriac language as its hallmark
Incorporated Greek Philosophy
Centres of learning/Scholars & writers
Asceticism, Mysticism and Monastic
Strongly Missionary

12. Arab Abbasid Rule 750-1258 Christians & Jews: People of the book
Had to pay special tax-Jyziah
Had to observe Dhimmi rules:
First Category-always binding
Second: Only applied if stipulated

13. Dhimmi Rules I
Should not denigrate Islam,the prophet of Islam or misquote the Qur’an
Must not undermine a Muslim’s faith
Must not help the enemies of Islam
Must not approach a Muslim woman unless he converts to Islam
Apostacy from Islam punishable by death.

14. Dhimmi Rules II Non-Muslims wear distinctive clothing
Should not erect buildings higher than those of Muslims
Must not allow sound of bells or talk about Jesus to reach a Muslim ear.
Must not display crosses, drink wine or eat pork in front of a Muslim
Should not ride a horse but a mule or a donkey.

15. The Contributions of the Christians to the Abbasid Civilization 750-1258
Pioneered as physicians and had near monopoly in medicine
Educators & officials & translators
Prominent philosophers
Patriarch conducted dialogues with Muslim
The Translation Process

16. Decline Under Muslim Rule
Rigidity of application of Dhimmi rules/9C
Increase in number of educated Muslims
Increasing strength of the Arabic language
Decline in the need of Syriac language
The church became impoverished
Weakness of the state

17. From Abbasid to modern times
Mongol rule
Turkoman rule
Savavid rule
Struggle for survival.Seat of the Patriarchate moved from place to place as to where it is safest
Ottoman rule

18. Modern Iraq British rule & Mandate 1918-32
Independent Monarchy
Democracy/schools/modernisation
Republic
Conflicts/abolition of private education/
Iraq-Iran war/sanctions/emigration

19. Under Occupation 9 April 2003
Lack of law and order
Destruction of the infrastructure
Persecution/Sunni-Shite
Persecution/Shi’as & Sunnis of Christian
Survival of the Christian community under threat

20. Attacks on Christians Initially: alcohol dealers, barbers, musicians.
Kidnapping: Professionals & rich…Ransom
Women forced to wear al-Hijab
Accusations: Crusaders & American collaborators.
Dhimmis & infidels who should convert to Islam, pay the Jyzia, convert, be killed.
Calls from Minarets: do not buy their property…they will leave & it is Halal for your.

21. Attacks on Churches First concerted attack 1.8.04
Last concerted attack
Between a total of 45 churches & related Christian places of worship have been attacked.
Some attacks were concerted with major damage and loss of life, others isolated with little damage & no loss of life

29. Attacks on religious personnel
August 04 Patriarch Deli threatened (Baghdad)
January 2005 Bishop Mousa kidnapped (Mosul)
Ra’ad Washan K. (Baghdad)
Douglas Al-Bazi & Sa’ad Sirop K.(Bag)
Basil Yaldo K. Baghdad
Oct. 06 Paul Iskander K, murdered & body mutilated (Mosul).
Sami al-Rayyis K.& tortured (Baghdad)
Raghid Ganni & three deacons assassinated as they were leaving church after service (Mosul).

30. Ethnic Cleansing
During the summer of 2007, al-Dora district of Baghdad was attacked by Sunni extremists evicting Shi’a Muslims & Christians from their homes.
Christians were asked to convert to Islam, leave their homes, or killed.

31. Refugees
Eight million Iraqis need humanitarian assistance to ensure their day to day survival (The Times, 18 April 2007).
In Syria, 44% of Iraqi Asylum seekers were recorded as Christian since UNHCR began registrations in December 2003 ( Guardian weekly October )

32. Iraqi Church Leaders
All Church leaders spoke on various occasions asking to be protected and treated as equal citizens
The Patriarch of the Chaldeans gave a cry for help on 6 May 07. He was in tears after a bomb exploded in a Christian village near a school killing 17 children and injuring over 170 individuals:
‘I hold responsible all those who can reach a solution to establish peace and stability in our homeland…’

33. Bishop Sako to Asia news
‘We can no longer be silent. We have to remind the world of the importance of the Christian presence in Iraq, for the good of Iraq. Christians are suffering from forced evacuation, rape, kidnap, blackmail and killing. Forcing Christians to leave their homes destroy the cultural, civil and religious mosaic of which Iraq is considered to be the very cradle’.

34. Bishop Audo
What a great loss it would be If Christianity in Iraq is obliterated, not only to Iraq but to the whole Middle east and to the whole Muslim world

35. Summary
Within the general context of violence & lawlessness, the Christians suffer more than other Iraqis as they are specifically targeted by Islamists of both sides.
They have no militia to protect them, have no safe haven to go to & no country to support them

36. Statement 2005
Christians are threatened, intimidated & their livelihood taken from them, their homes & possessions seized & destroyed.
The longer we refuse to take action, hundreds of Christians are forced to flee their homes in fear of their lives

37. Will this community survive? How can we help
Make the plight of the Christians known
Write to MP
Must accept some as refugees
Financial help for refugees/charities/ICIN
Dialogue/reaching compassionate Muslim voices
Western countries should support the Eastern Christians by creating a centre for Eastern Christianity
Solving political conflict in the Middle East

38. ICIN – Iraqi Christians In Need
ICIN is a UK registered Charity which was established to help the Iraqi Christians who, as a result of events during the past few years, have been displaced, destitute, persecuted and are suffering financial hardship.
Iraq is no longer front page news but the problems of the Iraqi Christians are still there.
Thank you for your support.