Assyrian Priest Paints Grim Picture After Visit to Iraq

[Victoria33]

http://aina.org/news/20181009174540.htm

Assyrian Priest Paints Grim Picture After Visit to Iraq​

(AINA) – Father Athanasis Toma, who lives in Los Angeles, returned recently from a trip to Iraq, his country of origin. Fr. Athanasis is an Assyrian, a chorbishop in the Ancient Church of the East, with a diocese in San Fernando, CA. Fr. Athanasis was happy to visit Iraq, but is gravely concerned over the developments in that country, particularly about the situation of Assyrians, the indigenous people of Iraq.

According to Father Athanasis, there are many challenges that Assyrians are facing in Iraq, including security, land seizures and Kurdish discrimination and marginalization of Assyrians in the north.

The following is an interview with Fr. Athanasis conducted by Sabri Atman, the director of the Assyrian Genocide Research Center, based in Sweden.

Can you tell us about your visit to Iraq?

This was my second visit to the homeland within six years since leaving the country 42 years ago. It was a short but very sad visit because of the conditions and the unfair treatment of our people back home.

See more at link.

They are really up against it, we should remember them daily in our prayers and remember all persecuted Christians in the world. It does seem there is a picture of a new Chaldean Church that was built over there.

 

[curious_cath]

According to Father Athanasis, there are many challenges that Assyrians are facing in Iraq, including security, land seizures and Kurdish discrimination and marginalization of Assyrians in the north.

This is sad. There are European countries that support and receive Christian refugees from the Ancient Church of the East, but these gestures are not publicized for the obvious reason. Most refugees arriving to Europe from the Middle East are Muslims and any animosity towards the Christians, based on religion, could pose grave danger for them even in a European country.

It does seem there is a picture of a new Chaldean Church that was built over there.

We should pray that our brothers in Christ survive and find safety as a Church someplace around the globe.