EXODUS- IRAQI CHRISTIANS FLEE ISLAMIST ONSLAUGHT AND PERSECUTION

In a most disturbing sign of a slip back to medievalist times, recalling the flight of Jews at the onset of world war II from Germany, thousands of Christians have fled from Mosul and Baghdad, where they were specifically targeted in the recent bombings spree.

The trickle of what remained of almost half of the pre-War population of the Christian minority estimated between 800,000 to 1.4 million- the half having fled already fearing attacks to Northern Iraq, Kurdistan and abroad- the remaining half are now bolting with their possessions with baggage in a hurry and panic.

Many have fled to take refuge in Qosh and at the Syrian Catholic Church.

The perilous conditions and the panic can be understood only when we recall this New York Times reporting the attack on Our Lady of salvation Church at Baghdad reported on November 1rst which then quoted a Policeman at the scene of massacre thus-

One discouraged anyone from entering the shattered doors, under a portico that celebrated the glory of God “on the land of peace.”

“Blood, flesh and bones,” he described the scene. “You can’t bear the smell.”

The Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia through its affiliate stormed this Church where its gunmen enacted what is described as the worst ever massacre since 2003 in Iraq when 54 Christians among the congregation were mowed down in a rage of fanaticism.

The Al Qaeda group calls itself quite aptly the Islamic State of Iraq, which gunned down dozens of Christians in Mosul and Baghdad soon after and conducted a serial of bombings targeting them.

Whatever resolve of the Church leadership in Iraq to defy this Terror campaign aimed at Hitler’s Final Solution then melted out and panic swooped down and gripped the community that is now in full Exodus.

Church leaders like Archdeacon Emanuel had proposed the creation of an autonomous Christian enclave in the part of Nineveh Province near here that is now under the control of the Kurdish region.

This might only aggravate the Kurdish safe haven as well as the justification of their expulsion and even future return further more- though the West might be asked to look at such a Christian Israel and a partition as a buffer zone, it’s unlikely that US would stand by such an adventurous line.

Instead Iraq must be pressurised to guarantee the rights and lives of its minorities, and get Islamist groups decimated.

Earlier this year Mosul emptied itself of its Christian population, where some 5000 odd remain left of its 100,000 Christians.

It’s interesting to note that among the minorities officially proclaimed by the Iraqi State to enjoy its protection are Yazdis, Mandeans, Sabeans, St John the Baptists which indicate the long survival of some of the exotic and most persecuted sects in history whose existence to our times should be rather surprising, having been nearly wiped out as heretics by both the Christian Church soon after its ascent to theocracy and Islamic Rulers during the sweep of conquests.

This Exodus of Christians by Islamist radicals smash to smithereens this cultural cauldron and had taken not just Iraq but all humanity straight back into the Dark ages.

Full report on the tragedy at New York Times-

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/13/world/middleeast/13iraq.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a2