The vision of the Chaldean Patriarchate
Christians are not alien to Iraq, but are in fact the indigenous people in the country. Their history, their identity and their roots, go back thousands of years. Today, despite the decline in their numbers due to ethnic violence, threats, kidnapping, killing, looting and bombing of their churches by ISIS in Mosul and the Nineveh Plain, they still strive to preserve a future with dignity and full equality with other citizens of Iraq.
It is obvious that displaced Christians from the Nineveh Plain, who are trying to resettle in their towns, now find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
Seven months ago, Mosul and the Nineveh Plain were liberated from the grip of the Islamic State, “ISIS”. However, to this day, some Christian towns are still empty of any residents because of the great damage inflicted upon the houses and infrastructure there. This is mainly due to the inability of the central government to rebuild them due to lack of funds, and a failure to place equal importance on the return of the Christian population. So far, what resettlement has taken place, and the housing and infrastructure that have been repaired, has mainly been achieved through the modest efforts of the Church.
The other problem is that the jurisdiction over the Plain of Nineveh, which was unified, stable and secure until 2003, is disputed today between the Iraqi government and the Kurdish forces.
Since the KRG referendum for independence in September, making clear their desire to secede, there have been repeated military confrontations between the Iraqi Army and the Popular military mobilization Groups (Al-Hashd) on one side, and the Kurdish Peshmerga on the other. These confrontations have taken place on the borders of the Christian towns of Nineveh, and most recently in the towns of Baqofa and Teleskof. In these recent confrontations innocent children were wounded, and the homes of Christian families were used as defensive positions. As a result, many residents from these towns have fled again, creating a renewed state of anxiety and fear of conflict between Baghdad and Erbil, which in turn is resulting in new divisions and prevents reconstruction and the return of people to their homes. All of which will ultimately lead to further migration abroad.
In order to preserve Iraq’s cultural and demographic diversity, which has historically contributed to the renaissance and vitality of the country, we call upon the Iraqi People to realize the importance of the presence of Christians in Iraq, to protect them, and not force them to emigrate. This would be a qualitative loss for everyone in Iraq.
To achieve security and stability, we recommend the following:
- Removing the Nineveh plain from the circle of conflicts in order to remain united as it was before 2003, so that its residents can rebuild their lives with their neighbors, and without further struggle.
- Integrating the “the “Nineveh Plain Guards” and other militia factions in the Federal Police under a unified, National Police force in which the local members from the Nineveh Plain will be stationed in Nineveh to guarantee the security of the Plain directly. Since these are locals the common people will have confidence in them.
- It is necessary to harness efforts to maintain stability, security and confidence-building among all groups of people in the Nineveh Plain. We must all support the elimination of the culture of rejection of diversity, of hatred and denial of the other. We must change the lack of support for reconstruction, and instead pave the path for the return of displaced persons to their homes. In this, the inhabitants of the Nineveh Plain should have the full right to obtain state services and assistance in the rehabilitation of their villages, cities, churches and schools, similar to residents of the other regions.
Finally, we call upon the political parties and the Christian organizations to achieve this mission in a unified manner, and to reject our differences, in order to reach the one common goal, and to open a new page in such a difficult circumstance, as the Chaldean Patriarchate has opened its heart to everyone, for the sake and good of all.
On this occasion, we renew our call to the Iraqi government and the KRG, to sit at the table of dialogue with courage, a new spirit, and full responsibility, to resolve all outstanding problems. In this both sides must know that the suffering people of Iraq and Kurdistan reject the continuation of war.
+ R. Luois SAKO
29th October 2017