Iraqi religious leaders led the protesters, Saturday, April 19, which police prevented from marching towards the American Embassy, witnesses said.
Organizers claimed some 4,000 people participated in the protest, although police gave slightly lower figures. "Christians in the Middle East are being assassinated and massacred," Iraqi priest Jacob Idine told the crowd. "Above all, religious leaders, the archbishops and priests, are being killed in cold blood in Iraq."
Islamic extremists have killed prominent members of Iraq’s Christian community in recent weeks, and previously several churches were bombed. At least tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians are believed to have fled since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.
NO MILITIAS
Unlike other groups in Iraq, Christians do not have militias or tribes to protect them, analysts say.
They have relied on coalition and Iraqi forces for protection, but say they have been let down. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed to increase protection for the Christian community following the March killing of Mosul Archbishop Bulus Faraj Rahhu, but it does not appear that he has followed through on his pledge, reported Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
In Brussels, Priest Idine said the demonstrators wanted the EU to help protect Iraqi people and clergy in Iraq.
It came after Germany sought backing from other EU nations to accept more Christian refugees from Iraq, arguing that they were particularly vulnerable to violence and discrimination.
However, other EU nations have reportedly expressed concern that giving priority to Christians could discriminate against other groups. (With reporting from Brussels).
