By BosNewsLife Middle East ServiceMOSUL, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)– At least 11 people were killed in several attacks in Iraq Friday, December 25 as security forces struggled to protect Christians against Christmas attacks following deadly church bombings this week.The Christmas Day attacks came after bomb attack on a Syrian Orthodox Church in Mosul killed two Muslims outside the church building, Christians said. “One report indicates a neighbouring Chaldean Church may also have been damaged in the bombing,” said Middle East Concern (MEC), a major advocacy group.Wednesday’s bombing came just over a week after attacks against two other churches in Mosul. Security forces had already voiced concern in recent days that Christmas gatherings and Shiite Ashura holiday observances would potentially draw attacks,”MEC told BosNewsLife.Additionally, six Shiite pilgrims preparing for Ashura were reportedly killed and dozens I injured by bombs exploding at different times on Wednesday, December 23, in three Baghdad neighbourhoods.“Some churches had curtailed their programme of events. After [Wednesday’s] attack, all services at Catholic churches have been cancelled in Mosul and Kirkuk,” said MEC, which has close contacts with Christians in the region.TEACHERS KILLEDThose killed Friday, December 25 included three teachers of Iraq’s census authorities who were found shot dead, while elsewhere in the troubled northern town one civilian died and another was wounded by a bomb targeting a police patrol, according to local police. Police told reporters they also found the corpse of a strangled woman in west Mosul.A suicide car bomb along a road connecting the northern Iraqi towns of Rabiyaa, near the Syrian border, and Sinoosi also killed a Kurdish peshmerga security force member and wounded 15 others, news reports said. The peshmerga are the main security force in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region.In Baghdad, three people were killed and seven others wounded by a roadside bomb in the eastern Shiite Muslim neighbourhood of Sadr City, officials from the defence and interior ministries said.Meanwhile, in the central Diyala province, two brothers of Mustafa al-Azawi, the Sunni Arab mayor of the town of Mansuriyah, were found dead after they were kidnapped on Friday morning, police said.TWIN BOMBSThe attacks came as news emerged that the final toll from twin bomb attacks at a bus station in the southern town of Hilla on Thursday, December 24, rose to 19 dead and 80 wounded, up from an earlier death toll of 15.Minority Christians are often in the cross-fire or the main target of attacks as Islamic extremists try to create political instability in the country, according to church observers.“These attacks are occurring within a context of an increased number of bomb attacks, which many regard as part of a campaign to destabilise the country in the run up to parliamentary elections scheduled for March next year,” MEC said.MEC said Iraqi Christians requested prayers that they will know “the Father’s peace and protection over the Christmas period” as many may not be able to attend any services and that “the bereaved will know the peace and comfort of Jesus” and those injured and traumatized “the healing touch of Jesus, both physically and psychologically.”THOUSANDS FLEEAmid ongoing violence, many of Iraq’s estimated 750,000 Christians fled the country while thousands have been displaced, church groups say.December is proving to be an especially violent month in Iraq, according to official estimated released by French News Agency AFP.November, by contrast, was the least bloody month in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003, with a total of 122 people killed — 88 civilians, 22 policemen and 12 soldiers — according to official figures released by the French News Agency AFP..The commander of US forces in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, has reportedly predicted a rise in the number of attacks ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March 7.
There have been several attacks against Christians in Iraq.
By BosNewsLife Middle East Service
MOSUL, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)– At least 11 people were killed in several attacks in Iraq Friday, December 25 as security forces struggled to protect Christians against Christmas attacks following deadly church bombings this week.
The Christmas Day attacks came after bomb attack on a Syrian Orthodox Church in Mosul killed two Muslims outside the church building, Christians said. “One report indicates a neighbouring Chaldean Church may also have been damaged in the bombing,” said Middle East Concern (MEC), a major advocacy group.
Wednesday’s bombing came just over a week after attacks against two other churches in Mosul. Security forces had already voiced concern in recent days that Christmas gatherings and Shiite Ashura holiday observances would potentially draw attacks,” MEC told BosNewsLife.
Additionally, six Shiite pilgrims preparing for Ashura were reportedly killed and dozens I injured by bombs exploding at different times on Wednesday, December 23, in three Baghdad neighbourhoods.”Some churches had curtailed their programme of events. After [Wednesday’s] attack, all services at Catholic churches have been cancelled in Mosul and Kirkuk,” said MEC, which has close contacts with Christians in the region.
TEACHERS KILLED
Those killed Friday, December 25 included three teachers of Iraq’s census authorities who were found shot dead, while elsewhere in the troubled northern town one civilian died and another was wounded by a bomb targeting a police patrol, according to local police. Police told reporters they also found the corpse of a strangled woman in west Mosul.
A suicide car bomb along a road connecting the northern Iraqi towns of Rabiyaa, near the Syrian border, and Sinoosi also killed a Kurdish peshmerga security force member and wounded 15 others, news reports said. The peshmerga are the main security force in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region.
In the Iraqi capital Baghdad, three people were killed and seven others wounded by a roadside bomb in the eastern Shiite Muslim neighbourhood of Sadr City, officials from the defence and interior ministries said.
And, in the central Diyala province, two brothers of Mustafa al-Azawi, the Sunni Arab mayor of the town of Mansuriyah, were found dead after they were kidnapped on Friday morning, police said.
TWIN BOMBS
The attacks came as news emerged that the final toll from twin bomb attacks at a bus station in the southern town of Hilla on Thursday, December 24, rose to 19 dead and 80 wounded, up from an earlier death toll of 15.
Minority Christians are often in the cross-fire or the main target of attacks as Islamic extremists try to create political instability in the country, according to church observers. “These attacks are occurring within a context of an increased number of bomb attacks, which many regard as part of a campaign to destabilise the country in the run up to parliamentary elections scheduled for March next year,” MEC added.
MEC said Iraqi Christians requested prayers that they will know “the Father’s peace and protection over the Christmas period” as many may not be able to attend any services and that “the bereaved will know the peace and comfort of Jesus” and those injured and traumatized “the healing touch of Jesus, both physically and psychologically.”
THOUSANDS FLEE
Amid ongoing violence, many of Iraq’s estimated 750,000 Christians fled the country while thousands have been displaced, church groups say.
December is proving to be an especially violent month in Iraq, according to official estimated released by French News Agency AFP.
November, by contrast, was the least bloody month in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003, with a total of 122 people killed — 88 civilians, 22 policemen and 12 soldiers — according to official figures released by the French News Agency AFP..The commander of US forces in Iraq, General Ray Odierno, has reportedly predicted a rise in the number of attacks ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for March 7.
Anti-Christian, China’s Attack upon Islam-Killing of a Muslim Man
Is China’s action by this execution an Attack upon Human civilization, upon Humane conduct, upon Human values, an ATTACK upon the rest of us?
As a result of this ‘Barbaric Act’ is China no longer a World player? Has China failed to
evolve into the pricipals and values of the 21st century? What message are you sending out to the rest of the World, China?
Is the death by lethal injection of a mentally ill British Muslim man Mr.Akmal Shaikh (aged 53) by China, a anti-Islamist and anti-Muslimist act, anti-Christian act, anti-Human act?
Clearly, by the conduct of Mr. Shaikh’s past actions we can conclude that, this man was suffering from a mental condition. Clearly, he was duped and deceived by evil persons into entering China with a suitcase full of drugs. No experinced person within drug trafficing would have acted in such a manner, for fear of discovery. Chinese officials would have known this, they are experienced in such matters from past experinces and, had known the pattern used by such criminals and that, Mr.Akmal Shaikh did not fit such a pattern. There was no previous history of Drugs (taking or trafficing) by this man.
This would have been known by not only those Chinese border control police but also by the
Chinese judiciary and also by the ruling political leaders of China. The British embassy, British Foreign Office ministers, Prime Minister Gordon Brown made 27 Appeals for Clamancy from the execution of this individual but, China did not want to listen. Mr. Gordon Brown did not make a direct appeal to the Chinese Premier, why?
Why did NOT the leaders of other EU countries make a direct appeal for mercy , FOR CLAMANCY to the Chinese Premier? By failing to act re Clamancy, are these EU leaders also guilty of being anti-Muslimist? Were these (EU leaders) by their reasoning and failure to act, influenced by trade and financial implications with China?
What was China’s reason to pick upon this innocent, confused Muslim man? What was China’s motive, reasons for this ‘barbaric act on a man who was incompetent’ this unecessary loss of a human life? What was China’s reason to pick upon such a lowly and impoverished individual?
The only logical reason was that China wanted to make an example of this Muslim man. China wanted to send out a message to the World. So what was, is China’s message, to appease the USA leaders re Muslims and/or were the motives really to do with drug trafficing? Was the motive, to send a message, via the execution of this man that, China is anti-Muslim? America (USA) due to their financial burden was already beholden (US deficit) to China thus the Chinese leaders knew that there would not be any condemnation
from the Obama (US) administration. Thus, China went ahead with the ‘murder’ of this Muslim man…
Anti-Christian, China’s Attack upon Islam-Killing of a Muslim Man
Is China’s action by this execution an Attack upon Human civilization, upon Humane conduct, upon Human values, an ATTACK upon the rest of us?
As a result of this ‘Barbaric Act’ is China no longer a World player? Has China failed to
evolve into the pricipals and values of the 21st century? What message are you sending out to the rest of the World, China?
Is the death by lethal injection of a mentally ill British Muslim man Mr.Akmal Shaikh (aged 53) by China, a anti-Islamist and anti-Muslimist act, anti-Christian act, anti-Human act?
Clearly, by the conduct of Mr. Shaikh’s past actions we can conclude that, this man was suffering from a mental condition. Clearly, he was duped and deceived by evil persons into entering China with a suitcase full of drugs. No experinced person within drug trafficing would have acted in such a manner, for fear of discovery. Chinese officials would have known this, they are experienced in such matters from past experinces and, had known the pattern used by such criminals and that, Mr.Akmal Shaikh did not fit such a pattern. There was no previous history of Drugs (taking or trafficing) by this man.
This would have been known by not only those Chinese border control police but also by the
Chinese judiciary and also by the ruling political leaders of China. The British embassy, British Foreign Office ministers, Prime Minister Gordon Brown made 27 Appeals for Clamancy from the execution of this individual but, China did not want to listen. Mr. Gordon Brown did not make a direct appeal to the Chinese Premier, why?
Why did NOT the leaders of other EU countries make a direct appeal for mercy , FOR CLAMANCY to the Chinese Premier? By failing to act re Clamancy, are these EU leaders also guilty of being anti-Muslimist? Were these (EU leaders) by their reasoning and failure to act, influenced by trade and financial implications with China?
What was China’s reason to pick upon this innocent, confused Muslim man? What was China’s motive, reasons for this ‘barbaric act on a man who was incompetent’ this unecessary loss of a human life? What was China’s reason to pick upon such a lowly and impoverished individual?
The only logical reason was that China wanted to make an example of this Muslim man. China wanted to send out a message to the World. So what was, is China’s message, to appease the USA leaders re Muslims and/or were the motives really to do with drug trafficing? Was the motive, to send a message, via the execution of this man that, China is anti-Muslim? America (USA) due to their financial burden was already beholden (US deficit) to China thus the Chinese leaders knew that there would not be any condemnation
from the Obama (US) administration. Thus, China went ahead with the ‘murder’ of this Muslim man…