southeast Baghdad.
In an e-mailed statement distributed by Compass Direct News agency Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk Louis Sako called for the release of Father Saad Sirop of St. Jacob parish in Baghdad’s Doura district.
"I think that there are two reasons these kidnappings are taking place," Sako said. "The first reason is money. But the second reason is that they want to push Christians out of Iraq." At least tens of thousands of Christians already fled the troubled country amid fears of Islamic attacks.
The archbishop said that Doura was a majority Sunni Muslim area with a significant minority of 3,000 Christians. He said that Sunnis moving into the area from other parts of Iraq wanted to take possession of the Christians’ homes.
"Sirop was on his way home from celebrating mass at St. Jacob church at about 6:30 a.m. when his car was stopped by three armed men with masks," Sako was quoted as sayings. "They forced him into their car but left his driver alone."
The clergyman’s kidnapping was also reported on Iraqi news websites Buratha News and Aswat Al-Iraq. The Iraqi Islamic Party allegedly has demanded that Sirop’s kidnappers free him.
Chaldean Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Baghdad Shlemon Warduni, traveling outside of the country, also issued an appeal for the priest’s release, Compass Direct News reported. He directly addressed Sirop’s captors, saying that kidnapping a clergyman who had faithfully served his country did not help their cause.
ROME MEETING
Fr. Sirop, 30, was scheduled to travel to Rome in September to complete a doctorate in philosophy, Archbishop Sako reportedly said. "Until now we have had no news from him," the clergyman confirmed.
Sirop is the second Chaldean Catholic priest to be kidnapped in Baghdad this month. Christians in Iraq have expressed concern about violence, including daily suicide attacks. The United States has send tens of thousands of extra troops to Baghdad, but the violence continues.
According to Sako, Father Raad Kashan of Baghdad’s Battawin district was also abducted by a group seeking ransom almost two weeks ago. That priest managed to escape after three days in captivity by promising to return to his captors with funds for his release, Sako reportedly said. According to the archbishop, Fr. Kashan immediately eft for Germany to avoid reprisal attacks for not paying the ransom. (With reports from Iraq).
