Two Assyrian Christian
children have been killed in
Baghdad. Raneed Raad 16 and
her sister Raphid 6 were
slaughtered in their home.
The family who are well
known Assyrian Christians
had been threatened. While
the family was out
terrorists entered and shot
the two Children at point
blank range.
`We are doing our best to
get out to the world the
simple message that the
Assyrian Christians who are
the indigenous people of
Iraq are being
intimidated, threatened and
killed simply because they
are Christians. The world
must not stand by and watch.
The last time this happened
during the Assyrian Genocide
nearly 2/3rds of our
population were killed` says
Amir George from Baghdad.
`We appeal to the world to
help us at this critical
time so that we can attain
autonomy in our homeland as
guaranteed in article 53 of
the new Iraqi Constitution
as the only way to for us to
survive. We urgently need
help in moving back to our
villages from where we were
forcibly uprooted by
Saddam.` he continues.
The European Union in a
recent report concluded that
aid and infrastructure
assistance was not getting
to the Assyrian Christian
community in Iraq in
spite of massive amounts of
support being distributed
throughout the
country.
MEP Albert Jan Maat believes
elements of `religious
favoritism` as the
reason for help not getting
to the Assyrian community in
Iraq.
`International. aid is
mainly distributed through
regional and therefore
moslem leaders and seldom or
never reaches the
Assyrians.` he said.
As reports of Assyrian
Christians leaving Iraq in
desperation increase,
efforts are underway by
various organizations to try
and stem the tide
including an Assyrian
Security Network to help
provide Security to this
most
vulnerable community. The
Assyrian Assistance Center
is working with the
authorities on getting
funding and implementation
for the project which will
provide a 24 hour hotline
for the Assyrian Christians
of Iraq to encourage
them to stay and to return
to their villages.
`It is our prayer that cases
like Raneed and Raphid will
be able to be
prevented if we can get the
ASN online. This will allow
us to mobilize help
from within our own
community in conjunction
with local authorities when
there is danger. We feel
this will greatly encourage
the Assyrian Christians
to stay in Iraq and those
living overseas to return.`
commented Assyrian
Assistance Center staff
member Gewargis Odishu.
Prime Minister Alawi of Iraq
through his official
spokesman encouraged the
community to stay in Iraq
and those living overseas to
return. `The
Assyrians are Iraq`s
original people. We will do
all we can to help them and
let them know that as all
Iraqis they have a future in
the new Iraq.` he
said.
The community is calling on
the US and EU help for their
security needs, for
assistance in resettling the
estimated 100,000 who were
forcibly taken from
their homes during Saddam
Husseins time and for
autonomy in their homeland.
Nineveh On Line NEWS
Baghdad, Iraq
Ken Joseph Jr.
Two Assyrian Christian children have been killed in Baghdad. Raneed Raad 16 and her sister Raphid 6 were slaughtered in their home.
The family who are well known Assyrian Christians had been threatened. While the family was out terrorists entered and shot the two Children at point blank range.
`We are doing our best to get out to the world the simple message that the
Assyrian Christians who are the indigenous people of Iraq are being
intimidated, threatened and killed simply because they are Christians. The world
must not stand by and watch. The last time this happened during the Assyrian Genocide nearly 2/3rds of our population were killed` says Amir George from Baghdad.
`We appeal to the world to help us at this critical time so that we can attain autonomy in our homeland as guaranteed in article 53 of the new Iraqi Constitution as the only way to for us to survive. We urgently need help in moving back to our villages from where we were forcibly uprooted by Saddam.` he continues.
The European Union in a recent report concluded that aid and infrastructure
assistance was not getting to the Assyrian Christian community in Iraq in
spite of massive amounts of support being distributed throughout the
country.
MEP Albert Jan Maat believes elements of `religious favoritism` as the
reason for help not getting to the Assyrian community in Iraq.
`International. aid is mainly distributed through regional and therefore
moslem leaders and seldom or never reaches the Assyrians.` he said.
As reports of Assyrian Christians leaving Iraq in desperation increase,
efforts are underway by various organizations to try and stem the tide
including an Assyrian Security Network to help provide Security to this most
vulnerable community. The Assyrian Assistance Center is working with the
authorities on getting funding and implementation for the project which will
provide a 24 hour hotline for the Assyrian Christians of Iraq to encourage
them to stay and to return to their villages.
`It is our prayer that cases like Raneed and Raphid will be able to be
prevented if we can get the ASN online. This will allow us to mobilize help
from within our own community in conjunction with local authorities when
there is danger. We feel this will greatly encourage the Assyrian Christians
to stay in Iraq and those living overseas to return.` commented Assyrian
Assistance Center staff member Gewargis Odishu.
Prime Minister Alawi of Iraq through his official spokesman encouraged the
community to stay in Iraq and those living overseas to return. `The
Assyrians are Iraq`s original people. We will do all we can to help them and let them know that as all Iraqis they have a future in the new Iraq.` he
said.
The community is calling on the US and EU help for their security needs, for
assistance in resettling the estimated 100,000 who were forcibly taken from
their homes during Saddam Husseins time and for autonomy in their homeland.
Ken Joseph Jr. directs assyrianchristians.com and reports from Baghdad
www.assyrianchristians.com
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