2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul
2008 attacks on Christians | |
---|---|
Location | Mosul, Iraq |
Date | October 2008 – January 2009 |
Target | Christians |
Attack type | Killings, intimidation |
Deaths | > 40[1] |
2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul was a series of attacks which targeted Iraqi Christians in Mosul, Iraq. The Christians of Mosul, who were already targeted during the Iraq War, left the city en masse heading to Assyrian villages in Nineveh Plains and Iraqi Kurdistan. Both Sunni extremists, and Kurdish Peshmerga were blamed for the attacks.
Background
Christians and religious minorities in general were badly affected by the rise of
On 13 March 2008, the body of the
Attacks
October attacks
The first series of attacks started in October when Christians families were given choice of death or converting to Islam.[4] By the end of the month around 14 Christians were killed[5] and more than 13,000 were forced to flee to Nineveh Plains.[6] The Iraqi government gave $900,000 to help the refugees.[6]
November attacks
Seven bodies belonging to Christians were found in the streets of Mosul on early November. A house belonging to Syriac Catholic sisters was attacked and two nuns were killed and a third severely injured.[7] Around 500 families were forced to flee the city as a result, where they found refuge in Churches and with relatives in nearby villages.[8]
Aftermath
2009 attacks
In January 2009 15 Christians were killed in Mosul and more Christians fled to the Nineveh Plains and Christian villages in Iraqi Kurdistan seeking safety.[citation needed]
Accusation of Kurdish involvement
The Christians, however, blamed the attack on the Peshmerga, who were forcing Christians out of their homes by threatening them with death or by killing them. Eyewitnesses claimed that some of the assailants, because of their accent, were easily identified as Kurds attempting to pose as Arabs.[9][10] Rumour circulated that Kurds were posing as Arabs and had secretly targeted the Christians in order to draw them towards the Kurdish side during an anticipated referendum concerning the Disputed territories of northern Iraq, of which the Christians form a substantial minority.
Some Iraqi and American military officials denied the allegations of Kurdish responsibility.[11]
Accusations against Kurdish groups were also made by
See also
- Paulos Faraj Rahho
- 2013 Iraq Christmas Day bombings
- 2010 Baghdad church attack
- 2004 Iraq churches attacks
References
- ^ سبعة ضحايا بانفجار استهدف كنيسة "مار توما " وسط الموصل. al-Mada (in Arabic). 12 December 2009. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- Sydney Morning Herald. 3 August 2004. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Archbishop Paul Faraj Rahho: The Times obituary". The Times. 14 March 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Thousands of Christians flee Iraq city". CNN. 16 October 2008. Archived from the original on 7 July 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Spokesman: Shooter in Iraqi uniform kills U.S. troops". CNN. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ a b "Iraq pledges $900K to help displaced Christians". CNN. 2 November 2008. Archived from the original on 19 January 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Fleeing Christians Face New Hardships in Turkey". Compass Direct News. 14 November 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ "Attacks in Mosul force Christians to flee". NBC News. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 26 October 2011.
- ^ National Public Radio – 'Some Displaced Iraqi Christians Ponder Kurds' Role' https://www.npr.org/2008/10/28/96103301/some-displaced-iraqi-christians-ponder-kurds-role
- ^ Iraqi_MP_Peshmerga_-_not_al-Qaeda_-_targeting_Christians_in_Mosul_ http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1319626&lang=EN[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Kurdish expansion squeezes northern Iraq's minorities | McClatchy". Archived from the original on 9 August 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2008.
- ^ "Sound journalism, grounded in facts and biblical truth".
- ^ "Gulfnews: Provinces in Iraq face different challenges". Archived from the original on 9 December 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2008.