Tuesday, January 04, 2011

Karbala Christian sites in danger

CHALDO-ASSYRIAN WATCH: The horrific persecution of Iraq's Aramaic-speaking Christians includes desecration of their sacred historical sites and artifacts. This from the Memri blog:
Iraqi Christians in Karbala Report Looted Churches, Desecrated Graves

Reporting from Karbala, Iraq, journalist Fadhel Rashad says that Iraqi Christians are not only subject to killing and deportation, but that their churches, cemeteries, and historical artifacts are being targeted for desecration and looting by organized criminal gangs.

In the province of Karbala, 108 km (67.5 miles) south of Baghdad, officials confirmed that the legacy and history of Christians have become a target for destruction. Karbala, Fadhel wrote, is not just a city for Shi'a Muslims; it was inhabited by people of various sects and religions throughout history, and there is a great deal of archeological evidence to indicate that Christians had built churches and performed religious rites in the city.

In one church, he wrote, Aramaic writing on the walls suggests that the church was in existence in the fifth century CE. There are signs that Saddam's military forces used the place for target shooting.

Source: www.alesbuyia.com December 31, 2010
I have noted previously the Al-Aqiser Church in Karbala, which is perhaps the one mentioned here.