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Christians in Iraq continue to be scared of fresh violence, according to Fr Amir Jae, the superior of the Dominican order in Baghdad.
Jae, who is also vicar to the Arab World told Aid to the Church in Need that “Living in Iraq means living in fear.”
There is nowhere people can feel safe and the situation has worsened in the last two to three weeks.
Jae said that all Iraqis are living in fear, adding that when a country is shaken by political tensions “minorities suffer the worst consequences.”
The tension means people are continuing to emigrate, he said.
“They are still leaving. The ones who could afford it already moved to Europe or USA.”
“The next five or six years are going to be crucial to determine if Christians will stay in the country,” Jae said.
According to the priest’s estimates, up to half of the Christians living in Baghdad before the fall of Saddam Hussein have since left the country.
“The second choice for them was nearer countries like Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan. The third choice was northern Iraq, but many of those who left are coming back because they can’t find work or can’t get accustomed to the Kurdish language.”
Jae’s comments come a year after the attack which left 58 Christians dead in Baghdad.
Sources
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