” “"The international community should raise its voice and denounce the violence that the Iraqi Christians are suffering. The time has come to say stop!" The auxiliary bishop of Baghdad, the Chaldean Shlemon Warduni, does not mince his words when he reports to SIR what he calls "the threatening and violent climate that surrounds the Christian congregation". The facts are known and reported by several sources: "Forced conversions to Islam, compulsory payment of the tax on the Jihad, expropriation of houses, abduction of women and girls. All this is forcing the Christians to move to different areas or abroad, leaving everything behind. We asked the Government for help adds the bishop but to no avail so far. We feel deserted. The Sharm El Sheik Conference might have been an opportunity to make the sufferings of the Christians known, but that was not the case". However, states mgr. Warduni, "the intention to rebuild the country and write off the debt are good and positive things", although he warns "Iraq cannot be rebuilt without the Christians, who are the first real Iraqis that have been living here for over 2000 years".” “
