Wednesday, November 3, 2010

IRAQ: Christians are legitimate targets

Al Qaeda threat: Christians are legitimate targets
The authors of the terrorist massacre in the Baghdad church publish a message on the internet that is a threat to all Christians, and make explicit reference to the Vatican.
Baghdad (AsiaNews / Agencies) – "The ultimatum made two days ago to the church of Egypt for the release of two Muslim women held prisoner, has expired. We have had no response and now you are all involved in the war on Islam , so be careful of the souls of your followers. " The so-called 'War Department' of the 'Islamic State of Iraq' (ISI) al-Qaeda in Iraq issued a statement on the Web to announce that the passing of the deadline of its "ultimatum"  to the Egyptian Coptic Church to release two Egyptian women, Camilia Cheh and Wafa Constantine, wives of Coptic priests, whom according to the terrorists are detained against their will in a convent after converting to Islam.

Their conversion has been denied by all the Islamic religious authorities in Egypt, and the Muslim Brotherhood have harshly attacked the authors of the massacre in Baghdad. Al-Qaeda, however, confirms that all Christians and their churches have become "legitimate targets" of the terrorist group and are therefore are in danger. The message issued today by the Iraqi cell of al-Qaeda also makes explicit reference to the Vatican.

While confirming its desire to attack the Christians, the terrorists say they want to give one more chance to the Catholics of the Church of Rome. They claim that "the War Office of the Islamic State of Iraq announced that starting today all the churches and Christian organizations and their leaders are a legitimate target for mujahedeen." But adds: "These politicians and their bosses in the Vatican should know that the sword will not fall on the heads of their followers if they proclaim their innocence, and distance themselves from what has been done by the Egyptian Church. " Al-Qaeda calls on Catholics to "send a clear signal to the mujahedeen of their effort to put pressure on the Egyptian Church in order to obtain the release of two women, their prisoners."


IRAQ-EGYPT
Cairo rejects Al Qaeda ultimatum and denies "conversion" of the two women
Egypt has rejected the request of the alleged terrorists who demand the "release" of two Muslim women, who according to Al Qaeda are being forcibly held in monasteries in the country.

Cairo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - "We categorically reject that our name be linked to such criminal acts," reads a note from the Foreign Ministry in Cairo, which "strongly condemns" the attack. The Iraqi cell of al Qaeda, responsible for the attack on the Syrian Catholic church in Baghdad that resulted in a raid by Iraqi forces which killed more than 50 people, gave Cairo an ultimatum of 48 hours.

The two Coptic women called into question in the attack on the Syrian Catholic church in Baghdad, have sought refuge in some convents or communities because of '''the strong social pressure that they suffered'. These the words relayed over the phone by Samia Sidhom, Cairo editor of the El Watani, the Egyptian Copts historic weekly magazine based in New York. ''They had left their homes because of family disagreements - says Samia Sidhom to ANSAmed - but there was no conversion to Islam, as confirmed by the highest Muslim religious authorities", as confirmed by the Sunni authorities of Al Azhar, the journalist states. In reality 'both (one of them, Wafa Constantine, already widow at the time of her disappearance in 2004) wanted to return to a normal life, explains Samia Sidhom, ''but there was too much pressure on them'' and therefore they were forced to seek refuge in two different places" (monasteries and community). Sidhom adds that she herself is unaware of their exact whereabouts. But both have been ''victims of exploitation", she adds, in the demonstrations that followed the spread of news of their conversion, as well as by those terrorists who claimed responsibility for the attack in Iraq.


Pope, Iraqi Catholic leader mourn Baghdad cathedral victimsRSSFacebookNovember 03, 2010

Pope Benedict and Iraqi Catholics leaders mourned the victims of the October 31 attack by Islamic militants on the Syrian Catholic cathedral in Baghdad.

"Deeply moved by the violent death of so many faithful and their priests Tha'ir Saad and Boutros Wasim, I wish, during the sacred funeral rite, to share spiritually in this occasion and pray that these our brothers and sisters are welcomed by the mercy of Christ into the Father's house," Pope Benedict wrote in a message read by Syrian Catholic Archbishop Athanase Matti Shaba Matoka during the November 2 funeral liturgy.

"For years, this country has been suffering untold hardships and even Christians have become the subject of brutal attacks that, in total disregard of life-- an inviolable gift from God-- want to undermine confidence and peace," the Pontiff added. "I renew my call that the sacrifice of our brothers and sisters may be the seed of peace and true rebirth, and that those who care about reconciliation, solidarity and fraternal coexistence, find the strength and motivation to do good."

Corbishop Philip Najem, procurator for the Chaldean Catholic Church, said:

This attack has been condemned by the whole Iraqi community! It is not a matter of faith! Certainly, the intention is to create chaos. There are dark forces that have entered the country only to create this division and to prevent the process of pacification of Iraq … I heard yesterday that there were many Muslims who had gone to donate blood for the victims who were injured in the church. The extremists have been condemned by Muslims themselves: by that Islam that knows God, that knows faith, that knows love, that knows charity!

"This is a barbaric attack, different from other attacks," he added. "This time the extremists have come to a church where people were praying. They were innocents attacked by people who do not know the meaning of prayer, the meaning of God the Creator. So no one can say that this has been done in the name of a religion, a faith or a god. This is an attack against humanity, against the Church, against religion, against faith, against the dignity of the human being."

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