French Daily Suggests West's Silence Is Persecuting Iraqi Christians
Today, Le Figaro, France's oldest and largest daily, questioned on its front page how long people in the West can ignore the persecutions of Christians taking place there. The editorial ran with the headline: "The Calvary of the Christians of Iraq."
Its author, Étienne de Montety, called for the West to speak up, to not remain in silence and wondered how Christians and non-Christians can remain indifferent to the "terrifying procession of horrors, expulsions, murders in Mosul."
De Montety pointed out that the Christians of Iraq were 1 million before the American intervention and now there are less than 400,000. "With each wave of vexations, violence, persecutions, they take the path of exodus," he said.
He noted that both Pope Francis and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, have spoken out against the persecution and foreign ministries are worried and have been raising their tone.
But he pointed out the irony that Europeans are usually "so eager" to have "mobilizations, petitions, demonstrations of every kind, but "in this case, nothing!"
He wondered if the West will only be prompted to act if a massacre takes place outside the summer vacation period.
Through silence, the writer stated, "we are persecuting."
The newspaper article was first cited by the Rorate Caeli blog which said it was to Le Figaro's "greatest honor" that it chose to put the story on its front page. (D.C.L.)
'Le Figaro' Front Page Editorial Chastises Westerners for Indifference
Vatican City, (Zenit.org)
The silence of world leaders and the media in the face of the ethno-religious cleansing taking place in Iraq is becoming increasingly noticed.Today, Le Figaro, France's oldest and largest daily, questioned on its front page how long people in the West can ignore the persecutions of Christians taking place there. The editorial ran with the headline: "The Calvary of the Christians of Iraq."
Its author, Étienne de Montety, called for the West to speak up, to not remain in silence and wondered how Christians and non-Christians can remain indifferent to the "terrifying procession of horrors, expulsions, murders in Mosul."
De Montety pointed out that the Christians of Iraq were 1 million before the American intervention and now there are less than 400,000. "With each wave of vexations, violence, persecutions, they take the path of exodus," he said.
He noted that both Pope Francis and the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, have spoken out against the persecution and foreign ministries are worried and have been raising their tone.
But he pointed out the irony that Europeans are usually "so eager" to have "mobilizations, petitions, demonstrations of every kind, but "in this case, nothing!"
He wondered if the West will only be prompted to act if a massacre takes place outside the summer vacation period.
Through silence, the writer stated, "we are persecuting."
The newspaper article was first cited by the Rorate Caeli blog which said it was to Le Figaro's "greatest honor" that it chose to put the story on its front page. (D.C.L.)
(July 23, 2014) © Innovative Media Inc.
