Beth Nahrin Patriotic Union condemns attacks on Christian cemeteries in Iraq, calls for government action

BETH NAHRIN — In response to recent attacks on the cemetery of Shaqlawa and other Christian burial sites in Iraq, Vice President of the Beth Nahrin Patriotic Union (Huyodo Bethnahrin Athroyo, HBA) Joseph Sliwa asserted that Iraqi authorities must take responsibility for safeguarding religious sites and fostering a climate of coexistence.

Appearing on Suroyo TV’s “Issues Without Borders” program following the circulation of video clips depicting the attacks, Sliwa emphasized the urgent need for the Iraqi government to uphold principles of respect for religions and promote peaceful coexistence among communities.

Sliwa lamented the recurring nature of such incidents, highlighting the failure of authorities to effectively address them despite decades of promises to uphold religious freedom and tolerance. He criticized politicians within the Iraqi government, accusing them of complicity through their inaction and labeling them as hypocritical for aligning themselves with authorities while failing to protect their constituents.

Describing the attacks as assaults on the very existence of Iraq’s diverse ethnic and religious communities, Saliwa warned that the authorities’ silence effectively condones such violations, emboldening perpetrators to continue their actions with impunity.

The Bethnahrin Patriotic Union’s condemnation underscores the urgent need for concrete action from Iraqi authorities to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the attacks, while also implementing measures to ensure the protection of religious sites and the promotion of peaceful coexistence among all communities in Iraq.