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Kidnapped, beheaded, persecuted

Forgotten Christians of Iraq

By Judi McLeod

Thursday, October 19, 2006

The latest victim to be beheaded by Muslim attackers in Iraq was a Syrian Orthodox priest, father of four.

"Fr. Boulous Iskander, 59, was found beheaded and dismembered in Mosul, Iraq on October 11, two days after being kidnapped." (The Voice of the Martyrs, Oct. 16, 2006).

The details of the brutal murder of Fr. Iskander are truly tragic and likely to make an indelible impression on the people of the free world.

The priest was abducted by a group of Muslims while he was visiting mechanic shops on a Mosul street. The kidnappers then telephoned Iskander's family demanding a ransom of $350,000.

after a series of negotiations with the family, the outrageous ransom was reduced to $40,000. However, there was an added rider to have Iskander's church publicly renounce the remarks that Pope Benedict XVI made about Islam last month.

The desperate family somehow managed to raise the full ransom. Fr. Iskander's church posted 30 large signboards around the city that disagreed with the Pope's comments. all the kidnappers' demands were met.

Heartbreakingly, the kidnappers did not make any further attempt to contact the family to indicate the release of their kidnapped hostage.

at approximately 7 p.m. on Oct. 11, Fr. Iskander's body was discovered in the remote Tahir city district of Mosul. His arms and legs had been severed and arranged around his head, which rested on his chest.

The humble priest's brutal beheading is only the latest in a series of violent attacks against religious minorities in Iraq.

"according to Compass Direct, anonymous Iraqi church sources reported that a Christian layman from Baghdad, Dr. Joseph Fridon Petros (55) had been ambushed and killed on October 12 on his way to Mosul's capital. (The Voice of the Martyrs). "There have also been several reports of young Christian women being kidnapped and made to endure torture and sexual violence at the hands of Islamist militants. The assyrian International News agency also claimed on October 12 that a 14-year-old boy had been crucified in the Christian neighbourhood of albasra on October 10. VOMC has not received any further confirmation of this latter incident."

His wife, azhar, sons Fadi and Yohamma and daughters Fadiyeh and Mariam survive Fr. Iskander.

With media attention focused on an Iraq spiraling into a civil war among Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds, with pundits demanding the withdrawal of american troops in Iraq, not much attention is paid to the plight of Iraq's dwindling Christian population.

a 1987 census (the last available) listed 1.4 million Christians in Iraq. Today, estimates range between 600,000 and 800,000.

"The declaration of the Pope has caused a bit of opposition and an unhappy situation (for Christians) with the people in the country," says Pastor Basim Fargo, president of the Seventh-Day adventist Church in Iraq. (adventist News Network, Oct. 18, 2006). "This ignited a fire in the country. Most people go by the tradition (in their religion). When things like this happen, it affects them very badly," he added speaking of Muslim believers.

"The situation that is in the country will not allow us to practice our services freely. It is not safe to go (out) from home," he said. "We are meeting every
Sabbath, but it is very difficult. We expect an explosion any time during the day."

Iraqi Christians who can afford to flee their country are doing so in droves. But the poor are forced to stay and live in a situation fraught with danger.

"Pray that God will bring comfort to the families of Fr. Iskander and Dr. Petros. Pray that they will be assured that God is their Defender and a Father to the fatherless (Psalm 68:5); Psalm 10:17-18)," The Voice of the Martyrs entreats. "Pray for the protection of Christians throughout Iraq."

In a comment addressed to adventists worldwide, Pastor Fargo urges: "We ask that you keep us in your prayers, (your fellow) believers around the world."

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Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com


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