ICC Note: In a recent visit to Egypt, Iraq’s President Masum, met with Coptic Patriarch Tawadros II to discuss government role in defending Christians.  President Masum recognized that Iraq’s Christians were the “original” citizens of Iraq.  Iraq’s political recognition of the tragedy of Christian exodus from their country displays the necessity for legitimate governance throughout the Middle East to remain strong.  

3/10/2016 Iraq (Fides News) – Christians are “original members” of Iraq, as evidenced by the ancient monasteries scattered throughout the country. And jihadi groups, such as Daesh, have raged not only against them but also against Muslim populations, as evidenced by Muslim victims – even Sunni – and the Islamic Caliphate mosques destroyed in Mosul. This is how Iraqi President Fouad Masum, of ethnic Kurd, called the current plight of Christians in Iraq, threatened by sectarian rifts and engaged in conflict with the self-styled Islamic State that have settled in Mosul since June 2014.

The statements of the Iraqi President were expressed in Egypt, during the meeting between Masum and Coptic Orthodox Patriarch Tawadros II. The President of Iraq also claimed responsibility for the active role played by governmental institutions in the defense of Christians and other national components from violence by extremist groups, denying any kind of discrimination on a sectarian basis within public bodies.

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