Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD1891
2009-07-13 12:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:
SEVEN CHURCHES BOMBED IN BAGHDAD
how-toVZCZCXRO5105 PP RUEHBC RUEHDH RUEHKUK DE RUEHGB #1891/02 1941237 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 131237Z JUL 09 ZDK FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3907 INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 02 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001891
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: SEVEN CHURCHES BOMBED IN BAGHDAD
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* Missing Section 001 *
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BAGHDAD 00001891 002 OF 002
in the government, especially with the 2010 national
parliamentary elections on the horizon. Minister Selim also
thought that the bombings were election related and predicted
that the number of attacks will likely increase during the
latter half of 2009. Non-Muslim Endowment Director
al-Naufali stated that the Christians were targeted because
"we are the weakest" part of Iraqi society. Al-Naufali
argued that those who carried out the attack want to create
divisions between Christians and Muslims and return Iraq back
to the chaos of 2004 and 2005. Speaking to the press,
Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako stated that the attacks were
"meant to pressure Christians to migrate from Iraq and never
return."
--------------
Another Exodus?
--------------
5. (C) Poloff queried Christian political and religious
leaders whether they too thought this latest round of attacks
would spark another exodus of Iraq's Christian population out
of Baghdad. Minister Wijdan thought that Christians were now
more worried and would want to leave. However, Father Augin
and MP Kanna told Poloff that Christian leaders were speaking
to their community and telling them not to be afraid. Father
Augin said that he was personally encouraging his
parishioners to stay in Baghdad and continue to come to Mass.
Al-Naufali argued that the Christians who remain in Baghdad
are too poor to leave to Syria or Jordan and that anyone who
had the means to emigrate had already done so.
--------------
GOI Response
--------------
6. (SBU) Prime Minister Maliki has not yet issued a public
statement, but this is probably because he and his Spokesman
are out of the country. As this cable was going to press,
local media was reporting that Iraqi police have stepped up
security at and are investigating the Baghdad bomb sites and
that Vice President Abdul Mahdi has urged Iraq's Christians
not to flee, and asked the international community to help
protect it from extremists. Presumably to prevent a repeat
of the October 2008 attacks against Christians in Mosul (refs
D and E),the Ninewah Operations Command according to earlier
press reports has banned vehicle traffic in Christian
neighborhoods there.
--------------
Comment
--------------
7. (C) After 18 months of relative calm, these simultaneous
attacks on Iraq's Christian community are very troubling.
Christian leaders told us recently that the need for greater
services and job opportunities was their primary focus, not
security (refs A, B, C). These attacks will likely alter
this calculation. The Embassy and the PRTs will continue to
reach out to GOI officials and leaders of Iraq's Christian
community to find out more information on the attacks, and
who is responsible. We will also raise the issue with GOI
security officials to see what additional security
precautions can be instituted to help protect the Christian
community and its churches. End comment.
HILL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2019
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: SEVEN CHURCHES BOMBED IN BAGHDAD
***********************
* Missing Section 001 *
***********************
BAGHDAD 00001891 002 OF 002
in the government, especially with the 2010 national
parliamentary elections on the horizon. Minister Selim also
thought that the bombings were election related and predicted
that the number of attacks will likely increase during the
latter half of 2009. Non-Muslim Endowment Director
al-Naufali stated that the Christians were targeted because
"we are the weakest" part of Iraqi society. Al-Naufali
argued that those who carried out the attack want to create
divisions between Christians and Muslims and return Iraq back
to the chaos of 2004 and 2005. Speaking to the press,
Chaldean Archbishop Louis Sako stated that the attacks were
"meant to pressure Christians to migrate from Iraq and never
return."
--------------
Another Exodus?
--------------
5. (C) Poloff queried Christian political and religious
leaders whether they too thought this latest round of attacks
would spark another exodus of Iraq's Christian population out
of Baghdad. Minister Wijdan thought that Christians were now
more worried and would want to leave. However, Father Augin
and MP Kanna told Poloff that Christian leaders were speaking
to their community and telling them not to be afraid. Father
Augin said that he was personally encouraging his
parishioners to stay in Baghdad and continue to come to Mass.
Al-Naufali argued that the Christians who remain in Baghdad
are too poor to leave to Syria or Jordan and that anyone who
had the means to emigrate had already done so.
--------------
GOI Response
--------------
6. (SBU) Prime Minister Maliki has not yet issued a public
statement, but this is probably because he and his Spokesman
are out of the country. As this cable was going to press,
local media was reporting that Iraqi police have stepped up
security at and are investigating the Baghdad bomb sites and
that Vice President Abdul Mahdi has urged Iraq's Christians
not to flee, and asked the international community to help
protect it from extremists. Presumably to prevent a repeat
of the October 2008 attacks against Christians in Mosul (refs
D and E),the Ninewah Operations Command according to earlier
press reports has banned vehicle traffic in Christian
neighborhoods there.
--------------
Comment
--------------
7. (C) After 18 months of relative calm, these simultaneous
attacks on Iraq's Christian community are very troubling.
Christian leaders told us recently that the need for greater
services and job opportunities was their primary focus, not
security (refs A, B, C). These attacks will likely alter
this calculation. The Embassy and the PRTs will continue to
reach out to GOI officials and leaders of Iraq's Christian
community to find out more information on the attacks, and
who is responsible. We will also raise the issue with GOI
security officials to see what additional security
precautions can be instituted to help protect the Christian
community and its churches. End comment.
HILL