Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAGHDAD2028
2009-07-29 08:58:00
SECRET
Embassy Baghdad
Cable title:  

PRT NINEWA: CHRISTIANS ANXIETY RISE IN NINEWA IN

Tags:  PGOV PHUM KDEM PMIL IZ 
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VZCZCXRO9315
PP RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #2028/01 2100858
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 290858Z JUL 09 ZDK ZUI CLASSIFICATION MARKINGS
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4109
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002028 

SIPDIS

CABLE RECLASSIFIED AS SECRET

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PMIL IZ
SUBJECT: PRT NINEWA: CHRISTIANS ANXIETY RISE IN NINEWA IN
THE WAKE OF BOMBINGS

BAGHDAD 00002028 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader W. Patrick Murphy for reason 1.4 (b).

This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message.

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002028

SIPDIS

CABLE RECLASSIFIED AS SECRET

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KDEM PMIL IZ
SUBJECT: PRT NINEWA: CHRISTIANS ANXIETY RISE IN NINEWA IN
THE WAKE OF BOMBINGS

BAGHDAD 00002028 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Ninewa PRT Leader W. Patrick Murphy for reason 1.4 (b).

This is a Ninewa Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) message.


1. (C) Summary: In the early hours of 13 July 2009, a car
bomb exploded in an alley between a Christian church and a
Shi'a mosque in the Faisalia neighborhood of east Mosul. The
explosion damaged both houses of worship, and killed three
Iraqi citizens in nearby homes. According to local Christian
leaders, some members of the Christian population in Ninewa
are fearful of future attacks and question the future
viability of their community in the province. In response to
the attack, the Provincial Governor declared a neighborhood
curfew, while Christian majority districts in the province
utilized Iraqi Security Forces and local volunteers to
bolster security and calm public fears. End summary.


2. (S) At 0517 on 13 July 2009, a stationary car bomb
detonated in the al-Nasir neighborhood of east Mosul while a
joint U.S. and Iraqi Police (IP) patrol was passing nearby.
The explosion killed three Iraqi citizens and occurred in the
vicinity of a Shi'a mosque and a Christian church. Although
subsequent Coalition Force (CF) and Iraqi Security Force
(ISF) assessments differed on the explosion's precise impact,
it appears the mosque sustained more damage. Provincial
Governor Alnujaifi told PRT Ninewa Team Leader on July 16
that perpetrators targeted both the Shi'a and the Christian
house of worship.


3. (C) The attack appears to validate recent intelligence
estimates suggesting that insurgents have shifted the focus
of their attacks to minority communities in Ninewa. In
response to the incident, Governor Alnujaifi imposed a
limited curfew in the Mosul sub-district of Ba'asheqa and the
districts of Tel Keif and Hamdaniya from 0600 on 13 July
through 1400 on 14 July.


4. (C) Sa'ad Tanyous Jaji, the Christian minority
representative to the Ninewa Provincial Council, told PRT
member that the targeted church was the Church of the Virgin
Mary Fatima, though the damage was only cosmetic. Mr. Jaji
claimed that the recent attacks on churches in Baghdad and
Mosul have left the Christian population in Ninewa on edge.
The Christian population, he said, further believes that the
attacks are designed to drive Christians out of Mosul, though
no one is not sure who is responsible for the attacks.


5. (C) Tel Keif District Mayor Basim Bello told PRT member
that he firmly believed that the church was not the primary
target of the attack. Rather, he thought the target was the
al-Husaniya Shi'a mosque, located across the street.
Nonetheless, according to Mr. Bello, several members of the
Christian community have received reports of threats against
Christian population centers in Tel Keif and Hamdaniya
districts.


6. (C) George Kako, a prominent Christian businessman from
Bartalla and a frequent associate of the PRT, affirmed that
the Christian population in Ninewa is scared. However, they
are confident that the recent security measures implemented
by district and sub-district mayors will be sufficient to
protect them. According to Mr. Kako's sources, the Christian
population believes that the motivation for attacking
Christian communities in Ninewa may be partly due to the
perception that Christian areas are among the safest and most
peaceful in the province.


7. (C) In addition to the curfew imposed by Governor
Alnujaifi, many Christian cities and villages have taken
QAlnujaifi, many Christian cities and villages have taken
additional precautions to prevent future attacks. A PRT move
to Qara Qosh in Hamdaniya district on 14 July found the city
guarded by Christian volunteers who were providing additional
support to ISF checkpoints. Many of these guards have
contracts with the Ministry of Interior and also protect
churches within the city of Mosul. They expect additional
attacks against churches throughout Iraq--including in
Ninewa--in the near-term unless the Government of Iraq takes
immediate action to condemn the attacks and increase
protection of minority areas.


8. (C) Comment: Even if the target of the attack on 13 July
in Mosul was not the Christian church, there is a perception
among some observers that insurgents are seeking to
destabilize Ninewa by increasing sectarian tensions.
Christians see themselves as increasingly being used as pawns
in the battle between Arab and Kurdish political parties and
between the ISF and insurgents. While fear of alleged
targeting of the Christian population in Ninewa may reflect
conjecture, such fear may contribute to an ongoing exodus of
one of the world's oldest Christian communities. End Comment.

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