BAGHDAD – Iraq's dwindling Christian community was grieving and afraid on Monday after militants seized a Baghdad church during evening Mass, held the congregation hostage and triggered a raid by Iraqi security forces. The bloodbath left at least 58 people killed and 78 wounded — nearly everyone inside.
The attack, claimed by an al-Qaida-linked organization, was the deadliest ever recorded against Iraq's Christians, whose numbers have plummeted since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion as the community has fled to other countries.
Outside Our Lady of Deliverance church, Raed Hadi leaned against the car carrying his cousin's coffin, waiting for the police to let him bury him on church grounds.
"It was a massacre in there and now they are cleaning it up," he said Monday morning. "We Christians don't have enough protection. ... What shall I do now? Leave and ask for asylum?"
"Now they make a show," said Jamal Jaju, who watched as Iraqi forces set up a chain link fence around the church and pushed back observers. "What can I say? I lost at least 20 friends in there."
Pope Benedict XVI denounced the assault as "ferocious" and called for renewed international efforts to broker peace in the region.
I just wanted to share this news on here because this was one of the churches I used to go to in Baghdad, Iraq. Some of my friends lost family and friends during this attack. So I hope you guys can pray for their souls to rest in peace and for the families to be patient. RIP <3
I can't believe that in 2010, people still discriminate. Get the **** over that someone is different from someone else, whether it be sexuality, sex, race or religion.
Oh my, I am so sorry, hope you and your relatives/friends etc. are ok.
I'll keep them in my prayers, this is so sad and disgusting. Hopefully all of them are in a better place.
Who is "they"???? My heart goes out to you and your family but there are more wars going on between sunna and shi'a muslims than between muslims and christians. Extremists are extremists, period. It has nothing to do with the beliefs themselves.