The “political ends” for which these Christians are being persecuted involve the imposition of Sharia. Islamic Tolerance Alert: “Iraqi Christians Flee Pre-election Violence,” from DPA, December 11:
Mosul (DPA) — Hazim Jarjis, the priest at the Mar Afram church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, is a worried man.
Armed groups have repeatedly targeted his flock, he said, ‘in an attempt to distance them from their Iraqi brothers.’
‘It’s very dangerous,’ he told the German Press Agency dpa.
Police in the city on Thursday revealed they had found the bodies of two brothers, both Christians, the previous night. The pair, shot to death, were the latest casualties in a string of attacks against Christians in the villages around Mosul, police said.
‘The goal behind these crimes is to chase away the Christians of Iraq, and of Nineveh province in particular, for political ends,’ Jarjis said.
‘The church of Mar Afram has received threats from some militants, calling for us to leave the city within the coming weeks ahead of the March 7 parliamentary elections,’ he told dpa.
‘The Iraqi government must increase its protection of churches and places where there are many Christians. They need to send more security guards, police and soldiers,’ said Father Aishwa, of the church of Mar Kukis, north of Mosul.
‘There are so many political problems between the various blocs and parties here. Without a doubt, Christians bear the brunt of these problems,’ he added….
‘The number of attacks against Christians and churches in such a short time in Mosul has warned many here that they are targets once again,’ said William Warda, a spokesman for the Assyrian Democratic Movement, adding that many of the attacks against the community have targeted Christian-run alcohol stores and hair salons.
In the face of these attacks, Warda said, ‘Many Christians prefer to flee to safe areas where they can practice their rites and rituals with greater freedom.’
Understandably.