Iran attacks Iraq’s Erbil with missiles in warning to US, allies
Erbil, Iraq Reuters Iran attacked Iraq’s northern city of Erbil on Sunday with a dozen ballistic missiles in an unprecedented assault on the capital of the autonomous Iraqi Kurdish region that appeared to target the United States and its allies. The missiles came down in areas near a new US consulate building, according to Kurdish […]
Iraqi Christian family ordered to leave IDP camp but have nowhere to go
World Watch Monitor The last Christian family remaining in an IDP camp north of Erbil have turned to the local government and aid organisations as they have been asked to leave the camp but have nowhere to go, Kurdish news website Rudaw reports. Sena Behnam and her husband said they have to stay in the camp, […]
Iraqi archbishop tells USAID delegation to hurry up aid delivery
World Watch Monitor An Iraqi Catholic archbishop has said he and other bishops are “delighted” that the US aid arm is to make good on a pledge to send aid directly to non-Muslim communities recovering from the so-called Islamic State’s occupation of their towns and villages, but warned “time is running [out]”. Archbishop Bashar Warda […]
Muslims and Christians unite to restore ancient Iraqi church
World Watch Monitor An historical Christian site in Iraq is receiving visitors again for the first time in 20 years, having previously been shut off due to security concerns, Al-Monitor reports. The remnants of the first-century Church of Kokheh, located 32 kilometres south of the capital Baghdad, were discovered and excavated by the German Oriental Society […]
POSTCARDS: IRAQ’S ASSYRIAN CHRISTIANS – PERSECUTION AND RESURGENCE
ZARA SARVARIAN, in an article first published by World Watch Monitor, reports from Qaraqosh in Iraq where Assyrian Christians are rebuilding their lives…
Abducted Iraqi Christian girl reunited with her parents after three years
World Watch Monitor After almost three years in captivity, an Iraqi Christian girl abducted by the Islamic State in August 2014 has finally been reunited with her parents. Christina Abada, who is about to celebrate her sixth birthday, was welcomed home at around 10am Friday morning, local time. Locals say she was released by the […]
Displaced Iraqi Christians open sweet factory in Erbil
World Watch Monitor Some of the workers at Erbil’s new sweet factory. PICTURE: World Watch Monitor, 2017 In his new factory, surrounded by sesame seeds, pistachios and sugar, Rabeea dips his spatula into a large vat of honey-coloured syrup. He’s checking its consistency to see if it’s ready for the next step in the production […]
MIDDLE EAST: ‘SIX WEEKS’ MEDICINE AND ‘TWO MONTHS’ FOOD FOR DISPLACED IRAQI CHRISTIANS
ABIGAIL FRYMANN ROUCH reports for World Watch Monitor on the situation facing Iraq’s displaced Christian communities…
Security “most critical need” to facilitate return of Christians to northern Iraq, say church leaders
Security is the “most critical need” to be addressed if vulnerable Christian communities are to return to their former homes in northern Iraq, Chaldean Catholic Archbishop Bashar Warda told a delegation from the World Council of Churches during a recent meeting in Erbil, Iraq. While Iraq’s military campaign against the so-called Islamic State has seen it […]
Celebration for thousands of displaced Iraqis ahead of bittersweet homecoming
World Watch Monitor Thousands of displaced Iraqi Christians celebrated a ‘Return Festival’ as the military advance against Islamic State (IS) in and around the city of Mosul raised their hopes of returning home after two years in exile. The festival in Erbil on 18th November was organised by Life Agape, with the support of the […]