Church killings may put end to Christianity in Iraq
The death toll from a hostage standoff at a Catholic church in Baghdad has risen to 58, police officials with the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Monday. On Monday, the Iraqi Communication and Media Commission accused al-Baghdadiya television of having a link to the church kidnappers and ordered the station to close, state television reported. Iraqi security forces surrounded the bureau of al-Baghdadiya TV in Baghdad. Two of the station's employees were detained, according to a statement posted on the al-Baghdadiya TV website. It said the two employees had received a call from the church kidnappers demanding the release of female prisoners in Egypt in return for the hostages' freedom. The demand was later broadcast on al-Baghdadiya TV. Abdullah al-Nawfali, head of the department representing different Christian denominations in the country, said the incident, the deadliest against Iraqi Christians since the 2003-U.S.-led invasion, has sent the wrong message to those opting to stay. “There is a danger that the incident at Our Lady of Salvation church will boomerang on the presence of Iraqi Christians in Iraq,” Nawfali, who is a director-general at the Iraqi Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, said. “The incident is certain to lead to more emigration among members of the community,” he said. However, he urged Iraqi Christians to show “patience and stay put, asking the government to provide the necessary
protection.” Iraq's interior ministry said gunmen attacked the stock market to distract Iraqi security forces who were outside the church to protect it. The gunmen were demanding that the Iraqi government release a number of detainees and prisoners in Iraqi prisons, saying the Christian hostages would be freed in return, according to the police officials. Iraq's defense minister later said on state television that the kidnappers had demanded the release of a number of prisoners in both Iraq and Egypt.
Iraqi security forces sealed off the area surrounding the church, the officials said, and buildings were evacuated of civilians as a precautionary measure. At least 13 hostages, including two children, managed to escape ahead of the rescue operation, police said.
The death toll from a hostage standoff at a Catholic church in Baghdad has risen to 58, police officials with the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Monday. On Monday, the Iraqi Communication and Media Commission accused al-Baghdadiya television of having a link to the church kidnappers and ordered the station to close, state television reported. Iraqi security forces surrounded the bureau of al-Baghdadiya TV in Baghdad. Two of the station's employees were detained, according to a statement posted on the al-Baghdadiya TV website. It said the two employees had received a call from the church kidnappers demanding the release of female prisoners in Egypt in return for the hostages' freedom. The demand was later broadcast on al-Baghdadiya TV. Abdullah al-Nawfali, head of the department representing different Christian denominations in the country, said the incident, the deadliest against Iraqi Christians since the 2003-U.S.-led invasion, has sent the wrong message to those opting to stay. “There is a danger that the incident at Our Lady of Salvation church will boomerang on the presence of Iraqi Christians in Iraq,” Nawfali, who is a director-general at the Iraqi Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments, said. “The incident is certain to lead to more emigration among members of the community,” he said. However, he urged Iraqi Christians to show “patience and stay put, asking the government to provide the necessary
protection.” Iraq's interior ministry said gunmen attacked the stock market to distract Iraqi security forces who were outside the church to protect it. The gunmen were demanding that the Iraqi government release a number of detainees and prisoners in Iraqi prisons, saying the Christian hostages would be freed in return, according to the police officials. Iraq's defense minister later said on state television that the kidnappers had demanded the release of a number of prisoners in both Iraq and Egypt.
Iraqi security forces sealed off the area surrounding the church, the officials said, and buildings were evacuated of civilians as a precautionary measure. At least 13 hostages, including two children, managed to escape ahead of the rescue operation, police said.
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