I am always pleased to hear from Tim Shamoon, an Iraqi Christian who occasionally comments on this blog. In a comment on my request for you to sign the petition, he sent me this, I though I would put it as a separate post, as Tim doesn't have blog, just so you can read it:
Dear Father;
I had seen this link on Father John's blog and I have signed the petition and will ensure to pass it to as many people as I know. I must say thank you very much for your support but make sure you pray for us too please.
To whoever reads this I just want to say that Iraqi Christians are targeted because of their Faith. For example in the town of Samarra (west of Iraq) an Iraqi Christian family who lived peacefully minding their own business amongst their Muslim neighbours for over 15 years without any problems had their life turned upside down about 2 months ago, the family started to get threats that took the form of an envelope left by the front door which contained a bullet, then moved to the family getting letters telling them that the women (Wife and 2 young daughters under 12) had to wear the Hijab then it escalated to occasionally their house being stoned. The reason that they did not move apart from the obvious such as the fact that they are from Iraq and why should they move especially when they had done nothing wrong, they were also very poor people who did not have the means to move.
One day while the husband was in the market doing some shopping four masked gunmen broke the front door of the house walked calmly in asked the mother to go out with them but she refused and shouted at them and asked them to leave but they simply said that they were hoping to spare her children seeing her being killed “God’s Judgement” they called it being carried out on her. They began to remind her that she and her husband were warned and that they (Mujahdeen) will leave the father to live in order to look after the children because after all “they (Mujahdeen)were not bad people” and would let a parent live. This was happening before her 7 kids and they ranged in age from 4 months to 16 years of age. Her son who is the eldest explained that his mum began to cry hysterically and hug and kiss her kids and asked them to look after each other and after initially begging the men to spare her life (they refused to listen to her pleading for mercy) then she began to recite the Hail Mary knowing her end was very close and at that point and in the living room of her own house the killers opened fire hitting her several times including in her eye, hand mouth and stomach. The family now lives in the hall of a Church in the North of Iraq and the father is left to fend for his young family. The family is of the Chaldean Rite speaking a language that is a derivative from Aramaic spoken at the Time of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
As far as I am aware the family had no ties to the multinational forces or any Iraqi political party. They did not take sides we Iraqi Christians have always stayed on the sidelines of Iraqi politics but this family's only crime as far as I can see is their Faith and the fact that they did not run when warned by the terrorists. Imagine living in London or Brighton and having to leave your OWN HOME because of your Faith or for whatever reason some thugs come up with? When you next pray before the Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Church put your self for 5 minutes in the shoes of an Iraqi Christians dad who is given 24 hours to leave his OWN HOME or else. Put your shoes in the place of the poor Iraqi Christian mother who started to kiss her kids knowing that she was about to die and leave her young family behind for the great crime of being a Christian.
The world watches us being butchered and does nothing. I appreciate that people of good will, some clergy and the Pope are trying their best however if we do not get political will to help Christians in Iraq by either giving them a safe haven in the country itself (like that that was given to the Kurdish people in the era of Saddam) or for a number of countries including the USA and the UK (main players in Iraq) to take as many Christians as refugees who incidentally have always assimilated very well and proven to be very bright and successful people wherever they have moved to in the world, then I am afraid that we will always come back to these kind of tragic stories time and again.
I must stress that I have nothing whatsoever against Muslim people or the Islamic faith but in IRAQ CHRISTIANS ARE BEING PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH BY ISLAMIC EXTREMIST this is a fact though it is painful for some to accept or read. By the way in the UK my best friends are Muslims and they tell me that they are embarrassed by the action of their fellow Muslims in Iraq towards Christians but I always remind them that those people have nothing to do with the human race. The Muslim people that I know are decent fun loving and caring people and indeed very good and loyal friends who contribute greatly to the British Society.
Dear Father;
I had seen this link on Father John's blog and I have signed the petition and will ensure to pass it to as many people as I know. I must say thank you very much for your support but make sure you pray for us too please.
To whoever reads this I just want to say that Iraqi Christians are targeted because of their Faith. For example in the town of Samarra (west of Iraq) an Iraqi Christian family who lived peacefully minding their own business amongst their Muslim neighbours for over 15 years without any problems had their life turned upside down about 2 months ago, the family started to get threats that took the form of an envelope left by the front door which contained a bullet, then moved to the family getting letters telling them that the women (Wife and 2 young daughters under 12) had to wear the Hijab then it escalated to occasionally their house being stoned. The reason that they did not move apart from the obvious such as the fact that they are from Iraq and why should they move especially when they had done nothing wrong, they were also very poor people who did not have the means to move.
One day while the husband was in the market doing some shopping four masked gunmen broke the front door of the house walked calmly in asked the mother to go out with them but she refused and shouted at them and asked them to leave but they simply said that they were hoping to spare her children seeing her being killed “God’s Judgement” they called it being carried out on her. They began to remind her that she and her husband were warned and that they (Mujahdeen) will leave the father to live in order to look after the children because after all “they (Mujahdeen)were not bad people” and would let a parent live. This was happening before her 7 kids and they ranged in age from 4 months to 16 years of age. Her son who is the eldest explained that his mum began to cry hysterically and hug and kiss her kids and asked them to look after each other and after initially begging the men to spare her life (they refused to listen to her pleading for mercy) then she began to recite the Hail Mary knowing her end was very close and at that point and in the living room of her own house the killers opened fire hitting her several times including in her eye, hand mouth and stomach. The family now lives in the hall of a Church in the North of Iraq and the father is left to fend for his young family. The family is of the Chaldean Rite speaking a language that is a derivative from Aramaic spoken at the Time of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
As far as I am aware the family had no ties to the multinational forces or any Iraqi political party. They did not take sides we Iraqi Christians have always stayed on the sidelines of Iraqi politics but this family's only crime as far as I can see is their Faith and the fact that they did not run when warned by the terrorists. Imagine living in London or Brighton and having to leave your OWN HOME because of your Faith or for whatever reason some thugs come up with? When you next pray before the Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Church put your self for 5 minutes in the shoes of an Iraqi Christians dad who is given 24 hours to leave his OWN HOME or else. Put your shoes in the place of the poor Iraqi Christian mother who started to kiss her kids knowing that she was about to die and leave her young family behind for the great crime of being a Christian.
The world watches us being butchered and does nothing. I appreciate that people of good will, some clergy and the Pope are trying their best however if we do not get political will to help Christians in Iraq by either giving them a safe haven in the country itself (like that that was given to the Kurdish people in the era of Saddam) or for a number of countries including the USA and the UK (main players in Iraq) to take as many Christians as refugees who incidentally have always assimilated very well and proven to be very bright and successful people wherever they have moved to in the world, then I am afraid that we will always come back to these kind of tragic stories time and again.
I must stress that I have nothing whatsoever against Muslim people or the Islamic faith but in IRAQ CHRISTIANS ARE BEING PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH BY ISLAMIC EXTREMIST this is a fact though it is painful for some to accept or read. By the way in the UK my best friends are Muslims and they tell me that they are embarrassed by the action of their fellow Muslims in Iraq towards Christians but I always remind them that those people have nothing to do with the human race. The Muslim people that I know are decent fun loving and caring people and indeed very good and loyal friends who contribute greatly to the British Society.
6 comments:
Extrodinary. My goodness we really need to do something to help. Its civil war out there. It sounds like Bosnia in the 90's with neighbour against neighbour, I was not on any particular side and wound up helping Muslims who were some of the bravest, kindest, and strong people I have ever met.
I do feel that it is our duty to help.
"Out of sight out of mind" is simply not acceptable.
Have the Christians been segrigated yet? It would be easier to get help to them if they have.
Aside from prayer, what do they need? I'm sure money would help - That family may have been able to move house and now seven children would still have a mother.
We often console ourselves with the knowledge that 'someone out there is doing something'
Whatever practical way we can help you, please post here or let Fr. Ray know.
God bless all of you.
There is no point in suffering under this evil if it can be avoided. Shake the dirt of your shoes and leave if you can. I would be happy to help like anonymous.
Until the "nice" Muslims start vociferously denouncing the bad Muslims and putting them in jail and applying punishment this Muslim terrorist wave will continue. Someone does that in the US and the perps could well be looking at receiving the death sentence themselves. The first thug who tried to break into my house like that would be soon looking down the barrel of a gun, and I won't be stopping to "chat" about converting to the "religion of peace." It's not much of a religion if they have to terrorize you to convert. What's the upshot of NOT defending themselves? Family STILL had to move. No matter what the elites tell you, YOU are your 1st line of defense.
I will be finding out about Charities that you can donation to them if you like. I will also see if I can do some kind of fund raising event for a named charity where all the money would go to those that need it most in either inside or outside of Iraq. Thank you once again for your offer of help will come back next week with a name or two for charities should you wish to donate (with Father Blake’s permission) the charities will be recognised in the UK as chartable trusts.
I am grateful for everyone’s attention and thank you for the comments I personally appreciate your support but I repeat that not all Muslims are in any way bad and seriously all of my Muslim friends and their families are truly kind and decent people who condemn the evil carried by the terrorist in Iraq and in other countries including here in the UK. However, please note that I in no way wish add fuel to the fire I just want to help my brothers and sisters in Iraq (Peacefully) and continue to live and let live here in the UK. I believe that if ALL citizens live as equals here then the extremist will sincerely be defeated because their ideas are so DARK and in due course they will show their true colours and not even those who are misguided today will support them. In certain parts of Iraq those who used to support those “who love death” have abandoned those evil murders when they saw in their own eyes how evil those “Mujahdeen” can be there is nothing good or noble about them or their methods.
Father, thank you for everything that you have done through your blog. I've contacted the media (and pressure groups) of all the major Christian denominations in this country, including the Evangelical TV channels, such as 'God TV' and 'Revelation'. If we are to get our government to do anything about this, then we need this petition to grow into thousands of names. God willing, it will, thanks to the prayers and efforts of fellow bloggers, and others, who have highlighted the cause. Many of us will be preparing for our Lady's Assumption with novena devotions. May I ask that the success of this petition be confided to her intercession.
I found this from "Tea at Trianon" blog and the example of that poor mother is just carved upon my heart. I will share this story with my husband at family prayers and we will pray for her soul, for her family and for the brothers and sisters who have been left to their fates.
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