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AINA
2015-03-27 19:55 GMT
Patriarch
Louis Raphael Sako, the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church of Babylon, addressed
the United Nations Security Council today on the persecution of Christians in
the Middle East, particularly Iraq and Syria.
The
meeting, sponsored by France, which currently holds the council chair,
addressed the issue of persecution of Christians by ISIS and other groups and
was the first time the issue of Christian persecution was discussed at the UN.
As
the meeting progressed, Assyrians and Yazidis held a rally outside the UN
building to call attention to the persecution of Assyrians, Yazidis and other
minorities in Iraq and Syria.
Here
is the full text of Patriarch Sako's address:
On
behalf of Christians of different ethnic and cultural denominations who are
facing and enduring severe trial in the Middle East, I extend my thanks to the
French government for leading this humanitarian initiative, especially to the
French Minister of Foreign Affairs H. E. Laurent Fabius.
Ladies
and Gentlemen,
As
you may know, this year is the centenary of the massacres against Christians in
1915. Now a hundred years later, we are living a similar catastrophic situation,
which pushes many families to leave the country. It is a big loss for all.
Frankly, the so-called Arab Spring impacted negatively on us. While if we had
the opportunity of working in harmony with the mosaic of religions and ethnic
groups in our region, there would have been a driving force in the region
towards peace, stability and progress.
From
this tribune, I would like to convey a message inspired by the spiritual and
humanitarian values: The positive coexistence, on the basis of justice and peace
in the spirit of love and citizenship, should remain at the upper level of
priorities for the Security Council and the United Nations.
With
regards to my country, I call for supporting the Central Government and the
Regional Government of Kurdistan towards the liberation of all Iraqi cities and
for us Christians, Yezidis and Shabaks especially the city of Mosul as well as
the towns in the Nineveh plain and villages; providing an International
Protection for their inhabitants, who were forced to be displaced from their
homes (Secure Zone); and promulgating a Real Estate and Property Law that
ensure their rights in their lands, and enabling them to return home and resume
their lives in a normal way. There is also a responsibility for the Central
Government to compensate them for the damages incurred.
The
major problem lies in understanding the different factors of state: religion,
citizenship, individuals, community, the role of woman and the national
education, in order to live together in peace and respect.
The
Islamic extremist groups refuse to live with non-Muslims. They are persecuting
and uprooting them from their homes and erasing their history (the memory). It
is an ideological crisis and a way to monopolize the power, disabling
institutions and restricting freedom.
This
horrifying situation needs to establish principles, based on international
laws, aiming to prevent this catastrophic discrimination against the human
being and the mankind.
At
the same time, it is important to understand that these terroristic acts should
not be generalized to all Muslims. In fact, there is a silent and peaceful
majority of Muslims that reject such politicization of the religion; they are
accepting to live a common live with others within the civil state and
according to the law.
Peace
and stability cannot be achieved solely by military actions; as they are unable
to dismantle this clustered way of thinking that destroys human beings and
stones -- the civilisation.
This
indicates that the international community including the Arab League and the
Conference of the Islamic Countries are required to take legal decisions and
definitive measures. This could be achieved by adopting political, cultural and
educational solutions. These solutions should be appropriate to protect the
national mosaic represented by individuals, persons and groups regardless of
their religion and ethnic background. They have to safeguard the rights of the
all citizens and strengthen the relations among them.
Particular
attention should be paid to a more significant threat. Millions of children and
young people are deprived of schools and education. Millions of refugees are
being in camps without care and attention. The growing frustration,
unemployment and poverty could easily develop an atmosphere of revenge and
extremism. Therefor there is the necessity to take care of these refugees
responding to their needs and decreasing their pain.
A
practical process is proposed to get out of this vicious cycle:
To
claim, through the United Nations, the executive policy-based on updating of
the constitutions and laws. This would promote justice, equality and dignity
for all, as citizens without discriminating a group in a favour of another. It
is imperative that our countries acquire civil governments where equality is
granted among all citizens. These governments are responsible for the
protection of all individuals and preserve the integral rights of all their
citizens.
To
encourage religious leaders so as to adopt a moderate discourse that deepens
the sense of citizenship. They have to adopt a culture of belonging to their
country and not exclusively to their religious denominations or tribes. A
necessary factor is the reform of educational programs that would enhance the
principles of respect between citizens and promote tolerance and communication.
This would condemn division, hatred and spirit of revenge. All this will
protect generations from the consequences of extremism, violence and terrorism.
In order to achieve this, the Religious Hierarchy has to present an appropriate
exegetic explanation of the religious texts, with zero tolerance to extracting
the religious texts from their contexts.
To
pass a law that criminalizes all states and individuals who support terrorist
groups financially or intellectually or with arms, and held them accountable,
and consider their acts as a crime towards social peace.
To
promote the development of organizations for human rights and civil society.
These organizations should be supported such that they don't only have a
consulting role, but rather an executive one and thus on both levels: the
regional and the international one.
Thank
you and best wishes for your humanitarian mission.