November
12, 2008
Catholic
Siblings Murdered in Mosul
Christian Community Fears New Wave of Violence
MOSUL, Iraq, NOV. 12, 2008 (Zenit.org).- A charity group is saying
the homicide of two Catholics today has brought panic back to Mosul,
the site of recent numerous anti-Christian attacks.
Aid to the Church in Need reported the news of the death of two
women, knifed to death by gunmen who broke into their home.
Lamyaa Sabih and her sister Walaa died from the injuries sustained
during the attack, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday
in the residential zone of Alqahira in Mosul.
Their mother, who lived with them, was also knifed. She is now in
serious condition.
When police arrived to the home, a bomb planted by the attackers
exploded, killing three policemen and damaging the Sabih family
home. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Both sisters were in their 40s and were known to be devote Syro-Catholics.
Lamyaa was single. Walaa was married and had two adolescent
children.
Questioning government
This event, Aid to the Church in Need affirmed, brought panic to the
Christian community of Mosul. They said Christians, as well as other
minorities, believe that the twin homicides cast doubt on government
efforts to promote security with a greater police presence in
response to last month's campaign of violence and intimidation
against Christians.
Those attacks moved more than 2,000 families, about 12,000 people,
to flee the city. Vatican spokesman Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi
had described that campaign as a systematic targeting of Christians
with house-by-house, "leave or die" threats.
Friar Bashar Warda, who supervises the ACN emergency relief programs
for those who have left Mosul, said in an interview with the charity
group that the slaying of the two sisters is having a "dramatic"
effect on the faithful, who now fear a new wave of violence against
them.
"It is clear that many are thinking of leaving Mosul again," he
affirmed. "The government says the city is now safe, and suddenly an
attack like this happens."
Christian Iraqi leaders said that the attack shows the government is
failing to keep its promise to bring peace and security to the
church communities, and they ask the West to intervene to defend not
just Christians, but all Iraqi minorities.
"The government is trying to deceive the outside world, making them
believe that they are acting correctly and that Christians are
safe," said one local Catholic leader. "In reality, the situation is
still very challenging."
