Christians Flee Mosul Following Increase in Violence

By Lauren Mellinger
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

BAGHDAD, Iraq - On October 17, Iraqi forces arrested four men alleged to have been involved in recent attacks against mostly Christian civilians in Mosul.  The Iraqi authorities blame the recent wave of violence and intimidation targeting Iraqi Christians on Sunni militants, who maintain a strong presence in the city.

Over the past two weeks, at least fourteen Christians were killed in Mosul.  Many families are frightened by the increase in attacks and threats from Muslim extremists to convert to Islam or risk death.

According to the Iraqi Ministry of Immigration and Displaced Persons, the recent wave of violence against the Iraqi Christian population has led to the evacuation of between 6,000 and 9,000 Christians from Mosul, representing over 1,300 families.  According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the displaced populations represent roughly half of the Christian population in and around Mosul.

UNHCR officials have stated that many of those who fled from the violence over the past several weeks have told officials that they will only return to the city if and when their safety and security is assured by local authorities.

Iraqi authorities claim that the increased attacks on Iraqi Christians are likely due to recent Christian demonstrations ahead of the provincial elections, scheduled for January.  During the demonstrations, hundreds of Christians took to the streets in Mosul and surrounding areas demanding adequate representation in the provincial councils.

Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has pledged to protect the Iraqi Christian community.  Earlier this week his office released a statement that he was ordering the Iraqi army and police to the city, "to provide protection for members of this community" and that security forces would "target the terrorist groups" behind the attacks. 

The Iraqi government has responded to the increasing violence and intimidation targeting Christians by imposing a curfew and increasing the number of checkpoints in several Mosul neighborhoods with predominantly Christian populations. 

While the government has made additional arrests, it is unclear if these arrests are connected to the violence against Christians.  However, according to Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, "We know that they are part of a criminal gang that has been committing criminal acts in Mosul and we will do our best to arrest the rest."

US and Iraqi Commanders consider Mosul to be the last urban stronghold of Al Qaeda in Iraq.  Despite the governments efforts to curb sectarian violence, the current security sweeps in Mosul, aimed at displacing the insurgents seem to be worsening the situation for the city's Christian population.

For more information, please see:

CNN - Men Arrested In Attacks On Iraqi Christians - 17 October 2008

Reuters - Christians Flee Mosul After Threats, Attacks - UNHCR - 17 October 2008

BBC - More Iraqi Christians Flee Mosul - 15 October 2008

Sydney Morning Herald - Thousands of Christians Flee Violence in Iraq - 15 October 2008