Iraq Religious Killings

Mr NINOS KHOSHABA (Smithfield) [12.48 p.m.]: I speak about the terrible kidnappings and killings occurring in the war-torn country of Iraq. One in particular is the recent killing of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. Iraq, as we know, is currently in the midst of war but over the last four years there has been a spate of killings within the Assyrian, Chaldean, Mandaean and Syriac Christian communities. These killings are occurring because of the faith of the innocent victims. There have been killings of young men, women and families while they sleep, beheadings and, especially painful, the killing of young children. People are not able to practise their customs, beliefs and faith for fear of retribution and death.

Various Christian groups around the world have been lending their voices in support of the Christians in Iraq. I attended a church service on Tuesday 18 March 2008 at the St Thomas the Apostle Chaldean Catholic Church in Bossley Park in honour of Archbishop Rahho, whose cowardly murder occurred on 29 February 2008. It was a very emotional service, led by the Chaldean Archbishop, Jibrael Kassab. Also in attendance were Cardinal George Pell from the Roman Catholic Church and several other archbishops, bishops, priests and approximately 2,000 people. The recent killing of Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho has sent shockwaves and drawn condemnation throughout the entire international community.

The death of Archbishop Rahho is a tragedy but by no means an isolated incident. As he returned home after mass in the city of Mosul on 29 February 2008 the archbishop was kidnapped during a shootout in which three of his companions were killed. His kidnappers telephoned church authorities the Thursday after to announce that the archbishop had died and that they had buried him, giving the location of the grave. The cleric's body was later exhumed from the site. There has been condemnation from as far as the Vatican, from Pope Benedict XVI, to the Prince of Jordan. Statements have been issued condemning these inhumane acts and pleas to end the bloodshed and violence have been made. Pope Benedict's plea was made during a recent Sunday sermon. He said, "Enough to the violence in Iraq."

From 2003-2008 more than 48 churches have been bombed, attacked and destroyed. In January this year seven simultaneous attacks were made again on churches and monasteries. Iraq's Christians were said to number as many as 800,000 before the war. The number of Christians who remain today is uncertain. The last Iraqi census in 1987 counted 1.4 million Christians. There have been systematic and targeted killings in the Assyrian, Chaldean, Mandaean and Syriac Christian communities, and I am saddened to think that generations of people have been wiped out by those killings. Many left after the sanctions were imposed in the 1990s.

I am advised that Christianity in Iraq began 2,000 years ago, making Iraq home to one of the world's oldest Christian communities. The Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs are the country's largest Christian groups and still pray in Aramaic, the language of Jesus. Over the past 3½ years the Christian community has been subjected to a steady stream of church bombings, assassinations, kidnappings, and death threats. That form of torture against an indigenous minority incapable of defending itself is heartbreaking. Several high-level representations have been made to the United States of America Government to assist the Assyrian, Chaldean, Mandaean and Syriac Christians in Iraq. Some aid has been approved; however, I fear that much more will need to be done.

We as Australians are incredibly privileged to live in a country that respects differences and people from many different cultural backgrounds. They are paying the ultimate price because of their faith. Whilst I understand that this is more of a Federal issue, a large number of my constituents currently have family members suffering in the Middle East. These terrible actions have affected and touched many of the Australian Chaldeans that are living in my electorate. I take this opportunity to express my deepest and sincerest sympathy to the Chaldean community and, more importantly, to the family and friends of the late Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho. I also take this opportunity to thank the Chaldean community for allowing me to be part of that very important service.