Iraq: New Wave of Christian Exodus

A Brutal and Massive Exodus: August 6, 2014

In the columns of Agenzia Fides, Patriarch Sako recalls: “It is a collective tragedy that remains etched in people's minds. Of course, ISIS has been defeated, but its ideology remains strong” and in many countries, even in Africa. The expulsion took place in the middle of the night by the jihadists: the Christians “were forced to immediately leave their homes and all their belongings.”

“Entire families were roused out of bed by loudspeakers: people were forced to flee in their pajamas,” said a witness; they “had to leave everything behind, even their shoes, and were forcibly taken to the Kurdistan region,” Fides also quotes. In total, the media outlet recalls, “about 120,000 Christians left the Nineveh Plain that night.”

Since then, Cardinal Sako recalls, “only 60% of Christians have returned.” But, he continues, “exclusion from work due to sectarianism, the law on personal status, and in particular the Islamization of minors when one of the parents becomes Muslim, mean that Christians no longer have faith in the future.”

We must also take into account "the current worrying situation in the Middle East and the fear of total war," which has led to "the emigration of more than a million Christians abroad, considerably reducing the number of Christians in Iraq: it is estimated that 100 Christian families leave Iraq every month," concludes the Chaldean Patriarch.

The Return of ISIS 

In July, the Asianews website devoted an article to the return of ISIS in Iraq and the increase in attacks in this country: “in the first six months of the year [2024], the Islamic State has already carried out 153 operations and is trying to 'rebuild' itself.” According to American intelligence, a return of the Islamic State, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of its advance, is to be feared.

Another element consists of "the general amnesty of the Kurdish militias - supported by the United States - in the north-east of Syria, which led to the release of suspected jihadists or affiliates of Isis,” notes Asianews. Even if the most dangerous fighters will not be released, “the fear remains that a mass release will once again fuel” ISIS.

A New Exodus of Iraqi Christians

The Catholic News Agency (CNA) website headlines: “Iraqi Christians are leaving their homeland again,” noting that “many families are fleeing the country, seeking refuge in neighboring countries for a temporary stopover before heading to distant destinations such as Australia,” confirming Patriarch Sako’s words. 

The website cites an interview published in ACI Mena, CNA’s Arabic-language partner, given by Basma Azuz: “Emigration reflects a deep conflict between a person’s identity and homeland and the search for security and rights.… It is sometimes the only way to ensure a better future.”

Mrs. Azuz attributes “the continued emigration from Iraq to social, economic, security and political factors, in addition to the fear of persecution of the Church.” Certainly, “Pope Francis’ visit had brought a temporary glimmer of hope. But the worsening situation and the government’s failure to deliver on its promises have rekindled the desire to emigrate among Christians.”

CNA concludes that “the wave of Christian emigration has spared no city in Iraq, including those in the Kurdistan region, reducing the Christian presence to near extinction. Unofficial statistics from the Shlama Foundation… confirm that Iraq has lost nearly 90% of its Christians over the past two decades.”