"La situazione sta peggiorando. Gridate con noi che i diritti umani sono calpestati da persone che parlano in nome di Dio ma che non sanno nulla di Lui che è Amore, mentre loro agiscono spinti dal rancore e dall'odio.
Gridate: Oh! Signore, abbi misericordia dell'Uomo."

Mons. Shleimun Warduni
Baghdad, 19 luglio 2014

30 aprile 2018

Chaldeans are the indigenous people of Iraq

Patriarch Louis Rafael Sako

It must be remembered that the Chaldeans are Mesopotamia and original Iraq; their roots extend back thousands of years. They had a great empire, with Babylon as its capital, took control of Mesopotamia in the seventh century BC and expanded north and west. They have a great religious and cultural heritage, which is still a witness to this day. For example, the ziggurats, the Tower of Babel, the Hanging Gardens, the Hammurabi series, the Ishtar Gate, the Lion of Babel, and the Ur Tunnel. Their ancestors planted vineyards, palms, olives and wheat. They settled in the land and distinguished themselves in irrigation, architecture, music, poetry, lawmaking and astronomy.
Before and after the advent of Islam, especially in the rule of the Abbasid Empire, the Chaldeans, along with the other Christians of their country, presented many scientific, architectural, medical, cultural and artistic creations. These are the written monuments preserved in the branches of science, knowledge, translation, and writing.
Chaldeans and Christians also made a significant contribution to the scientific and literary renaissance in modern Iraq. They provided much in their administration, schools and specialties in medicine, agriculture, engineering, construction, trade, economics, writing, printing, and journalism. Chaldean families had a prominent role in public life.
In the last century, Chaldean people, like other religious and nationalist components, were subjected to violent conflict, displacement and slaughter, as happened in Seferbirlik 1915-1918, where four Chaldean diocese were removed. Chaldeans and other components have been subjected to violations and displacement in the last 50 years because of the inferno of recurrent wars. The unprecedented attacks of extremist Islamist movements such as Al-Qaeda have caused them disappointment and feelings of insecurity. They have lost confidence in the future and pushed them to emigrate.
Those who remained steadfast maintained their long-standing roots and clung to their homeland despite the failure of successive governments to give them the right to their own fate. For example, history books or curricula do not mention a single line about the Chaldeans and Christians and what they offered to their Muslim brothers and sacrificed for their country.
Although the Church does not directly intervene in politics, it is deeply influenced by political changes that undermine the social fabric, the demographic and economic reality, and do not respect the rights of Christians and their equality with other citizens (the law of the Islamization of minors). Playing a proactive role in supporting national cohesion, defending the rights of people, the rule of law and responding appropriately to the concerns and needs of their citizens. This is what the Church did during the displacement of Christians and non-Christians from Mosul and the towns of the Nineveh Plain and the restoration of their homes to return.
In light of the changes mentioned above, and despite the decline in the number of Christians and their social and cultural presence in Iraq, like other ethnic and sectarian groups, I find that it’s now an urgent historical moment, so that the Chaldeans in particular and the Christians in general bear their responsibilities in the political process authentically and free from the residues of fear and the colonial mentality. This national and Christian consciousness should be as vital as salt and yeast to bring beautiful results.
As a sponsor and a father, I urge everyone, especially the Iraqi Chaldeans at home and abroad, to participate in the parliamentary elections on May 12 to give their votes to those who are best suited to them and to the homeland. Elections are a national, moral and Christian responsibility to ensure a modern constitutional civil state that believes in pluralism and preserves the cultural and civilizational heritage of all components!
My advice to the Chaldeans: I advise the Chaldean activists to think carefully about the establishment of one political party on behalf of the Chaldean Alliance (Huyada Kaldaya), which includes the parties on the scene, and attracts cadres and competencies at home and abroad away from opportunists and messengers.
In this context, I hope that one of the priorities of this party is to strive with the Assyrian, Syriac and Armenian parties to form a strong alliance representing the Christians in the House of Representatives and the political activities. It demands the amendment of the current constitution and its inclusion in articles that explicitly recognize our existence and guarantee our national, religious, political and cultural rights.
I hope that this vital project will be adopted by the Chaldean Alliance and will be sponsored away from the intervention of the Church.
In conclusion, I do not hide from you that I wished in this election that Christians enter a unified list because we are together stronger, and I sought it, but there was no great reaction for this opportunity because of the agendas supporting some parties and private interests.