Posted on 06/14/2003 9:09:54 PM PDT by joesnuffy
GLOBAL JIHAD Christian persecution on rise in Iraq Report: Believing women forced to wear veil, shop owners killed
Posted: June 14, 2003 1:00 a.m. Eastern
© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com
Christians and other minorities are coming under increasing attacks by Islamists in Iraq, Assist News Service reported, prompting a human-rights group to appealing to U.S. forces for tighter security.
"At least two Christian shop owners were shot dead by Shari'ah vigilantes" last month "and there are unconfirmed reports of another owner and a Christian bystander also being killed," said Christian Forum in Support of Persecuted Religious Minorities Worldwide, according to ANS.
"In some areas women are being forced to wear the veil and have been spat upon, vilified and even refused treatment at hospitals when they failed to do so."
The new service reports Christian leaders in Turkey near Iraq's border say some believers there have been accused by Muslim extremists of supporting U.S. military action.
Christian Forum reported that some Christians fear the new government in Iraq will be dominated by hard-line Muslims who will inhibit Christians' rights to practice their religion.
"During recent weeks several prominent leaders amongst Iraq's Shia Muslim population have publicly called for the creation of an Islamic state governed according to Islamic law Shari'ah," the group said in a statement.
Christian Forum says in southern Iraq "there are reports of Shari'ah (law) being imposed at street level. Over 100 shops selling alcohol have been burned down in Basra. Under Saddam Hussein's regime only Christians were permitted to sell alcohol – although the shops had good customers amongst both Christian and Muslims," the organization said.
Basra appears to have the highest level of persecution.
"Christian girls in some parts of the city are now afraid to go to school in case they are kidnapped," and "some Christian families have already begun to leave Basra to the country's Christian heartland around Mosul" ANS quotes Christian Forum as reporting.
There are approximately 1 million Christians in Iraq.
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