A Catholic archbishop has been kidnapped in the nothwestern Iraqi city of Mosul. The priest, who is identified by the Vatican as Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, 66, of the Syrian Catholic Church, was walking in front of the Al-Bishara church in Mosul’s neighbourhood of Muhandeseen when he was forced into a car by his kidnappers.

The Christian minority has been vulnerable to recent attacks in this Muslim society. Mosul is home tens of thousands of Christians and has been the hotspot for terror and violence in the recent months as the country’s first democratic elections approach. The reasons for kidnapping are not clear.

A statement from the Vatican demanded that Casmoussa be freed immediately. "The Holy See deplores in the firmest way such a terrorist act," read the statement.

Endless attacks have been seen on Iraqi Christians: On 7th December, two churches were attacked by gunmen in Mosul which forced people to leave the buildings. Explosions went off but none were harmed. In November, a bomb went off near an Orthodox Church in southern Baghdad which killed three people. In October, five churches in Baghdad were attacked. In August, attacks killed 10 and wounded 50 Christians.

There are approximately 700,000 Christians in Iraq. Since the attacks started in August, over 15,000 Iragi Christians have left the country.