WASHINGTON - The Iraqi government's ability to protect religious freedoms in the conflict-stricken country is handicapped by insurgency, terrorism, and sectarian violence, according to the US State Department.
"[F]requent sectarian violence, including attacks on religious places of worship, hampered the ability to practice religion freely," stated the annual International Religious Freedom Report released Friday by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice."Christians also reported that Islamic extremists warned Christians living in Baghdad's Dora district to convert, leave, or be killed," it further noted.
While Rice did not specifically address the situation in Iraq in her remarks, she said the report, which covers 198 countries, would help in advancing President Bush's efforts to promote freedom and peace worldwide.
"Religious liberty is deeply rooted in our principles and history as a nation, and it is our belief in this universal human right that leads us into the world to support all who want to secure this right in this lives and in their countries," Rice said.
"Freedom of religion is also integral to our efforts to combat the ideology of hatred and religious intolerance that fuels global terrorism," she added. "This past Tuesday was the sixth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. As we reflect on the tragedy of that day, we are reminded of the true importance of this report and we reaffirm our commitment to help us shed light on all countries where citizens are subjected to government censorship, hate crimes, discrimination and violence for their thoughts and beliefs."
Regarding Iraq, the 2007 report noted that current estimates place the number of Christians living in Iraq at fewer than 1 million - down from the 1.4 million reported in the official 1987 census.
In August 2006, Chaldean Auxiliary Bishop Andreos Abouna of Baghdad stated that of the estimated 1.2 million Christians living in the country before the 2003 US-led offensive, only 600,000 remained. According to church leaders, an estimated 30 per cent of the country's Christian population lives in the north, with the largest Christian communities located in Mosul, Erbil, Dohuk, and Kirkuk.
The report also noted that the Iraqi Government focused most of its resources and attention on the ongoing insurgency and reconstruction efforts during the reporting period.
"[T]hus, it did not have the capacity to address matters relating to abuses of freedom of religion," the reported claimed. "Moreover, deficiencies in security force capabilities and in the rule of law made it difficult for the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) or the justice system to investigate or address alleged violations."
