Christians Hail Iraq Election Result as a Step Towards Democracy

The results of the delayed Iraqi elections were finally announced on Sunday 13th February, two weeks after voting took place. Iraq's majority Shiite Muslims won nearly half, 48 percent, of the 8.5 million votes cast, and 140 of the 275 National Assembly seats, therefore becoming the leader of the new Iraqi government. The Kurds came second as they got 26 percent of the votes and 75 seats.

According to a leader of the Chaldean Christian community in the United States, Iraqi Christians are both excited and nervous following the release of the results.

"We are extending our hands to our brother Shiites, and Sunnis in Iraq, to work together to have a...better, democratic Iraq," said Joseph Kassab, president of the US branch of the Chaldean National Congress.

Despite these comments, thousands of Chaldean Christians in northern Iraq, particularly in the area of Nineveh, were deprived of voting. Kassab continued, "This [election] is something that never happened for 66 years. We are very excited about this [step] in the right direction for democracy in Iraq."

Most of the world leaders also hailed the election result. US President George Bush praised the Iraqis and said that America and its allies should be proud, "I congratulate the Iraqi people for defying terrorist threats and setting their country on the path of democracy and freedom."

"The Iraqi people have taken another important step on the way to a secure and democratic future," British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said.

Even though the result has been highly appreciated, all leaders agree that there is still a process that has to begin in order to implement true democracy. They were watching closely to see whether a deal could be struck that would avert ethnic and religious conflict and quell the raging insurgency.

Many have called on the incoming government to treat the minorities of the country fairly. New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark said, "The key to Iraq's future is going to be whether the largest group can accommodate satisfactorily the interests of the two smaller groups, the Sunnis and the Kurds."

As Christians are being marginalised during the election process, they expressed the hope that the Shiite, Kurds and other parties would protect Christian interests as they draft Iraq's new constitution.

Joseph Kassab, president of the US branch of the Chaldean National Congress, said the main concern for Iraqi Christians is that minority rights be enshrined in the constitution.

"We need them to reconfirm the rights of all Iraq's minorities and religions," Kassab said.