8/8/14, "Archbishop of Canterbury urges Britain to open doors to persecuted Iraqi Christians," UK Telegraph, Edward Malnick
"The Most Rev Justin Welby calls on the British Government to offer asylum to Christians and other minorities being targeted by militants in Iraq, saying the situation is part of an "evil pattern" of persecution across the world."
"The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on ministers to offer asylum to Christians driven from their homes by Islamic jihadists rampaging through Iraq.
The Most Rev Justin Welby backed calls by a number of bishops who said Britain
should offer sanctuary to thousands of Iraqis facing violence and death. His intervention comes days after France said it was "outraged by the
abuses" in the country and ready to give asylum to those who needed it.
The Archbishop said: "I believe that, like France, the United Kingdom’s doors should be open to refugees, as they have been throughout history."
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The flight of Christians in the face of Islamic State has been described by
the vicar of Baghdad's Anglican church, Canon Andrew White, as bringing "the
end of Christianity very near" in Iraq.
In 2003, before the allied invasion, there were about a million Christians, in Iraq. About three quarters have left since amid the civil war and targeted attacks by jihadists.
On Thursday Islamic State fighters swept aside resistance to seize the last remaining Christian towns of northern Iraq. All Christians were told to leave the city of Mosul last month, with the 20 too old to leave said by the church to have been forcibly converted to Islam.
In a statement issued on Friday from the Philippines, where he was visiting fellow bishops, Archbishop Welby warned that Christians and other minorities were facing "terrible suffering".
In 2003, before the allied invasion, there were about a million Christians, in Iraq. About three quarters have left since amid the civil war and targeted attacks by jihadists.
On Thursday Islamic State fighters swept aside resistance to seize the last remaining Christian towns of northern Iraq. All Christians were told to leave the city of Mosul last month, with the 20 too old to leave said by the church to have been forcibly converted to Islam.
In a statement issued on Friday from the Philippines, where he was visiting fellow bishops, Archbishop Welby warned that Christians and other minorities were facing "terrible suffering".
“What we are seeing in Iraq violates brutally people’s right to freedom of religion and belief, as set out under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. "It is extremely important that aid efforts are supported and that those who have been displaced are able to find safety."
He added that the international community needed to challenge a "culture of impunity" which has allowed atrocities to take place. Any human rights abuses should be documented so that perpetrators can be prosecuted in the future, he said.
He warned that the plight of those in Iraq was part of an "evil pattern around the world" where Christians and other minorities are being killed and persecuted because of their faith.
Archbishop Welby's intervention will increase pressure on ministers to follow France's lead by issuing a public statement offering refuge to Iraqis attempting to flee the violence.
Last weekend a number of bishops spoke out in favour of such a move. One said that failing to act would be a "betrayal of our moral and historical obligations."
Earlier on Friday David Cameron had insisted the world must help Iraq's Yazidi religious minority in their "hour of desperate need" as he backed potential US airstrikes in the north of the country.
The Prime Minister said he "utterly condemns the barbaric attacks" by Islamic "terrorists" across the region, adding he is "especially concerned" for the community trapped on Mount Sinjar."...
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