Petition to David Cameron




The charity Iraqi Christians in Need has sent us the following petition and appealed for people to support their cause. If you would like to add your name, please email petition@icin.org.uk , with your name and address, and stating 'I agree to add my name to the letter dated 12th November 2010 to Prime Minister David Cameron.

Dear Prime Minister

You were no doubt the first to be briefed about the horrific massacre of Christians at Our Lady of Deliverance in Baghdad on the 31 October 2010. This barbaric and unprecedented crime, has not only left a trail of devastation but now threatens the very existence of Christians in Iraq. Christians have populated Iraq and living in peace since the first century AD well before the Roman Empire let alone Britain.

Last month’s massacre is only one in a long line of crimes that have befallen this community since the invasion and occupation of Iraq by coalition forces. Iraqi Christians accounted approximately for 5% of the population in 2003, and about 1% now and their numbers are dwindling every passing day.

Their lives have been turned to hell as they flee for their lives in and out of the country. Neighbouring Muslim countries have welcomed these refugees on a temporary basis with open arms well beyond their capacity.

Given Britain’s role in putting these people in such a precarious position, it is not enough for this government to simply condemn these acts. We in the West have had the benefit of centuries of secular society and do not employ enough empathy in the Middle East which does not have, let alone take for granted the divide between politics and religion. Iraqi Christians who have for the whole striven to remain out of politics and live in peace with their Muslim brothers and sisters are being perceived and persecuted as natural allies of the West. They are now become victims of religious cleansing. Since even before the crusades, Arab Christians have been caught in the cross fire and we in Britain cannot continue ignore their plight, God knows we owe it to them.

We are naturalised British citizens of Iraqi Christian Origin and other supporters. We feel privileged to be living in this country, who feel proud to call ourselves British and who feel honoured to be able to bring up our children at the heart of this civilised and religiously tolerant society. We are however shocked and dismayed as voters and tax payers to find that this religious tolerance is taken to extremes when some people with radical backgrounds are allowed to enter and benefit from this country whilst spreading their doctrine of hate, whilst some Christians are being turned away. We appreciate the tough decisions on immigration policy you need to make, especially in this economic climate and have every confidence you will make the right choices. Given Great Britain’s role in Iraq, at various points in history, it is a moral obligation to adopt an exceptional open arms policy to Iraqi Christians.

Some Iraqi religious leaders were even calling for Christians to leave Iraq, this view was not shared by all members of the church some of which had been calling for Christians to stay in Iraq and defend themselves. This is proving impossible as this recent massacre at the Church and the most recent wave of terrors by bombing Christian homes in six localities on the morning of 10-11-10 demonstrates. We demand you exercise your influence in Iraq and the region to ensure their protection, safety and security for them as long as they are in Iraq and welcome those who want to come to this country in line with other European countries that are in the process of doing so.

Thank you for your actions on this critical issue.

Yours sincerely

NB Please refer to attached lists of signatories.

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