Iraq Election: A Nightmare for Christians

[Kismet]

Election Portends a Nightmare, Warns Bishop BAGHDAD, Iraq, JAN. 10, 2006

(Zenit.org).- An Iraqi bishop says his faithful were faced with a "nightmare" after

hard-line Muslims claimed victory in the country's general elections.

Adding his voice to widespread allegations of fraud in the Dec. 15 polling, Auxiliary Bishop Andraos Abouna of Baghdad described how the hopes of the country's Christians were dashed after the elections.

Iraqi Christians, victims of random kidnappings, bombings and intimidation, had hoped that the elections would signal the end of instability and halt Iraq's slide into an Islamic theocratic state, the Chaldean prelate told the charity Aid to the Church in Need.

Instead, however, despite reports of a good electoral turnout of Sunni Muslims, the religious Shiite Unified Iraqi Coalition (UIC) is thought to have won almost half of the 230 parliamentary seats, raising the prospect of am alliance with the UIC's nearest rival, the Kurdistan Alliance.

After winning just three seats, the Christians are unlikely to have much say in the new Parliament.

In the interview with Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Abouna, 62, explained how Christians felt "caught in the middle" amid complaints of intimidation tactics and tampering with election ballots. He described how the election was blighted by "mistakes" and "cheating."

Awaiting stability

"How can you build a government on a false election?" he asked. "If you want to build democracy, the results should be clear and beyond doubt."

Bishop Abouna, who is assistant to the Chaldean patriarch of Baghdad, said: "It is really a nightmare. The Christians here … have been waiting so long to see the light at the end of the tunnel. They are now very sad. They are just asking: 'When will the country be stable?'"

Bishop Abouna's comments come as international monitors announced they were preparing to visit Iraq, an initiative backed by the United States and the United Nations. If the results are confirmed, the Unified Iraqi Coalition is likely to push ahead with a dramatic Islamization of the country, increasing the likelihood of the introduction of Shariah, Islamic law.

ZE06011002

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[PadreSantiago]

how many christians can there possibly be in iraq? 3 seats sounds about right to me...

Edited January 17, 2006 by PadreSantiago

[Circle_Master]

I don't understand why they would think the elections are "false". They are a minority, of course they would have almost no power in Iraq.

[Theoketos]

I think that it may have less to do with the seats won and more to do with the intimidation at polls?

Chaldean Christians are a pretty neat rite, btw.

Also, I think that I remember seeing that Iraq was something like 18 % Christian, but I could be way off as that is a vague memory.

[Theoketos]

Ok I was way off.

Christians, according to wikipedia for what its worth, number below 3%

[Didacus]

[quote name='Theoketos' date='Jan 17 2006, 10:34 AM']Ok I was way off.

Christians, according to wikipedia for what its worth, number below 3%
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That would still give nearly 8 seats!

If I was in their situation, I don't know what I would do. I would seriously consider moving out orf the country; definately move out before the theocracy settles in.

[jezic]

It is likely that it will. There are a lot of Islamic people there. It is good though that the Christians have some seats at the moment. At least they will be heard.

[God the Father]

[quote name='Didacus' date='Jan 17 2006, 12:35 PM']That would still give nearly 8 seats!

If I was in their situation, I don't know what I would do.  I would seriously consider moving out orf the country; definately move out before the theocracy settles in.
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I think I would've moved out of the country long ago if I had the oppurtunity.

[PadreSantiago]

[quote name='Didacus' date='Jan 17 2006, 12:35 PM']That would still give nearly 8 seats!

If I was in their situation, I don't know what I would do.  I would seriously consider moving out orf the country; definately move out before the theocracy settles in.
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maybe 8 seats if everyone voted! But of that 3% probably only half voted. You know like in america. And it's not because they are intimidated it's because they don't believe their vote will matter, you know like in america. And when it's only 3 percent they are right.

Edited January 17, 2006 by PadreSantiago

[Dreamweaver]

I don't really see the advantage to a democracy if its going to basically revert to a theocracy, majority rule by the Shiites. Would they have regard for those that have different religious beliefs?

I'm not an expert on Middle East culture, but would it be possible to have a democracy without it turning into a theocracy? Would it be possible to grant religious freedoms to all?

[Circle_Master]

[quote name='Dreamweaver' date='Jan 17 2006, 07:26 PM']I'm not an expert on Middle East culture, but would it be possible to have a democracy without it turning into a theocracy? Would it be possible to grant religious freedoms to all?
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Possibly. There is a large divide between shiites and sunni's there. Some are 'fundamental' but also a large amount would be 'secular' muslims. So democracy would dull the theocratic attempts at any rate.

[musturde]

Federalism might work if Iraq had more Christians...

[Circle_Master]

[quote name='musturde' date='Jan 17 2006, 09:17 PM']Federalism might work if Iraq had more Christians...
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From what I've read they were actually considering some principles from federalism at one point. Mostly because of issues in where oil is, and everyone wanting a piece of the profits.