Sunday, October 31, 2010

Iraqi Muslims Take Church Hostage, Murder Several Christians during Rescue Attempt

Imagine the international Muslim outrage we'd all experience if Jews or Christians were to storm a mosque and hold dozens of Muslims hostage, ultimately killing a number of them. There would be massive demonstrations in every major city, and riots in many places.

Sadly, we rarely hear more than a peep from Muslims when their fellow Muslims slaughter Christians or Jews. (I'm waiting for the token press release from ISNA.)

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - At least seven Iraqi Catholics died Sunday when police stormed a Baghdad church where gunmen were holding dozens of parishioners hostage, threatening to kill them if al Qaeda prisoners were not released.

The U.S. military said between seven and 10 hostages and seven members of the Iraqi security forces, as well as five to seven attackers, were killed in the rescue operation.

Witnesses reported seeing many bodies inside the church after the gunmen wearing suicide vests threw grenades or blew themselves up as Iraqi forces stormed the building.

The insurgents laid siege to one of Baghdad's biggest churches as more than 100 parishioners attended Sunday mass in a central district near the heavily fortified Green Zone, home to embassies and the Iraqi government.

U.S. military officials watched the rescue operation from cameras in hovering helicopters.

Lieutenant Colonel Eric Bloom, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said three militants detonated suicide vests as Iraq forces entered the church. He said a total of 120 hostages were held by the assailants, adding that 30 people were wounded.

Colonel Kadhim Basheer Saleh, an Iraqi civil defence spokesman, said 15 civilians, four policemen and eight attackers were killed.

Al Qaeda's Iraqi affiliate, the Islamic State of Iraq, claimed responsibility for the attack on "the dirty place of the infidel which Iraqi Christians have long used as a base to fight Islam." Read more.

9 comments:

Unknown said...

Another day, another attack on non-muslims by muslims. And yet we're supposed to believe this canard that Islamophobia is on the rise. Besides, a phobia is by definition, an irrational fear of something. At this point, it is irrational not to have some fear of Islam.
You will know them by their fruits.

Jabari said...

David, why are muslims going to condemn their fellow muslims for doing what the Quran tells them to do? Personally, I'm not surprised when the refuse to get mad when their fellow muslims kill one of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Why should they?

goethechosemercy said...

The Christian confesses, the Muslim wages war.

mkvine said...

According to CNN, the deal toll is actually 58 - most being women an children. This is another example of Surah 9:29, I don't know why people keep saying the Qur'an teaches peace. Please pray for the victims of this Catholic Iraqi community.

helen said...

2 of our beloved young priests were also killed during sunday mass. Its so sad if you see the pictures. blood is smeared all over the walls. i feel so spoiled that my parents took me out of the middle east and i get the privileges of the west, also guilty that im here and they're all left to suffer.

it's an assyrian syrani catholic church. all the different assyrian christians groups and all other christians have been persecuted by muslims for a very long time and no one pays attention to them. they are being ignored by everyone.

im sorry for advertising on your site but if you guys can urge everyone to send this letter to our politicians so the indigenous assyrians of iraq get better attention i'd greatly appreciate it

http://www.assyrianamericancoalition.org/takeaction.php

Unknown said...

Guys it is really disturbing to me. I have seen muslims protesting for almost every trivial and unbelivable things, like recently the Kamilia Shehata case, cartoons, burning quran day etc, claiming that these all are against islam. Ok, lets try to agree with them. But why no single muslim prostested against radical islamist who are bombing churches, killing christians, or even against those who blew up the World trade center if you really think that those who did so are disfiguring islam ?!!!

Anonymous said...

Helen,

Thank you for mentioning this! You are correct, the situation is a terrible and sad one. I will be glad to send letters, as mentioned on the site.

Callie Scott Grady said...

Most readers know who came to kill, steal, and destroy. It is not those who follow the life giver. It is the spirit behind the vessel. I was always under the impression that the women who rides the beast was those of the catholic faith. But the more I hear about the Muslims taking nations captive, using the nations own laws to push their religious agendas. I have the common sense to see now our battle is spiritual not physical. American's better wake up and repent.

helen said...

rose, thank you very much :)