News

  Iraq’s Christians form new militias to combat Islamic extremists Iraq’s Christians have taken up arms and formed new militias in a desperate effort to defend their beleaguered communities from an onslaught by Islamic extremists By Damien McElroy in Karamlis    Mosul, Iraq – AINA — In the five years …

      Southern, Iraq – Catholic News Agency — Christians in the southern Iraq have begun a campaign to restore churches which have been rendered unusable due to war and neglect. Father Imad Aziz Al Banna of the Chaldean Archeparchy of Basra told Iraqlaan News Agency that the local Christian …

      Sweden, Stockholm – AINA — One of the representatives of the Popular Council of the Chaldean Syriac Assyrians – an Iraqi-based Assyrian organization – acknowledged yesterday his organization receives Kurdish funding. The acknowledgment, made by the organizations representative in Europe, Mr. Gibrael Marko, was aired today on the …

By Marianne Brückl    Pressemitteilung — Freedom on native ground, a life in peace and the preservation of their historically valuable language — this is the dream of every Assyrian. But expulsion and fear of torture or death is destroying this dream. The people who populated the Osmanian Empire for …

      Vatican – catholicnewsagency — Vatican City, Jul 23, 2008 / 10:10 am (CNA).- As part of an effort to bolster Iraq’s diplomatic relations in Europe, Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki is making stops in Germany and Italy this week. On Friday he will pay a visit to Pope Benedict …

       BEIRUT, Lebanon – The New York Times — The foreign minister of Syria reiterated on Monday that Syria intends to establish diplomatic relations with Lebanon, for the first time since the two nations gained independence more than 60 years ago. “We are determined to open an embassy and …

       SWITZERLAND – Seyfo center — On Sunday, July 6 2008, approximately 100 people from all over the world participated in the climb of the Rigi mountain in Switzerland. The climb was marked by the commemoration of the victims during the Assyrian Genocide of 1915. On top of the …

By Ciýnar Kiper    Mardin, Turkey – Turkish Daily News — Mardin, once the home of Turkey’s Suryanis, or Aramaic-Syriac people [Assyrians], has lost most of its population at a time when it is in need of its sons and daughters, according to the Syrian Orthodox leader of the southeastern …

      Rome – CNA — The Australian government has denied visas to dozens of World Youth Day pilgrims from Iraq, citing concerns that participants will not return home and instead will seek asylum in Australia. One Chaldean Catholic priest called the decision “a slap at young people who wanted …

      PARIS – Reuters — Syria and Lebanon have decided to open embassies in each other’s country for the first time in their troubled relations, French President Nicolas Sarkozy announced on Saturday. Speaking at a joint news conference with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, Sarkozy …