There are approximately 700,000 to 800,000 Christians in Iraq, and in recent weeks, the violence against this religious community has intensified. Some reports say that "it is the work of Al Qaeda." However, a senior Iraqi Interior Ministry official has said, "there are no indications that Al Qaeda is involved in forcing Christians to flee." The area where the violence has been concentrated is Mosul and Nineveh province. Between 1,000 and 1,500 Christians have fled their homes and at least twelve Christians have been killed since the end of August. Earlier this week, CNN reported that the attacks against Christians may have been caused by "Christian demonstrations ahead of provincial elections, which are to be held by the end of January." The Christian community is hoping to have greater representation on provincial councils. Interestingly, some reports say that the violence is concentrated in areas "where the Kurdish militias exercise almost full control." Some Christian activists are demanding a semiautonomous province governed by Christians. The New York Times has reported that a "panel led by President Jalal Talabani approved the provincial elections law but urged the Parliament to reconsider the issue of representation for minorities." An earlier article by the Times reminds readers that the pre-war Christian population was approximately 1.3 million. Another CNN article reported that "in response to the attacks, Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul Qader al-Obaidi ordered more checkpoints in Christian neighborhoods, additional security patrols, and more aerial surveillance of Christian areas."
On Tuesday, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference condemned the targeting of Christians in northern Iraq and said that the acts were unprecedented crimes in the history of Iraq. He stated, "As we have consistently demanded that the rights of Muslim minorities be respected all over the world, we do emphasize the need to respect the rights of all minorities across the Islamic world out of our firm position at the OIC inspired by the teachings of Islam." As for this religious side – a reverend from a church in Mosul has also said quite strikingly, "We respect the Islamic religion and the Muslim clerics. We don't know under what religious pretexts these terrorists work."
