Card. Sako: Christians’ ‘voice’ responds to Babylon Movement’s ‘attacks and lies’

The cardinal singled out the “signal of strength” given by those who took to the streets against the slander and ambitions of Rayan “the Chaldean”. The self-styled Christian leader, head of a militia established in the fight against Isis, accuses the leaders of the Church of robbery and abuse. In reality, he already controls much of the Nineveh Plain and wants to extend his power.

Baghdad () – Christians “gave a sign of strength” by taking to the streets “for the first time” in their recent history “to demonstrate: more than a thousand people, men and women, laymen and priests, with flags, branches of olive tree, songs”. Faced with the new threat that personally affects Card. Louis Raphael Sako, Patriarch of Baghdad for the Chaldeans, the cardinal sends messages of optimism and renewed enthusiasm – even in the face of difficulties – which also originate from the visit of Pope Francis two years ago. “The pontiff – he said – has given a voice to our community, which now walks with its head held high and, despite being a minority, shows all its vitality and the will to assert its rights”.

The leader of the Chaldean and Iraqi Church was referring to the recent attack launched against him and against the country’s ecclesiastical leadership by the head of the Babylon Movement, Rayan al-Kaldani. The self-styled Christian leader, backed by Shiite movements linked to foreign powers, wants to form an enclave in the Nineveh plain, taking advantage of his position of strength and having four deputies [de los cinco reservados por cuota a la minoría, aunque su elección no la ejercen exclusivamente los cristianos, n.d.r] and a ministry controlled by him. “There is only one family involved,” the cardinal explained to “Rayan’s, with his three brothers and his two sons-in-law, who wants to take over everything.”

The popular demonstration in support of card. Sako and the Chaldean Church that happened a few days ago experienced a moment of tension when elements linked to the “movement” challenged the cardinal. There was an immediate response from those present in Baghdad’s Tahrir Square, who responded with slogans and chants of solidarity, making “his voice heard”, as the Patriarch himself stressed. “We have a great spiritual, moral and patriotic force that they do not have. On the contrary, they have money and weapons. Instead, the people stand in solidarity with us, not only the Christians, but also the Muslims themselves who condemn these attacks and lies,” he said.

The testimony of solidarity came “from 11 ambassadors of the European Union, the United States, Christian personalities, including the Syrian Catholic Bishop of Mosul and a letter from the Orthodox bishops.” All of this, he added, “is a source of courage and the will to resist.” “We find ourselves fighting a militia,” he said, “that presents itself as a state with money, soldiers and weapons. And this has been, for the last 20 years, the weak point of Iraq,” which lacks an authoritative government. and solid institutions that guarantee respect for law and order. “Someone has even thought of an internal conflict between Christians,” the cardinal commented bitterly, “but it is not like that.”

In recent weeks, the confrontation between the leadership of the Chaldean Church and the movement headed by Rayan “the Chaldean” has broken out again, who has already starred in controversial episodes in the past, as well as being the (armed) leader of the Christian component. The “Babylon Brigades” faction was born at the time of the fight against the Islamic State (IS, formerly Isis) in northern Iraq in the past decade, and has achieved economic and political success over time. “He wants an autonomous region with him at the head,” he explained. “The so-called popular mobilization is actually a Shiite militia and now it is in a strong position with four deputies and the ministry [de Inmigración]”.

From money and weapons, the cardinal continued, “he now turned to lies, accusing me of selling Church property and transferring millions of dollars to a bank account in Canada. An absurdity, but simple people can be deceived, and for this reason I myself have promoted a campaign and have personally committed myself to affirming the truth of the facts”. His is an uneducated and conquering mentality, which has allowed him to “dominate Nineveh” from Qaraqosh to Alqosh today, and it is a dangerous position because it risks triggering tensions and conflicts with the Kurdish area. In recent weeks, he also accused the cardinal of “interfering in politics and damaging the reputation of the Church in Iraq,” as well as having “sympathized with Israel and having already visited the country.”

Cardinal Sako reserves one last reply for the Executive, the head of Government and all the “weakness” they show in this matter, against which the Christian component does not rule out the boycott of the next elections. “I do not see a strong reaction” from the institutions, but “I do not expect anything in this sense. We are the ones who continue this battle”, and this is the positive side: a battle that ends up instilling “greater awareness and courage ” which represents a “new element” for Christians in Iraq.