Iraq summons US ambassador to Baghdad in protest of criticism of freedom of religion

July 20 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Government of Iraq has announced that it will summon the United States ambassador to Baghdad, Elena Romanowsky, in protest against statements by the spokesman for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, who criticized the harassment of freedom of religion after the decision to withdraw the recognition to the Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Luis Sako.

A spokesman for the Iraqi Presidency has declared that they are “disappointed by the accusations made against the Government and the Iraqi Presidency regarding the decision taken to cancel a presidential decree that is not in line with the Constitution of the country, for which ( …) will summon the US ambassador to Baghdad,” reports the Nina news agency.

“The president’s office confirmed that withdrawing the presidential decree would not harm the religious or legal status of Cardinal Luis Sako, who enjoys the respect and appreciation of the Presidency as the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church,” it said, adding that the president “does not may appoint or remove the head of a sect chosen by its followers”.

That is why they stress that the president “cannot favor or give priority to any religious group over another, and much less impose one religious leader over another, since it would be considered a dangerous precedent if the Presidency is involved in these matters.”

“The president has always respected Iraqi Christians and stood up for their rights throughout his career, and categorically rejects any threat or offensive statement against the church or any other sect in Iraq,” he said.

In this sense, the spokesman pointed out that “accusing the Presidency of violating religious freedom and harming the Christian community is not only categorically false, but also damages the foundations of this State and the tremendous steps it has taken in building of a tolerant and egalitarian country”.

The spokesman for the US State Department, Matthew Miller, expressed his concern on Tuesday about the harassment against religious freedom in Iraq after the revocation of the decree that recognized Sako as Patriarch, stressing that the Iraqi Christian community “is a vital part of the Iraq’s identity and a central element of its history of diversity and tolerance”.

“We are concerned about the harassment of Cardinal Sako and the news that he has left Baghdad. We hope he returns safely,” said the Department spokesman, who said that Washington is “in permanent contact with the Iraqi leadership on this matter.” , since the cardinal’s position “as a respected leader” is “under attack from various fronts.”

“It is certainly a blow to religious freedom, that is why we are so concerned and that is why we have addressed the Iraqi government directly to make our concern clear,” Miller said, noting that they hope that Baghdad will reverse this decision.

Sako announced last weekend his decision to “withdraw from the patriarchal seat in Baghdad and go to a monastery in Iraqi Kurdistan,” after Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid revoked a decree recognizing the cardinal as Patriarch of the Chaldean Church.