Chaldean Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako has called on Muslims to condemn violent extremism that distorts religion, saying he is sure that not all Muslims approve of the actions of the so-called Islamic State (ISIS).
In a message sent to Iraqi Muslims to mark the Islamic holiday Eid Al-Adha [“Feast of Sacrifice”] celebrated in different countries from 4 to 7 October, he wrote: “We hope you openly express your rejection and your condemnation of violent religious extremism, because it distorts religion”.
The primate of the Chaldean Church stessed that “awareness and education” preserve religious, cultural, and national diversity and spread the “culture of peace, tolerance respect, justice and dialogue.” In this way, he wrote, “we will maintain our national identity and unity, and raise barriers and promote trust and co-existence and eliminate all extremist ideology and everyone who urges to hatred and violence. This is the road map for the salvation of the disturbing situation.”
He added: “We Iraqi Christians are a genuine and essential component in Iraq, we would like to stay with you as partners and work together as a team for the progress of our country and the good of our people.
“ISIS has displaced us of our towns and even in Baghdad the pressures are exerted on us, but we tell you that we love you because Jesus Christ commanded us to love everyone. We believe that all Muslims do not approve the actions of ISIS”.
The patriarch held up as an example Mohammed Al-Asali, a Muslim university professor of Mosul killed by jihadists for opposing the expulsion of Christians.
He also invited the Iraqi central government to “cooperate with that of the autonomous region of Kurdistan” to free Mosul, cities of the Nineveh Plain and other cities, so as to allow a half million Iraqi refugees the return to their homes as winter approaches.
Here below is the full text of Patriarch Sako’s message:
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“I send to the Muslim Brothers my sincere congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, asking God to protect them and preserve our country from all evil.
There is no freedom and no dignity without a real honest relationship recognizes and accepts the other as a brother and a partner in the land and home. Our citizens have suffered greatly from a variety of conflicts and wars, there must be genuine reconciliation, a brave dialogue, and an effective political approach to restore peace, security and stability.
By awareness and education that incubates the religious, cultural, and national diversity and spread the culture of peace, tolerance respect, justice and dialogue we will maintain our national identity and unity, and raise barriers and promote trust and co-existence and eliminate all extremist ideology and everyone who urges to hatred and violence. This is the road map for the salvation of the disturbing situation.
We Iraqi Christians are a genuine and essential component in Iraq, we would like to stay with you as partners and work together as a team for the progress of our country and the good of our people. ISIS has displaced us of our towns and even in Baghdad the pressures are exerted on us, but we tell you that we love you because Jesus Christ commanded us to love everyone. We believe that all Muslims DO NOT approve the actions of ISIS and there are some of Muslims who are good and considered as a blessing like Dr. Mohammed Al-Asali, who was killed in defence of Christians in Mosul. We hope that you openly declare your reject and condemnation of violent religious extremism because it distorts the religion.
On this occasion, we call on our national government to unite and cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Government quickly to liberate Mosul and the towns of Nineveh Plain and other cities so that the million and half of million displaced people can go back to their homes as fast as could especially schools will open their doors after the Eid al-Adha holiday and winter is coming.
We wish you happy Eid Adha, that returns the values of sacrifice for the respect of human rights and dignity, not sacrificing people.
+ Louis Raphael I Sako
Chaldean Patriarch of Babylon
