2004 Iraq churches attacks
Encyclopedia
On August 1, 2004, a series of car bomb attacks took place during the Sunday evening Mass
in churches of two Iraqi cities, Baghdad
and Mosul
. The six attacks killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 71. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
. The bombings marked the first major attack against the Christian community since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The rigged cars were parked outside churches and detonated when parishioners were leaving services. Only one of the bombings is believed to have been a suicide attack
. The witnesses reported that "body parts were scattered across the area". Of the six bombs, one did not explode and the police was able to remove it safely.
In Mosul, hospitals reported two persons killed and 15 wounded.
One of the bombed churches the Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic cathedral
was the same church
that was attacked with hostages taken and killed on October 31, 2010.
spokesman, Rev. Ciro Benedettini, called the attacks "terrible and worrisome". The Pope
"firmly deplored the unjust aggressions against those whose only aim is to collaborate for peace and reconciliation in the country" The Russian Orthodox Church
issued a statement saying "the attacks were an attempt to spark a religious conflict."
Muslims around the country condemned the attacks. In a statement to Al-Jazeera television, a spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr
said: "This is a cowardly act and targets all Iraqis" Ali al-Sistani issued a statement in which he wrote: "We stress the need to respect the rights of Christians in Iraq and those of other religious faiths and their right to live in their home, Iraq, peacefully."
In spite of all reassurances given by Muslim religious and Iraqi political leaders to the members of ancient (almost two thousand years old) Christian community, the exodus of Christians from Iraq has been going on since 2003. Although only comprising about three percent of the population, Iraqi Christians make up 20% of Iraqis leaving the country as refugees. After 2004 churches bombing, which was the worst act of violence against Christian minority by that time, a member of Christian community, Layla Isitfan, in her interview with Time
correspondents said: "If I can't go to church because I'm scared, if I can't dress how I want, if I can't drink because it's against Islam, what kind of freedom is that?"
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
in churches of two Iraqi cities, Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
and Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
. The six attacks killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 71. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ; October 30, 1966 – June 7, 2006), born Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh was a Jordanian militant Islamist who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan...
. The bombings marked the first major attack against the Christian community since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Attacks
The attacks happened within a few minutes of each another.The rigged cars were parked outside churches and detonated when parishioners were leaving services. Only one of the bombings is believed to have been a suicide attack
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
. The witnesses reported that "body parts were scattered across the area". Of the six bombs, one did not explode and the police was able to remove it safely.
In Mosul, hospitals reported two persons killed and 15 wounded.
One of the bombed churches the Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
was the same church
2010 Baghdad church attack
The 2010 Baghdad church attack was an attack on the Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic cathedralof Baghdad, Iraq, that took place during Sunday evening Mass on October 31, 2010. The attack left at least 58 people dead, after more than 100 had been taken hostage...
that was attacked with hostages taken and killed on October 31, 2010.
Reaction
A VaticanHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
spokesman, Rev. Ciro Benedettini, called the attacks "terrible and worrisome". The Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
"firmly deplored the unjust aggressions against those whose only aim is to collaborate for peace and reconciliation in the country" The Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
issued a statement saying "the attacks were an attempt to spark a religious conflict."
Muslims around the country condemned the attacks. In a statement to Al-Jazeera television, a spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr
Muqtada al-Sadr
Sayyid Muqtadā al-Ṣadr is an Iraqi Islamic political leader.Along with Ali al-Sistani and Ammar al-Hakim of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, Sadr is one of the most influential religious and political figures in the country not holding any official title in the Iraqi government.-Titles:He is...
said: "This is a cowardly act and targets all Iraqis" Ali al-Sistani issued a statement in which he wrote: "We stress the need to respect the rights of Christians in Iraq and those of other religious faiths and their right to live in their home, Iraq, peacefully."
In spite of all reassurances given by Muslim religious and Iraqi political leaders to the members of ancient (almost two thousand years old) Christian community, the exodus of Christians from Iraq has been going on since 2003. Although only comprising about three percent of the population, Iraqi Christians make up 20% of Iraqis leaving the country as refugees. After 2004 churches bombing, which was the worst act of violence against Christian minority by that time, a member of Christian community, Layla Isitfan, in her interview with Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
correspondents said: "If I can't go to church because I'm scared, if I can't dress how I want, if I can't drink because it's against Islam, what kind of freedom is that?"