Qaraqosh Protection Committee
Encyclopedia
The Qaraqosh Protection Committee is an armed militia formed by Assyrian Christians
in the Ninawa Governorate
of Iraq
. The formed in 2008, organized through their local churches, began manning checkpoints and working with the Iraqi police.
. The violence against the community has led to the exodus of perhaps as much as half of the community. While Assyrians
only made 5% of the total Iraq
i population before the war, according to the United Nations
, Assyrians comprise as much as 40% of the growing Iraqi refugees who are stranded in Syria
, Jordan
, Lebanon
, and Turkey
.
The coordinator for the Qaraqosh Protection Committee Sabah Behnem, said outside agendas — from the Sunnis of al-Qaida to the Shiites in Iran
— were behind the brutal efforts to displace Iraqi Christians.
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
in the Ninawa Governorate
Ninawa Governorate
Ninawa is a governorate in northern Iraq, and the Arabic name for the biblical city of Nineveh in Assyria. It has an area of and an estimated population of 2,453,000 people in 2003. Its chief city and provincial capital is Mosul, which lies across the Tigris river from the ruins of ancient...
of Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
. The formed in 2008, organized through their local churches, began manning checkpoints and working with the Iraqi police.
Persecution of Assyrians during the Iraq War
Assyrians in post-Saddam Iraq have faced high rate of persecution by Fundamentalist Islamist since the beginning of the Iraq war. By early August 2004 this persecution included church bombings, and fundamentalist groups' enforcement of Muslim codes of behavior upon Christians, e.g, banning alcohol, forcing women to wear hijabHijab
The word "hijab" or "'" refers to both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general....
. The violence against the community has led to the exodus of perhaps as much as half of the community. While Assyrians
Assyrian people
The Assyrian people are a distinct ethnic group whose origins lie in ancient Mesopotamia...
only made 5% of the total Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i population before the war, according to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, Assyrians comprise as much as 40% of the growing Iraqi refugees who are stranded in Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
The coordinator for the Qaraqosh Protection Committee Sabah Behnem, said outside agendas — from the Sunnis of al-Qaida to the Shiites in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
— were behind the brutal efforts to displace Iraqi Christians.