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| Christians Of Iraq |
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| Plight of Christians in Muslim Countries | | | | |
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who are Christians of Iraq?
Christians of Iraq trace their ancestry to the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians.They are known by various names such as Assyrians, Chaldeans for those who belong to the Chaldean-Church and Syriacs for the members of the Syrian Orthodox church. There is no specific statistics about the total population of Christians in Iraq. Their population before the U.S. invasion of that country, in 2003, was estimated to have been about one million but since then because of bombing of their churches, killing, kidnapping and other terrorist attacks against members of the community, by the Islamic fanatics, more than half of the community has been forced to abandon its homeland and seek refuge in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and other countries.
During the relatively tolerant period of the Abassid Caliphate (758-1258) Assyrians scholars of both Nestorian and Jacobite denominations contributed greatly to the advancement of the Islamic civilization by translating the available knowledge form the Syriac and the Greek languages into the Arabic. This usheredan era which is known as the "Golden Age". The first directors of the "House of Wisdom"an institution specifically established by AI-Mamun in 830 AD to translate all the availableexisting knowledge including, medicine philosophy, mathematics, astronomy and other sciences into the Arabic were Assyrians, also known as Nestorians and Jacobites.
To show the extent of the Assyrian contribution to educating the Arabs it suffices to say that from a hundred Galen's treaties ninety six were translated form the Syriac languagethe rest directly from the Greek. Many Greek books no longer existed in their nativelanguage. Yuhanna ibn Masswaya a physician and teacher was the first director of theHouse of Wisdom and the president of the first Arab University. He has been creditedwith having written nearly fifty works. His students were known to be well versed in logic and the writings of Galen. He conducted an assembly in Baghdad on regular basis known as "Majlis" which was a combination of lecture room and consulting hour where he saw patients, lectured his students and discussed scientific topics for the benefit of the general public. One of his most famous students was Hunayn ibn-Isahq who became the second director of the House of the Wisdom.(Arab Civilization to AD 1,500", D. M. Dunlop, New York 1971 p.220)
Hunayn is considered to be the greatest and the most productive translator of all."According to Ibn-abi-Usahbi'ah he was the author of more than one hundred original works, but few of these are extant". (Whiple 27) He translated twenty books of Galen into Syriac, and fourteen treaties into Arabic. He revised sixteen translations made previously by Sergius of Ras al-'Ayn (Rish-Ayna). The Arab translators such as Khwarizmi, al-Kindi and al-l-Hajjaj, the first translator of Euclid's Elements, received their training from Hunayn, and Thabit beit Qurra.
Translation from the Syriac language to Arabic was so widespread that even the Nestorian Patriarch Timothy who was a good friend of al-Mehdi and his sons Musa, Harun and Ali is known to have translated the 'Topics of Aristotle' first from the Syriac in (782-3), later retranslated it from the Greek original with the help of the malikite Patriarch.Christian Doctors were famous for their extensive medical skills.
The Medical training and teaching facilities of Jundi Shapour designed, built, and managed by the Assyrian scholars was transferred to Baghdad. The Jundi Shapour Bimarestan became model for hospitals built in Baghdad, Damascus, Allepo and Cairo. (Whipple 28) The teaching and training of the Physicians was done in the hospital as it is presently the case inthe British Medical Schools. Ahamd Eisa gives a list of twelve physicians from Jundi Shapour practicing in Baghdad. (Whipple p.28)
Members of the Bakht-Eisho family served as court doctors for seven generations. The Beit Qarra family of Harran who were still practicing a corrupted form of the ancient Assyro-Babylonian religion contributed greatly to the Arab Knowledge of astronomy and mathematics. The rise of the Arabic as a language of education contributed to the decline of scholarship in the Syriac language.
The arrival of the Crusaders followed by the Mongols inflamed Moslem passions against the none Moslem communities. Because of continued massacres the Assyrians population gradually declined in number but survived mostly in the plain of Nineveh, Southeast Turkey, Mountains north of Mosul, and and northwest Iran.
Turkey's world war one massacres resulted in the death of 750,000. During Saddam's wars with the Kurds hundreds of Assyrian villages were destroyed their inhabitants were rendered homeless, driven out of their historic homeland, and scattered as refugees in large cities or the neighboring countries. dozens of ancient churches some dating to the early centuries of Christianity were bombed and turned into rubble. The teaching of the Syriac language was prohibited and Assyrians were forced to give their children Arabic names in an effort to undermine their true identity. Those who wished to hold governmental jobs had to sign ethnicity correction papers which declared them arabs.
The fall of Saddam which was intended to bring peace to Iraq has unleashed religious violence against the Christian community in that country. There is fear that Unless the present Iraqi government is willing and capable of stopping terrorist attacks against this community it is possible that within a decade these people whose forefathers lived in this country since before christianity and before Islam will cease to exist in Iraq.
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January = Kanoon II
Christians of Iraq; Holy innocents caught up in an unholy war Jan, 3, 2010
December = Kanoon I
Report; 1,960 Iraqi Christians have been killed since the 2003 US-led invasion
Dec.29, 2009
Iraqi Christians Statistics Dec.29, 2009
Europe Waking Up to Honour Killings Dec.28, 2009
Trouble and demonstration of the Shiaa Shabak in Bartella Dec.25, 2009
A Sorrowful Christmas In the Islamic World Dec.26, 2009
Shiites Attack Assyrian Town in North Iraq Dec.25, 2009
3 hurt in the Iraqi city of Bartela as Christians and Shiites scuffle Dec.25, 2009
Iraqi Christians Receive Seasonal Wishes From UN Envoy Dec.25, 2009
Turkey to Open Historic Armenian Church, Opposes Assyrian Genocide
Memorial Dec.25, 2009
At Christmas, Christians in the Crosshairs in Allahstan Dec.24, 2009
Iraq Christians mark Christmas under threat Dec.24, 2009
Forced Islamization of Christian Girls Supported By Egyptian State Dec.24, 2009
Orthodox Church Head: Turkey Treats Christians Dec.24, 2009
Iraqi Christians and Shiites Are Targets of Attacks Dec.24, 2009
Church hit and election candidate killed in Iraq attacks Dec.24, 2009
Iraqi Christians Fear More Attacks After Two Church Bombings in Mosul Dec.16, 2009
What nationality were the Wise Men who visited Christ Assyrians? Dec.15, 2009
1915 Assyrian genocide monument in australia Dec.15, 2009
Muslim Scholar Publishes Anti-Christian Book in Egypt Dec.15, 2009
Art show by young assyrian artist in Iraq Dec.14, 2009
UN in sweden calls for investigation into the ethnic cleansing
of Christians in Iraq December 14, 2009
Christian Leaders Convene in Baghdad to Determine Their Future in Iraq
December 13, 2009
US Congress Reaffirms Importance of Nineveh Plain for Iraq Policy
December 12, 2009
Iraqi-American Christians Blast U.S. Policies in Iraq December 11, 2009
Ancient Tablets Decoded; Shed Light on Assyrian Empire December 11, 2009
Disappearance of Churches of the Middle East, a Tragedy for
Christians and Muslims December 10, 2009
Assyrian Church Bell Tower in Turkey Threatened in Retaliation for
Swiss Minaret Ban December 10, 2009
Bombing of Assyrian churches in Iraq continues December 1, 2009
Congressman Peters Introduces Resolution Supporting Iraqi Refugees
December 4, 2009
November = Teeshreen-II
Assyrians in Syria celebrate the anniversary of the historic Fast of Nineveh
Nov.30, 09
Egyptian State Security Accused of Cover-up in Muslim Riots
Nov. 29, 09
Recent Turkish Military Planned Attacks on Christians Nov. 25, 09
Muslim Anti-Christian Riots Spread in Upper Egypt, Video
Shows Looting and Burning Nov. 25, 09
Assyrian contributions to the Islamic civilization Nov. 24, 09
Muslim Violence Ongoing in Egypt -- Christians Plead For Help Nov. 22, 09
Basra Chaldean prelate celebrates Mass with U.S. troops Nov. 22, 09
Fraidon Atoraya's Music and biography Nov. 21, 09
Sweden's Shame, Violence against Assyriska Nov. 20, 09
Kurdish militia forces Christian Assyrians, the Yezidis and
the Shabak to speak Kurdish Nov. 18, 09
Iraqi Christians Seek Return, Sense Extinction Nov. 18, 09
Minority Communities in North Iraq Appeal for Protection Nov. 18, 09
Turkish Hackers Facilitate Assyrian Book Sales Nov. 15, 09
Re-integration of Iraqi Refugees Nov. 15, 09
Violence against minority communities in Nineveh Province Nov. 10, 09
U.S. State Department annual International Religious Freedom Report 2009 Nov. 10, 09
Disappearance, Forced Conversions and Marriages of Christian Women in Egyt Nov. 10, 09
Assyriska rises to Sweden's promised land Nov. 10, 09
Militants Kill, Kurds Intimidate Iraqi Minorities Nov. 10, 09
Ancient canal network is recasting archaeologists' understanding of t
he Assyrian capital Nov. 3, 09
Refugees Turn Their Backs on Iraq Nov. 3, 09
Asking for international investigation about who is terrorizing Iraqi Christians
Nov. 3, 09
October = Teeshreen-I
Foreign Degrees in Hand, No Jobs in Sight for Assyrian Refugees Oct.15, 09
Biblical music with lyrics drawn from the Aramaic and Greek texts Oct. 14, 09
Iranian Female Converts Charged With Apostasy, Spreading Christianity
October 14, 2009
British MPs Call for Investigation of Kurdish Militia in Assyrian Assassinations
October 14, 2009
Assyrian refugees- After ruin in Iraq, a new Life in Minnesota Oct.r 13, 2009
Who is driving non Arab minorities out of Iraq? October 10, 09
U.S. government is failing to help Iraqi refugees resettle Oct. 10, 09
Conflict Between Arabs and Kurds in the Nineveh Province Oct. 10, 09
Christians in Iraq fearing more violence October 07, 2009
Iraqi Government's Inaction about Crimes against Christians Oct. 07, 09
Meeting With Iraqi Official about the plight of Assyrians Oct. 06, 09
Marathon in Brussels Calls Attention to Assyrian Persecution Oct. 05, 09
Body of Kidnapped Assyrian Businessman Discovered in Iraq Oct. 04, 09
Kidnapping of Christian Assyrians in Kirkuk Continues Oct. 04, 09
Iraqi Arabs Wary Of Joint Patrols With Kurds In North Oct. 04, 09
Angelina Jolie Urges World Not to Forget Iraqi Refugees Oct. 04, 09
Anti-Kurdish Militia Demonstrations in Iraq's Mosul Oct.r 02, 09
“Assyrian Medical Society Responds to Refugee Medical Concerns”
October 02, 2009
September = Eilool
ancient-assyrians-asccomplishments.html
The US and the Internal Islamic Threat Sept. 29, 2009
Assyriska defeats Syrianska 1- to Zero Sept. 28, 2009
Kidnapped Christian Doctor Released in Northern Iraq: Police Sept. 28, 2009
Fire Destroys Assyrian Club in Sweden Sept. 28, 2009
Assyrian city of Nineveh Sept. 27, 2009
Kidnapped Assyrian Doctor in Iraq Freed, in Critical Condition Sept. 23, 2009
Statement of Pax Christi Delegation which visited Iraq Sept. 22, 2009
Muslim Man Beheads Christian in Egypt Sept. 21, 2009
Bishop of the Assyrian town of Qaraqosh explains why it's demographic balance should not be changed. Sept. 19, 2009
Assyrians in Iraq Hope for Autonomous Region Sept. 14, 2009
Chaldean Church denial of its Assyrian Heritage Sept. 14, 2009
Kurdish and syriac to be taught in Turkey for the first time Sept. 11, 2009
Cry My Beloved Nation Sept. 11, 2009
Christian Soldiers; Protecting towns in the Plain of Nineveh Sept. 07, 2009
Assyrian Empire: Bringing Civilization to the Near East Sept. 07, 2009
Sargis Agajan; Assyrian Christian Leader in Iraq Has Hope ! Sept. 03, 2009
From Security Withut Freedom to Freedom Without Security Sept. 03, 2009
AUA youth of America statement Sept. 03, 2009
Syria Opens the Gateway to Humanity for the Assyrian Medical Society
Sept. 03, 2009
Assyrian Refugees in Transit; Documentary Film Sept. 02, 2009
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