UNHCR's ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE ...

Other motives may come into play, at times cumulatively. There is widespread belief
among insurgents that Christians assisted and supported the US invasion of Iraq and
continue to support the presence of the MNF, as the MNF is composed of mainly Western
Christian “infidel” nations. Therefore, Christians may also be subjected to attacks on the
basis of their perceived political opinion. 274 In fact, a number of Christians worked for the
MNF in Iraq in trusted positions given that they are usually well-educated. 275 Another
motive is the perceived wealth of Christians, coupled with a lack of protection by tribes or
militias, which makes them an easy target for kidnapping for ransom. 276 In April 2006,
UNHCR received reports of the kidnapping for ransom and subsequent killing of five
Christians in Mosul.
iv) Christians in “Disputed Areas” and in the Three Northern Governorates
A significant number of Christians live in areas currently classified as “disputed areas”,
including in the Ninewa Plain and Kirkuk. 277 These areas have come under de facto control
of Kurdish parties and militias since the fall of the former regime and Christians have
resisted attempts by Kurds to assimilate them into Kurdish culture, language and political
parties. 278 They have further complained of the use of force, discrimination and electoral
fraud by the Kurdish parties and militias. For example, on 16 October 2006, KRG security
officers reportedly broke into the offices of Ashur satellite channel, a Christian run media
outlet, assaulted the staff and detained them for several hours. 279
In the three Northern Governorates of Sulaymaniyah, Erbil and Dahuk, the rights of
Christians are generally respected and a significant number of them have sought refuge in
the region, in particular in the Governorate of Dahuk (from where many originate) and the
Christian town of Ainkawa, near the city of Erbil. Some reports suggest that Christian
villages are being discriminated against by the Kurdish authorities, which do not share
reconstruction funds and oil revenues and have confiscated farms and villages. 280
v) Converts
274
See also “Actual or Perceived Sympathizers of the US-Led Invasion and/or the Multi-National Force in
Iraq”.
275
Dr. Nimrod Raphaeli, The Plight of Iraqi Christians, The Middle East Media Reasearch Institute,
22 March 2005, http://memri.org/bin/articles.cgi?Page=archives&Area=ia&ID=IA21305; Nina Shea and
James Y. Rayis, Christian Crisis, National Review Online, 6 January 2005, http://www.nationalreview.com/
comment/shea_rayis200501060730.asp.
276
The Christian Science Monitor, Iraq’s Christians consider fleeing as attacks on them rise, 13 July 2004,
http://csmonitor.com/2004/0713/p07s01-woiq.html.
277
USDOS, International Religious Freedom Report 2006 – Iraq, see above footnote 28.
278
Global Security, Christians in Iraq, http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/religionchristian.htm
[last updated 22 June 2005].
279
UNAMI HRO, October 2006 Human Rights Report, p. 13, see above footnote 66.
280
Nina Shea, Testimony before the US Congressional Committee On International Relations, Subcommittee
On Africa, Global Human Rights, And International Operations, Center For Religious Freedom, 21 December
2006, http://www.christiansofiraq.com/ninasheatestifiesdec216.html; see also statements made by Nimrud
Baito, the KRG Minister for Tourism and Secretary General of the Assyrian Patriotic Party, who rejects such
reports and notes that there is a “massive rebuilding effort going on” in Christian villages in Northern Iraq;
see Zinda Magazine, Minister Nimrud Baito discusses position of Christians in Kurdistan Region and Iraq,
22 November 2006, http://www.zindamagazine.com/ThisWeek/11.20.06/index_thu.php.
66