George

Sixteen Years After One of the Deadliest Church Attacks Against Christians in Iraq Today marks the 16th anniversary of one of the deadliest terrorist attacks against Christians in Iraq’s modern history. On Sunday, October 31, 2010, armed terrorists stormed Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic Church in Baghdad’s Karrada district during the celebration of Holy Mass, killing dozens of Christian worshippers, including two priests, and leaving many others injured. The massacre, carried out by militants belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq, an Al-Qaeda-linked terrorist organization that later evolved into ISIS, remains one of the most devastating attacks against Iraq’s ancient Christian communities. 46 Christian Martyrs, Dozens Injured The massacre claimed the lives of 46 Christian martyrs, including men, women, children, and two Syriac Catholic priests, Father Thaer Saad Abdal and Father Wasim Sabieh. Among the victims were an infant and a three-year-old boy named Adam. The overall reported death toll reached 58 people, including Iraqi security personnel, while approximately 70 others were injured. The tragedy left families grieving their loved ones and survivors carrying lasting wounds, becoming one of the darkest chapters in the modern history of Iraq’s Christian community. From 1.5 Million to 150,000 Christians: A 90% Decline Christians in Iraq have faced widespread persecution, including terrorist attacks, kidnappings, killings, threats, and the destruction of churches. Extremist violence forced hundreds of thousands to flee their ancestral homeland. Persecution intensified in 2014 when ISIS seized Mosul and the Nineveh Plain, forcing entire Christian communities to abandon their homes. Before 2003, Iraq was home to an estimated 1.5 million Christians, compared to approximately 150,000 today, representing a decline of nearly 90%. These events have severely diminished Iraq’s ancient Christian population and threatened its historic presence in the region. Honoring the Martyrs, 16 Years Later Sixteen years after the massacre, the Christian martyrs of Our Lady of Salvation Church continue to be remembered. On April 16, 2019, the Syriac Catholic Patriarch blessed the opening of the diocesan tribunal investigating the cause for their beatification, which was later forwarded to the Vatican. On March 5, 2021, Pope Francis visited the church during his historic journey to Iraq, honoring the memory of those killed. Today, we remember the martyrs, pray for their families, and stand in solidarity with Iraq’s Christian communities. May their memory be eternal.