The past few months has seen an increase in kidnappings of Christians and illegal expropriation of Christian-owned homes and land. These crimes will be a main focus of the investigations. The committee, which was set up by Prime Minister Haydar al-Abadi, is being assisted in the collection of information by the headquarters of the Chaldean Patriarchate in Baghdad. The Patriarchate delivered the first dossier, containing 14 cases of illegally-taken houses and land to the leaders of the committee on Monday.
In Baghdad, 4 Christians have been kidnapped within 2 weeks in June and July; 2 of whom were found dead in spite of the ransom which was paid. According to the Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Baghdad Beituna [Baghdad Our Home], there have been more than “7,000 violations against properties belonging to Iraqi Christians in Baghdad” since 2003. A Baghdad official says that almost 70% of the Baghdad’s Christian homes have been illegally taken...