Louis Raphael I Sako *

On the occasion of Eid al-Adha, the Islamic festival of sacrifice, Mar Sako renews his call for "reconciliation" and "brave dialogue" for true peace. Tolerance, respect and justice to maintain "national identity" and "co-existence". The memory of Muslims who sacrificed themselves to save the Christians. He adds: "We love because Christ teaches us to love everyone."

At the UN, the patriarchs and bishops of the Churches of the Middle East denounce the sufferings of Christians, victims of the violence of the Islamic State, a tragic situation that calls for action by the international community. Islamists must be defeated and peaceful coexistence restored. AsiaNews presents Mar Sako's address.

Mar Sako warns that the displaced are increasingly suffering, at risk of "genocide" and deprived of "religious, human, moral and national values." The international community and the Iraqi government must fight extremism. Christians also need to put aside the desire to emigrate and continue to be "leaven" of the earth. The struggle against the political use of religion starts with education.

Mar Sako calls for a joint intervention to crush the Jihadist threat and "help the displaced" Christians, Yazidis and Shiites to return to their villages of origin. International efforts undertaken so far are "insufficient" and a central government "still being formed" cannot be relied upon. Sadness at the continuous migration of the faithful, Christian "heritage" of Iraq at risk.