On August 1, 2004, a series of car bomb attacks took place during the Sunday evening Mass in churches of two Iraqi cities, Baghdad and Mosul. The six attacks killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 71. No one claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.[2] The bombings marked the first major attack against the Christian community since the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[3]
The attacks happened within a few minutes of each another.[4] The rigged cars were parked outside churches and detonated when parishioners were leaving services. Only one of the bombings is believed to have been a suicide attack. The witnesses reported that "body parts were scattered across the area".[5] Of the six bombs, one did not explode and the police was able to remove it safely.[2]
In Mosul, hospitals reported two persons killed and 15 wounded.[6]
One of the bombed churches the Our Lady of SalvationSyriac Catholiccathedral was the same church that was attacked with hostages taken and killed on October 31, 2010.[7]
Responsibilityedit
Al-Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attacks on an Islamic website.[2] Iraq's national security adviser, Mowaffaq al-Rubaie, blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.[2]
Reactionedit
A Vatican spokesman, Rev. Ciro Benedettini, called the attacks "terrible and worrisome".[3] The Pope "firmly deplored the unjust aggressions against those whose only aim is to collaborate for peace and reconciliation in the country".[2] The Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement saying "the attacks were an attempt to spark a religious conflict."[2]
Muslims around the country condemned the attacks. In a statement to Al-Jazeera television, a spokesman for Muqtada al-Sadr said: "This is a cowardly act and targets all Iraqis".[3] Ali al-Sistani issued a statement in which he wrote: "We stress the need to respect the rights of Christians in Iraq and those of other religious faiths and their right to live in their home, Iraq, peacefully."[2]
Although only comprising about three percent of the population, Iraqi Christians make up 20% of Iraqis leaving the country as refugees.[4][8] After 2004 churches bombing, which was the worst act of violence against Christian minority by that time, a member of Christian community, Layla Isitfan, in her interview with Time correspondents said: "If I can't go to church because I'm scared, if I can't dress how I want, if I can't drink because it's against Islam, what kind of freedom is that?"[8]
^ abc"Church Bombings in Iraq Since 2004" (PDF). The Tribune. (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
^ abcdefg"Leaders condemn Iraq church bombs". BBC News. 2004-08-02. from the original on January 5, 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
^ abc[dead link]OMAR SINAN (2004-08-01). "Blast Hits Churches Across Iraq, 11 dead". christiansofiraq.com. from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
^ abPreti Taneja (2007). "Assimilation, Exodus, Eradication: Iraq's minority communities since 2003" (PDF). www.christiansofiraq.com. ISBN978-1-904584-60-5. (PDF) from the original on 2010-11-20. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
^"Attacks on Iraq churches, 12 killed". The Tribune. 2004-08-01. from the original on 2010-09-23. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
^. CNN. 2004-08-02. Archived from the original on 2012-10-01. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
^"Church Bombings in Iraq Since 2004 (June 2004 - July 2009)" (PDF). Assyrian Int'l News Agency, pdf file. (PDF) from the original on 2012-10-08. Retrieved 2010-11-17.
^ abChristopher Allbritton; Samantha Appleton (Sep 27, 2004). . Time. Archived from the original on March 9, 2008. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
External linksedit
Pictures of 2004 Church Bombings in Iraq
Assimilation, Exodus, Eradication: Iraq’s minority communities since 2003
THE REACH OF WAR
April 11, 2024
2004, church, bombings, baghdad, mosul, august, 2004, series, bomb, attacks, took, place, during, sunday, evening, mass, churches, iraqi, cities, baghdad, mosul, attacks, killed, least, people, wounded, least, claimed, responsibility, attacks, iraq, national, . On August 1 2004 a series of car bomb attacks took place during the Sunday evening Mass in churches of two Iraqi cities Baghdad and Mosul The six attacks killed at least 12 people and wounded at least 71 No one claimed responsibility for the attacks but Iraq s national security adviser Mowaffaq al Rubaie blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al Zarqawi 2 The bombings marked the first major attack against the Christian community since the 2003 invasion of Iraq 3 Church bombingsin Baghdad and MosulPart of Iraqi insurgency 2003 2006 Iraqi insurgency 2003 2011 LocationBaghdad and Mosul IraqDate1 August 2004 1 18 30 19 00 UTC 4 TargetBaghdad 1 Church Sayidat al Najat Our Lady of Salvation Karrada Baghdad Church Sayidat al Zohour Our Lady of the Flowers Karrada Baghdad Armenian Catholic Church Sts Peter amp Paul Dora Baghdad St Elia Baghdad St Mary s Assyrian Church of the East BaghdadMosul 1 St Paul Church Center of MosulAttack typeCar bombingsDeathsat least 12Injuredat least 71PerpetratorsJama at al Tawhid wal JihadMotiveAnti Christian sentiment Contents 1 Attacks 2 Responsibility 3 Reaction 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksAttacks edit nbsp File Sayedat al najat Church The attacks happened within a few minutes of each another 4 The rigged cars were parked outside churches and detonated when parishioners were leaving services Only one of the bombings is believed to have been a suicide attack The witnesses reported that body parts were scattered across the area 5 Of the six bombs one did not explode and the police was able to remove it safely 2 In Mosul hospitals reported two persons killed and 15 wounded 6 One of the bombed churches the Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic cathedral was the same church that was attacked with hostages taken and killed on October 31 2010 7 Responsibility editAl Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attacks on an Islamic website 2 Iraq s national security adviser Mowaffaq al Rubaie blamed the attacks on Abu Musab al Zarqawi 2 Reaction editA Vatican spokesman Rev Ciro Benedettini called the attacks terrible and worrisome 3 The Pope firmly deplored the unjust aggressions against those whose only aim is to collaborate for peace and reconciliation in the country 2 The Russian Orthodox Church issued a statement saying the attacks were an attempt to spark a religious conflict 2 Muslims around the country condemned the attacks In a statement to Al Jazeera television a spokesman for Muqtada al Sadr said This is a cowardly act and targets all Iraqis 3 Ali al Sistani issued a statement in which he wrote We stress the need to respect the rights of Christians in Iraq and those of other religious faiths and their right to live in their home Iraq peacefully 2 Although only comprising about three percent of the population Iraqi Christians make up 20 of Iraqis leaving the country as refugees 4 8 After 2004 churches bombing which was the worst act of violence against Christian minority by that time a member of Christian community Layla Isitfan in her interview with Time correspondents said If I can t go to church because I m scared if I can t dress how I want if I can t drink because it s against Islam what kind of freedom is that 8 See also edit2008 attacks on Christians in Mosul 2010 Baghdad church attack 2013 Iraq Christmas Day bombingsReferences edit a b c Church Bombings in Iraq Since 2004 PDF The Tribune Archived PDF from the original on 2012 10 08 Retrieved 2010 11 15 a b c d e f g Leaders condemn Iraq church bombs BBC News 2004 08 02 Archived from the original on January 5 2007 Retrieved 3 January 2015 a b c dead link OMAR SINAN 2004 08 01 Blast Hits Churches Across Iraq 11 dead christiansofiraq com Archived from the original on 2010 11 20 Retrieved 2010 11 15 a b Preti Taneja 2007 Assimilation Exodus Eradication Iraq s minority communities since 2003 PDF www christiansofiraq com ISBN 978 1 904584 60 5 Archived PDF from the original on 2010 11 20 Retrieved 2010 11 15 Attacks on Iraq churches 12 killed The Tribune 2004 08 01 Archived from the original on 2010 09 23 Retrieved 2010 11 15 Church bombs Top insurgent blamed CNN 2004 08 02 Archived from the original on 2012 10 01 Retrieved 2010 11 15 Church Bombings in Iraq Since 2004 June 2004 July 2009 PDF Assyrian Int l News Agency pdf file Archived PDF from the original on 2012 10 08 Retrieved 2010 11 17 a b Christopher Allbritton Samantha Appleton Sep 27 2004 Holy War Iraq s Persecuted Christians Time Archived from the original on March 9 2008 Retrieved 2010 11 15 External links editPictures of 2004 Church Bombings in Iraq Assimilation Exodus Eradication Iraq s minority communities since 2003 THE REACH OF WAR Iraq New crackdown on Christians Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 2004 church bombings in Baghdad and Mosul amp oldid 1218179018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
