Qaraqosh Protection Committee: Difference between revisions
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The '''Qaraqosh Protection Committee''' (also known as the |
The '''Qaraqosh Protection Committee''' (also known as the Bakhdida Protection Committee) is an armed militia formed by [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]] in the [[Ninawa Governorate]] of [[Iraq]]. The committee, formed in 2008, was organized through local churches, and began manning checkpoints and soon working with the [[Iraqi police]].<ref name="Growing Stronger">{{cite news| url=http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95343489 | work=NPR | title=Christian Security Forces Growing Stronger In Iraq | date=2008-10-06 | accessdate=2012-04-08}}</ref> |
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== Persecution of Assyrians during the Iraq War == |
== Persecution of Assyrians during the Iraq War == |
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Revision as of 14:34, 28 August 2014
| Qaraqosh Protection Committee | |
|---|---|
| Leaders | Sarkis Aghajan Mamendo Sabah Behnem |
| Dates of operation | 2008–present |
| Headquarters | Qaraqosh |
| Active regions | Ninawa Governorate |
| Allies |  Iraqi Armed Forces Asayish |
| Opponents |  Al Qaeda in Iraq Islamic State of Iraq and Syria |
The Qaraqosh Protection Committee (also known as the Bakhdida Protection Committee) is an armed militia formed by Assyrians in the Ninawa Governorate of Iraq. The committee, formed in 2008, was organized through local churches, and began manning checkpoints and soon working with the Iraqi police.[2]
Persecution of Assyrians during the Iraq War
Assyrians in post-Saddam Iraq have faced a high rate of persecution by Fundamentalist Islamists since the beginning of the Iraq war. By early August 2004, this persecution included church bombings, and fundamentalist groups' enforcement of Muslim codes of behavior upon Christians, e.g., banning alcohol, forcing women to wear hijab.[3] The violence against the community has led to the exodus of perhaps as much as half of the community. While Assyrians only made 5% of the total Iraqi population before the war, according to the United Nations, Assyrians comprise as much as 40% of the growing Iraqi refugees who are stranded in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.[4]
The coordinator for the Qaraqosh Protection Committee, Sabah Behnem, said outside agendas — from the Sunnis of al-Qaida to the Shia in Iran — were behind the efforts to displace Iraqi Christians.[2]
On Tuesday October 12, 2010, the Qaraqosh Protection Committee, in coordination with the Kurdish Asayish Forces, captured Ali Muhammad Idris Sadeq, a top Al-Qaeda leader, in the town of Qaraqosh (Baghdeda).[5]
See also
References
- ^ http://www.aftonbladet.se/qaraqosh/45000assyriansiraqis//
- ^ a b "Christian Security Forces Growing Stronger In Iraq". NPR. 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2012-04-08.
- ^ "Analysis: Iraq's Christians under attack". BBC News. 2004-08-02. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
- ^ Qais al-Bashir, Associated Press (2006-12-25). "Iraqi Christians celebrate Christmas". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 2007-01-07.
- ^ http://en.ado-world.org/news/iraq/article/breaking-news-top-al-qaeda-leader
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