Iraq's Muslims and Christians: A Widening Divide?

An Iraqi Catholic priest on Muslim-Christian relations in Iraq--and how fundamentalist groups are targeting churches.

BY: Interview by Laura Sheahen

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The horrific human rights abuses perpetrated by Saddam Hussein as leader of Iraq are well-known. Less well-known is the fact that Saddam's stance toward Christian churches was relatively benign, and his regime cracked down on violence against the country's Christian minority, mainly Chaldean Catholic and Eastern Orthodox believers. Now that Saddam's secularized government has been toppled, minority faiths may be in danger from fundamentalist Islamic groups.

Fr. Clarence Burby is an Iraqi Jesuit priest who works with Iraqi refugees in Jordan. When Beliefnet spoke to him in March 2003, as the war began, he voiced concerns about the future of religious tolerance in Iraq. When we spoke to him again on July 22, 2004, he reported anonymous threats against churches in Baghdad. Ten days later, on Sunday, August 1, several churches in Baghdad were bombed. We reached Fr. Burby today (August 2) to update his July interview in light of the bombings.

How were Iraq's Christians treated under Saddam?

He was not against Christians. He patronized churches--he helped in the development of certain projects in the church. He patronized them in the sense that he supported them.

About how many Christians are in Iraq now?

I can't tell you exact numbers, but many have been emigrating from the north to the center, near Baghdad. A lot have left the country since the time of the embargo and the deteriorating economy. A lot have ended up in Jordan, waiting for their papers and visas to leave the country.

What kind of Christians are they?

For the most part, Chaldeans and Assyrians. They are the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

You used to travel from Jordan to Iraq quite frequently, to assist the church in Baghdad, correct?

Especially from the late 1990s, I've been going regularly, yes. I did pastoral work. I taught in the Chaldean seminary in Baghdad. I preached in different churches.

Have you visited Iraq since the war began?

Yes, I went there in late January 2004.

What was it like in general?

Iraq today, after the war and the American occupation, is really worse off than it was before Saddam's defeat. It worked out just like I expected--the situation is far worse, the overthrow of Saddam's regime has caused chaos in the country and no security. The future is very much unknown.

What is the situation with churches in Iraq?

The churches continue. Church life continues. People do go to church in good numbers, though there is always the fear about what will happen if they come and go. For example, girls might be attacked. These things have been happening.

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