Christians flee "liberated" Iraq.

Understandably concerned over the fact that the new Iraqi constitution designates Islam the "official religion of the state," Iraqi Christians are "voting with their feet" by preparing the leave their native country, reported Insight on May 28. Tragically, this validates a prediction made in these pages more than a year ago (see "What Did We Win?" in our May 19, 2003 issue).

"Most of the Christians in Iraq are Assyrians--people who claim to be the original inhabitants of Iraq," reported Insight. "Because they are Christians and seen as allies of the West, the Assyrians have long been subject to persecution." During the waning years of the Ottoman Empire, nearly two-thirds of the Assyrians were slaughtered. At present, there are an estimated six million surviving Assyrians worldwide--less than hall of whom remain in Iraq.

"We thought the Americans were going to bring us freedom and democracy," stated a 31-year-old Iraqi identified as Robert. "Instead, they are promoting Islam. We do not understand it.... We do not want their effort to be a failure [which it would be] it the dictatorship of Saddam is replaced by the dictatorship of Islam. The American-funded TV station, Al Iraqia, broadcasts Muslim programs four times every day and for two hours each Friday but nothing for other religions." Additionally, not a single member of the UN-approved Executive Council is a Christian.

One priest told Insight: "We are having to take care of daily cases of harassment of Assyrians by Muslims.... Our women are accosted on the street and intimidated to start dressing according to Islamic tradition, our businesses are being burned...." "We want to stay," insisted the priest. "This is our homeland. But it we do not have a place where we can go, if we will be persecuted daily by Muslims again we cannot stay."