Christians in Kirkuk found an interdenominational council and condemn publication of the Mohammed caricatures

The Christians of the controversial town and province of Kirkuk have joined together in an interdenominational council to be in a better position to represent the interests of their religious community. The Society for Threatened Peoples (GfbV), which has an office in the autonomous north Iraqi federal state of Kurdistan, reported on Tuesday that the „Christians’ Council in Kirkuk” condemned last weekend the publication of the Mohammed caricatures in western Europe. It is not only a public insult to Islam and thus also an insult to Christianity, but also an obstacle to the peaceful coexistence of the religions.

The new Christians’ organisation is made up of Chaldaic, Old Apostolic, Assyrian, Syrian Orthodox, Syrian Catholic and the Armenian Orthodox churches, said the GfbV Neareast expert, Kamal Sido. The main tasks of the Council are to represent the Christian population of the city, to support the Christian refugees from central and southern Iraq and to initiate cultural activities of the Christian communities. The Council with its three committees for culture, social affairs, press and publicity is not affiliated to any political party.

The President of Iraq, the Kurd Jalal Talabani, called out for peaceful coexistence and cooperation in talks with the representatives of the Arab, Kurdish, Turkmen and Christian nations in Kirkuk at the beginning of February. He suggested on this occasion that the Christian churches should join together.

In accordance with Article 140 of the Iraqi constitution it should be decided by plebiscite whether the province of Kirkuk, which has rich oil deposits, should continue to be governed by the central government in Baghdad or whether it should be annexed to the federal state of Kurdistan.