Open Doors reports

Evidence of the violence: the aftermath of a bomb explosion outside a church

Iraq: never far from the media's attention and never far from controversy. The recent timeline of Iraq has been well publicised, drawing massive attention from all over the world. The current fallout from the much criticized hangings of Saddam Hussein and his two aides Barzan Ibrahim - Saddam Hussein's half-brother - and Awad Hamed al-Bandar has hit headlines and filled many column inches - inciting much condemnation from international politicians and press alike.

There was fear of Saddam Hussein achieving a martyr-like status after his public execution but the expected out pouring of support for the dictator failed to materialise. Instead, his death added fuel to the fires of division in the troubled country and the sectarian violence continues to escalate.

It is against this tumultuous backdrop that we see a much reduced Christian community struggling to grow. The once 900,000 strong Christian community has halved since 1991 as people have fled the ensuing violence. But in 2006 a new exodus had begun.

Terrorists and armed gangs specifically targeted Iraqi Christians in 2006. The anarchic situation in cities such as Bagdad and Mosul has destroyed all optimism of many local Christians: "Almost no one sees a bright future for Iraq," said Open Doors co-worker Stefan de Groot.

Mr De Groot visits Iraq several times a year. "Every time I visit, I talk with a man from Mosul. Every time he tells me the situation is worse than the previous time I was in Iraq.

According to Mr De Groot, God works in the midst of the violence: "An Islamic taxi driver was driving in Mosul. He dropped off a Christian client and noticed after a little while that the man had forgot his necklace. The taxi driver decided to wear the necklace with the cross.

"Later that day he was stopped by armed men. They asked him: 'Are you Sunni or Shi'ite?'

"He knew that if he gave the wrong answer he would be shot. He answered in a reflex, 'I am neither. I am Christian. Here! Look!' And he pointed to the cross on his chest.
"The men laughed and said, 'We don't believe you, but drive on.' When he arrived home he told his wife, 'Jesus saved me!' That day he gave his life to Jesus."

As you see reports of sectarian violence in Iraq - remember the church and pray for Christians in that country.