Release International

Many churches in Iraq's major cities have been forced to cancel their Christmas services after extremist websites threatened further attacks.

Religious rights group Middle East Concern reports that many services in Baghdad, Mosul and Kirkuk have been called off – after threats of violence were posted online on Tuesday for the second time.

Kirkuk's Archbishop Louis Sarko told Agence France-Presse news agency that he and ten other Christians had received threats from a group calling itself the Islamic State of Iraq. This group, which has links with al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attack on October 31 on Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad in which 53 Christians were killed (Prayer Alert, November 3, 2010).

A number of churches have decided not to put up Christmas decorations either. Instead, many are flanked by tall concrete barriers with entrances guarded by security.

The UN estimates that 1,000 Christian families have fled from Baghdad and Mosul to the Kurdish region of northern Iraq since October 31.

Some of the extremist threats online repeated calls for the release of two women in Egypt whom militants insist are being held against their will by Coptic church leaders (Prayer Alert, November 24, 2010). Extremists claim the women have converted to Islam. Egyptian church leaders and government officials have repeatedly denied these claims.

(Sources: Agence France-Presse, Middle East Concern, Release International)

• Pray for peace to reign in the hearts of Christians in Iraq who are living in fear of further attack. Stand with them in praying there will be no further violence.

• Pray especially for church leaders. Ask God to grant them wisdom in deciding how best to encourage their congregations and keep them safe.

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