iPhone | iPad
Android
Huawei
Kamala Harris supports Israel's right to defend itself, but international and humanitarian law must be respected
KT APPDOWNLOAD
Iraq opens Christian centre in Kirkuk
KIRKUK (IRAQ) - Authorities on Sunday opened what they billed as the first Christian cultural centre in Iraq in a decade, despite a dramatic decline in the country’s once significant Christian population.
The building was inaugurated in the northern city of Kirkuk, home to a diverse population of Arabs, Kurds and Turkmen, and is to host conferences and meetings to promote inter-faith communications between Muslim and Christian communities.
“This centre is the first of its kind in Iraq since 2003, it sends a message of peace, and promotes the language of dialogue,” said Louis Sakho, Chaldean archbishop of Kirkuk.
“The communities of Kirkuk are one family,” he added.
Construction of the cultural centre, which lies next to Kirkuk’s Chaldean church, began in early 2012 and was completed at a cost of around $305,000, officials said. Iraq’s Christian community is one of the oldest of its kind in the world, but they suffered persecution, forced flight and killings in the aftermath of the 2003 US-led invasion.
Before 2003 there were more than a million Christians living in Iraq. Now they number around 450,000.
According to the UN refugee agency, many fled after an October 2010 attack on a church in Baghdad.
More news from
Scotland have a tough challenge ahead after being drawn together with Germany, Hungary and Switzerland
Adviser to PM Netanyahu announces plans to create security zones where there is a special situation that limits the ability of people to enter Israel
They were arrested for endangering their lives and others while driving in one a tunnel on Khor Fakkan Road, Sharjah
Burnley, with the quickest goal of the season and a huge win, come off the bottom of the table
Discussion between the UAE President, US Vice-President highlights importance of working towards a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip
Kakar reiterates the necessity of developed countries fulfilling their commitment of providing $100 billion in climate finance
Expert says if the companies carry out their pledges, it could trim one-tenth of a degree Celsius from future warming