PARIS
French Muslim associations announced their support Tuesday for the Christian minority in Iraq, referring to Islamic State (IS) militants who have been running riot through the country as "barbaric."
In a joint letter titled "Appeal of Paris," the group condemned the IS - formerly known as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant, or ISIL - which has captured large swathes of land in Syria and Iraq and declared a cross-border caliphate.
"We [the signatories] declare, unambiguously, the inalienable rights of our fellow brothers and sisters Christians of the East, one of the oldest community in the region, to stay and live on their land in dignity and security and to practice their faith in all freedom, as has always been," it reads.
IS perpetrated violence in Iraq claimed more than 1,400 lives in the month of August alone, and caused 1.2 million Iraqis, including Turkmen, Arabs and Ezidis, to flee from their homes.
The signatories said they will devote this week's Friday prayers to Iraqi Christians, "victims of intolerance and barbarity" and expressed their wiliness to organize an international conference on the subject in the French capital, Paris.
In August, France received more than 50 Iraqi Ezidis fleeing massacres by IS. French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has said that his country will welcome hundreds more.
www.aa.com.tr/en
