“With the spotlight currently on Syria, Nigeria and Afghanistan and the pullout of U.S. forces from Iraq last December, Iraq has been placed on the back-burner”
Carl Moellar, Open Doors, USA .

Open Doors, UK

July 2012 was one of the deadliest months in Iraq since US troops withdrew in December 2011. According to the AFP news agency, attacks took place on at least 27 of the 31 days in July, leaving at least 325 people dead. [*]

Iraq map CIA_pub dom_svd 20120817.gif
(click image to enlarge)

In May, 20 Christian families living in Mosul received threatening letters stating 'they had to move to other places'. Another witness told how 'terrorists' in Mosul visited four estate agents asking for the names of Christians who had recently sold their houses, so they knew who had money and who could potentially be kidnapped. As a result of the escalating violence, a Christian delegation went to meet with government security officials who have promised to review the situation.

In the midst of the violence we received an email from one of our contacts in Baghdad: "It is not really possible to describe the devastation here. Over 100 have been killed. We are used to bad problems here in Baghdad but the violence is quite unbelievable. Twelve car bombs, two suicide bombers on motorbikes. Scores of police and soldiers killed. We no longer have any security. Whilst our people have not been killed, the injuries are so severe to so many.

"Despite all of this we do not give up and we do not fear. We keep praising the Holy One who never leaves us. Today has been both good and exhausting. In the church we have been looking at Psalm 23. When people ask me what they should pray for us here in Iraq, I say it should be the three 'P's. Protection, Provision and Perseverance. It is these three things that Psalm 23 deals with."

……………

Please pray:

For God's protection and provision for the remaining Christians in Iraq, and for strength to persevere

For a change in the situation in Mosul; ask God to intervene to bring peace and stability to this war-torn country

For everyone involved in security in Mosul, Baghdad and other conflict areas, that they will be courageous and wise in the decisions they make.’

Thanks,

Sources

OPENING QUOTE
From report published by BosNewsLife on August 16th:
“Mosul, Iraq’s ‘Most Dangerous City’ For Christians”, here

ARTICLE AND PRAYER REQUEST
Open Doors, UK, E-mail Prayer Alert August 17th, 2012

Further information [*]: AFP article: here

Map from CIA factbook (public domain)