Iraqi woman hopes to get to U.S. to escape anti-Christian violence

Published: 2004-10-25

ALEPPO, Syria (CNS) -- When Nadia visited her Iraqi relatives in Michigan 10 years ago, she ended up staying a year and fell in love with the place. Now she's trying to return to the United States -- this time, as a refugee from anti-Christian violence and civil disorder in her native Iraqi city of Mosul. "Christians are being threatened by Muslim extremists every day. I was told I had to wear the head scarf or I would be kidnapped or killed -- so I wore it," she said in an interview Oct. 25 in Syria. "We left everything behind in Mosul. But I am happy to be here. At least I can wear this," she said, touching a silver cross that hung from her neck. Nadia, who refused to give her last name for fear of reprisals, cried occasionally as she told her story in a stone courtyard in the ancient city of Aleppo, where she and her family arrived in early October. The youngest of her three sons clung to her chair as she spoke. "It has been getting worse and worse for Christians in Iraq. Many are picking up and leaving, not bothering to try to sell their belongings. In the mosques, the Muslims have been told not to buy anything from Christians, because they are just going to take it from us," she said.

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