Iraqi Christians Need Safe Zones, Not Evacuation
The Christians and other victims were quick to emphasize that ISIS is only the latest face of genocidal ambitions against them. Radical Islamist ideology, and its associated bigotry, will continually manifest itself in one group after another.
For those we spoke to, evacuation was out of the question. They wanted help to come back and rebuild to the point of self-sufficiency, not to flee and essentially make the genocide a success.
The solution they envision comes in three forms: The establishment of a safe zone for minorities in the Nineveh Plain; aid from the church in reconstruction; and self-protection.
The Christians emphasized they are not calling for a theocratic Christian province. They are requesting an internationally-protected area for all minorities, similar to what the Iraqi Kurds and Shiites had while Saddam Hussein was in power. Although some Christians claimed the Kurds would resist this idea, Kurdish officials with whom we met emphasized they are already on record supporting such an initiative. President Trump should immediately get to work on implementing it.
The Church Can Help Its Brothers And Sisters Overseas
The second pillar of support is from the church, which requires awareness and mobilization. A great starting point would be a screening of our documentary, “Faithkeepers,” at your church. Assistance with reconstruction was the top request of the Christians we met, through financial support, expertise, and manpower.
President Trump should call on the church to rise to the occasion, and order the State Department to review what role it can play in facilitating the mission. Politicians should tap their wealthy donors. And voters should demand that they do so.
The third pillar must be the development of local security within the safe zones, so that minorities have some ability to defend themselves from future perpetrators of genocide.
“I only trust the Nineveh Plain Units [local Christian security force],” said the member with the destroyed home, recalling how Kurdish forces abandoned the area to ISIS. Kurds argue that they were outmatched and needed to fall back.
Don’t Dismiss The Atrocities To Iraqi Christians
U.S. relationships with the Kurds and Iraqi central government can help heal these wounds, make sure complaints from minorities are addressed, and act as a check on dangerous influences, such as those from Iran. The U.S. is positioned to play a constructive role by ensuring that minorities have adequate local security forces, so they don’t feel completely vulnerable and dependent.
We must not dismiss the atrocities faced by Christians and other minorities as unavoidable symptoms of a dysfunctional Middle East. President Trump must keep his promise, lest another round of atrocities ensue.