Iraqi Refugee and Peacemaker at Campus House Tonight!

Here is a rare opportunity to hear about the situation in Iraq from someone from Iraq. Dr. Mazen Alsaqa is an International Peacemaker with the Presbyterian Peacemaking Program.




He will speak tonight at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Campus House, 1412 College Heights Road in Johnson City.





He is one of 25,000 refugees currently living in the United States. He is speaking about the plight of Iraqis and in particular Iraqi Christians who are being targeted for violence by Al Qaeda.

Last night he spoke to about 30 people at First Presbyterian Church in Elizabethton.


On Monday, he conversed with around 70 students at King College in Bristol.


I interviewed him this morning on the new radio program I am hosting on 89.5 WETS (ETSU) and 90.7 WEHC (Emory and Henry). More details to come about this weekly half-hour program that will begin airing in November.


Before the U.S. invasion of Iraq, there were 1 million Christians living there. Now there 500,000. Half of the 500,000 have been displaced. Mazen's father, a Presbyterian church leader in Mosul (modern Nineveh) was kidnapped and killed. An attempt was made on Mazen's life. He received refugee status in the U.S.

Some facts:

• The attacks are by insurgents, mostly recruited by Al Qaeda.
  
• Al Qaeda did not have a presence in Iraq until after the invasion.
• 600,000 Iraqis have been killed since the U.S. invasion and occupation.
  

From the perspective of Iraqis and Iraqi Christians, the U.S. military presence has not helped. It has only increased violence. Christians who have supported the war effort should re-evaluate what they are supporting.

Here is more information including his venue for speaking engagements in Holston Presbytery.

Here are some articles of interest:

• Al Qaeda Turns to the Church
• Iraqi Refugees Move to Michigan Despite Economy
• Iraq Native on Mission for Presbyterian Peacemaking Program
• Michigan Remains Magnet for Iraqi Refugees