Jun. 22, 2007 (CWNews.com) - A priest working with Chaldean Catholics in Europe has disputed figures suggesting a massive exodus of Christians from Iraq.
Father Philip Najim, who is serving as an apostolic visitor to the Chaldean Catholic faithful in Europe, argues that the number of Christians who have left Iraq in recent years is under 100,000-- or less than 7% of the country's 1.5 million Christians.
Father Najim's claim contrasts markedly with other estimates on Christian emigration from Iraq. Vatican Radio has reported that more than one-third of the Iraqi refugees arriving in Syria are Christians-- although Christians make up only 3% of the country's population. The UN has calculated that at total of 1.5 million residents have left Iraq since 2007.
Chaldean Catholic officials inside Iraq have frequently expressed concern about the Christian exodus from the country. In May the Chaldean bishops issued an appeal to international leaders for help in stopping "the threats, kidnappings, and forced emigration of our Christian people."