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**leareliovag** · 10-16-2006, 05:07 PM

Full report at:

http://www.socmnet.org/

Father Boulos Iskander, vicar of the St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul was brutally decapitated in Iraq. He was kidnapped by a fanatic Islamic group on Sunday (08 October 2006) apparently in protest against H.H. Pope Benedict's recent speech. They forced the community in Mosul to write 30 large posters denying what His Holiness had cited about Mohammad, the prophet of Islam. Although the community complied with the demand, the fanatics killed the priest.

The Bishop of Mosul H.E. Mor Gregorios Saliba Chamoun received the news of the tragedy during a session of the Holy Synod of Universal Syriac Orthodox Church in Damascus. Mor Gregorios immediately left Damascus to return to Mosul to be with the faithful at this very difficult time.

The decapitated body of Fr. Iskander was found Wednesday evening in an industrial area of the city. His arms showed signs of torture.

"He was a good man and we all shed tears for him," said Eman Saaur, a 45-year-old schoolteacher who said she attended Iskender's church regularly. "He was a man of peace."

Relatives, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the unidentified group that seized Iskander on Sunday had demanded a ransom and that his church condemned a statement made by Pope Benedict XVI last month that ignited waves of anger throughout the Muslim world.

Before Iskander was kidnapped the church already had put up signs condemning the statement and calling for good relations between Christians and Muslims, his relatives said.

Relatives said the priest's oldest son had been in contact with the kidnappers on mobile telephones. He negotiated the ransom payment down to US$ 35,000 and had agreed to pay, but contact abruptly ceased Tuesday night.

Fr Iskander was laid to rest at Mosul's Syriac Orthodox St Ephrem Church. More than 500 people attended a memorial service on Thursday.

10-16-2006, 05:07 PM	#1
leareliovag Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 396 Senior Member	Syrian Orthodox priest martyred in Iraq Full report at: http://www.socmnet.org/ Father Boulos Iskander, vicar of the St. Ephrem Syriac Orthodox Church in Mosul was brutally decapitated in Iraq. He was kidnapped by a fanatic Islamic group on Sunday (08 October 2006) apparently in protest against H.H. Pope Benedict's recent speech. They forced the community in Mosul to write 30 large posters denying what His Holiness had cited about Mohammad, the prophet of Islam. Although the community complied with the demand, the fanatics killed the priest. The Bishop of Mosul H.E. Mor Gregorios Saliba Chamoun received the news of the tragedy during a session of the Holy Synod of Universal Syriac Orthodox Church in Damascus. Mor Gregorios immediately left Damascus to return to Mosul to be with the faithful at this very difficult time. The decapitated body of Fr. Iskander was found Wednesday evening in an industrial area of the city. His arms showed signs of torture. "He was a good man and we all shed tears for him," said Eman Saaur, a 45-year-old schoolteacher who said she attended Iskender's church regularly. "He was a man of peace." Relatives, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, said the unidentified group that seized Iskander on Sunday had demanded a ransom and that his church condemned a statement made by Pope Benedict XVI last month that ignited waves of anger throughout the Muslim world. Before Iskander was kidnapped the church already had put up signs condemning the statement and calling for good relations between Christians and Muslims, his relatives said. Relatives said the priest's oldest son had been in contact with the kidnappers on mobile telephones. He negotiated the ransom payment down to US$ 35,000 and had agreed to pay, but contact abruptly ceased Tuesday night. Fr Iskander was laid to rest at Mosul's Syriac Orthodox St Ephrem Church. More than 500 people attended a memorial service on Thursday.
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