Iraq's Patriarch Raphael I Bidawid

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His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid, Patriarch, Chaldean Catholic Church in Iraq His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid is the highest authority of the large Catholic community in Iraq, andfr om this position serves as the spokesman fo r all Christians there. He has been an outspoken critic of the New World Order policy, and has been active in supporting relief effo rts fo r the Iraqi population, starved by the ongoing embargo. Among these effo rts is the Committee to Save the Children in I rag, initiated by Helga Zepp -LaRouchefo r the Schiller Institute. His Beatitude Raphael I Bidawid was a cofounder of the Committee, together with Mrs. LaRouche and Dr. Prof Ha ns Koechler, President of the International Progress Orga nization of Vienna. Muriel Mirak-Weissbach, who has coordinated workfor the Committee since its inception last May 1991, was in Baghdad and met with

(/) His Beatitude at the Patriarchate on April 29 and 30, 1992. On that occasion, the z a: Pa triarch had the fo llowing to say. iii

Fidelio: Can you tell us something here in Baghdad and eight dioceses, population. Therefore we live peace about the Christian community in Iraq with churches in Al Basrah, Kirkuk, fully together, Christians, Muslims, and its relations to other communities? Sulaymaniyah, Arbil, Mosul, Al Kosh, and even a small community of Jews Patriarch Bidawid: Out of a popula Dora, Amadiyah, and Zakho in Kur (about two hundred fa milies). In addi tion of eighteen million, one million distan. Our relations with others are tion to the Chaldeans, there are a num are Christians; eighty percent of them very good because we are one people; ber of sects, the Mandaeans, faithful of Catholics, and ninety percent of them, some became Christians, some later St. John the Baptist. This small sect, Chaldeans. We have the Patriarchate became Muslims, but we are the same whose members say they are our cous ins because St. John was the cousin of Christ, are the descendants of the Essenes, and live by rivers, because many of their rituals, including bap tism, require ablutions with natural waters. There are even some so-called fire-worshippers, the Zoroastrians, who, because they intermarry, have limited descendants. They are often called "devil worshippers" and wor ship a metal peacock.

Fidelio: The Vatican's initiative to lift the embargo against Iraq has been widely publicized. I understand you had an important role in this. Patriarch Bidawid: Yes. This em bargo is being implemented against the population for no reason whatso ever. The war is over; so the embargo should be over as well. On March 23, I was received by His Holiness, Pope John Paul II in Rome, and briefed Committee to Save the Children In Iraq: Committee coordinator Muriel Mirak him on the effects of the embargo. We issbach (right) holds press conference with Iraqi children arriving in the U.S. Following that meeting, he sent Alois fo r medical treatment, April 1992. Wagner with a high level delegation

Committee to Save the Children in Iraq demonstrates against the embargo, Los Angeles, June 1991. to Iraq. They saw the situation with years, lived through the whole war. things, I wouldn't dare walk outside." their own eyes, returned to Rome with What Israel did in Lebanon, what it What a disgrace! a report on a Sunday, and on the fo l did in Iraq, was to try to show the lowing Wednesday, the Pope made a world that religious coexistence is im Fidelio: Can the Vatican intervene declaration in his weekly audience. possible. When the president of Leba into the Israeli situation? The situation was so urgent that the non, in the name of all Arabs, gave the Patriarch Bidawid: The Patriarch of Pope did not want to lose time. example of his country as a model fo r Jerusalem told us, at a recent meeting We do the best we can, in political coexistence among Christians, Mus of the Patriarchs, that it is very difficult channels. Contacts with American and lims, and Jews, Israel began the war to imagine how bad the situation of European leaders have continued, but against Lebanon, a war which created the Christians in Israel is. If there were they always run up against a wall. The an abyss between Christians and Mus 100,000 before the war, now there are only authority which remained close lims. Israel says, "it's a chimera to about 20,000 Christians there, and they to Iraq was the Vatican. Even the Arab think the religions can live together in are persecuted, degraded-not by countries-with the exception of Jor peace." But Lebanon lived fo r fo rty weapons, but otherwise. It is possible dan-did not move. Jordan was the years in religious peace. that one day there may be no Chris only one to show a noble attitude, that Here in Iraq, the same thing. I am tians left on the land where Christ of King Hussein, who made a fa mous a Christian, but my lawyer is a Mus was. The Patriarch is not well liked in speech, for which he was threatened. lim, fo r example. Israel has a policy of Israel-he lives in Jerusalem-but he Syria betrayed us, for understandable encouraging emigration, and the Jew has a lot of courage. The West does reasons. The Vatican was the only au ish people who left our country, not want to hear this. thority which defended us against the claimed they were persecuted-be war and against the embargo. cause if they did not say so, they would Fidelio: But there are "peace negotia What I did was simply my duty, as not have been accepted. But they did tions" going on, at least officialiy. head of the Christians in Iraq, to try not leave because they were perse Patriarch Bidawid: Israel will never to defend the population, and I mean cuted. Why do Italians leave fo r the accept Christians at the same level, but the entire population, Christian and United States? Because they are perse will continue to treat them as second Muslim alike. They are all my broth cuted? No, because they are seeking a class citizens. All these negotiations are ers, a Muslim baby is like my baby. I better life or jobs. There is a world idle chatter. What sense does it make tried to explain this to people recently wide propaganda campaign waged to negotiate, while Israel is continuing in Germany, but they are full of pre against Iraq, organized by Zionist in with new settlements? This is the New conceived notions. The Muslim versus stitutions. The world does not under World Order of George Bush: Arabs Christian conflict which they have stand this. I was in the United States, are living there, then a Russian immi fixed in their minds, does not exist. I and said these things. One person grant arrives, and the Arab is thrown told them: there is no religious conflict. asked me, "Aren't you afraid of speak off the land. I lived in Lebanon for twenty-three ing out against Israel? If I said these Sad dam Hussein said he would

68 'Saddam Hussein said he would withdraw from Kuwait, on condition that Palestine, Lebanon, the entire region, were discussed all together. But Baker said no linkage, and that led to the war. Now the world has to admit the injustice done to Iraq.'

Committee airlift brings children to Germany fo r medical treatment, fuly 1991. withdraw from Kuwait, on condition reminds me of a proverb we have, freedom to do good, not evil. In the that Palestine, Lebanon, the entire re "You can't tell the lion that his breath West, there is no democracy, only the gion with all its problems, were dis smells." Why? Because he would de most abject slavery. One is ashamed to cussed together. But Baker said "no vour you. No one dares tell the lion. walk through the streets of Rome, to linkage," and that led to the war. Now So, what are the perspectives? The see the scenes one sees. I know an the world has to admit the injustice Lord needs our help. We cannot do ambassador in Rome who fe ars for the done to Iraq. The United States was anything, if Europe remains passive. well-being of his children, who may the only one calling the shots; the As for the U.S., the problem is one of see such things. I have a nephew, who U.S.S.R. no longer existed, and no one moral degeneracy. When I was in the wanted to go to Paris to study at the else even raised a finger. In Bonn, U.S., I saw a marriage performed on Sorbonne. I said, that was crazy: he when I expressed this, a fo rmer ambas television, between two men! What should study in Beirut, get a law de sador told me, "Beatitude, I accept can one expect from that kind of a gree, then, when he was older, mar what you say completely, but, you world, where such perversion is legal ried, he could go to Paris! know, I cannot say this, because others ized? It's like the Roman Empire in would say that I was going against the its collapsing phase. And the tragedy Fidelio: Regarding the political situa U.S." They cannot speak against the is that Europe, which has a glorious tion in the Arab world, clearly the U.S. or against Israel ! I said the same civilization, lets itself be guided by kind of "democracy" we see now in thing to Giulio Andreotti, telling him, people who have lost all moral sense. the West cannot be appropriate, con "You'll pay dearly one day fo r this sidering the history of the region and alliance with America, when one day Fidelio: Perhaps there is some hope its culture. Europe is united. You will see what that the U.S. situation will change Patriarch Bidawid: Yes, but even in that means, when America controls through the elections coming up. Europe, it took a long time fo r demo the flow of oil, and can turn on and Patriarch Bidawid: There are always cratic fo rms to evolve. turn off the fa ucet fo r oil flowing to good people, who have the power of Speaking of democracy: Consider Europe." reason. But what influence do they how people look at the Arab world. have? They speak of "Muslim fa naticism" Fidelio: Then what sort of perspec We talk about "democratic life," they never speak of "Islam." Yet I have tive do you see? but it does not really exist in practice. seen among Protestants, more fanati Patriarch Bidawid: They accused Take the example of Italy: it used to cism. For example, when the Pope Hitler of saying "might is right," of be Catholic, then it abolished religion, wanted to nominate a bishop in Ge using the principle of power as a prin it took Christian teaching out of the neva, the Protestants were up in arms, ciple of law, but they are worse than schools, it legalized abortion and di saying, no, that's Calvin's city! And Hitler. We are in a situation now, vorce, all through "democratic" this was Switzerland, the most "demo where a fo rmer German ambassador means. "Democracy" in this case cratic" country in the world. Or when tells me he cannot say such things. It means doing evil. But freedom is the the U.S. President wanted to nominate

69 'I tried to defend the population, and 1 mean the entire population, Christian and Muslim alike. They are all my brothers, a Muslim baby is like my baby. The Muslim vs. Christian conflict does not exist.'

an ambassador to the Holy See, Amer tion in Eastern Europe. The will of Fidelio: Yet much is said about the ican Protestants objected, saying the the government does exist, and the Shi'ites in. Iraq, particularly in the President wanted to sell America to population does want more democ south, as being a threat. the Vatican ! racy, but we have to be cautious. We Patriarch Bidawid: A lot had been Now, the European model is diffi are not living in a vacuum. Iran, Tur done for the Shi'ites in the south, be cult to impose here, where the history key and Syria will not leave us in fo re the war. Then, the U.S. and its of the region is so different. Here there peace. The Gulf Arabs have no influ allies tried to fo ment a rebellion and it have been chiefs, caliphs, princes, who ence. But Iran, Turkey, and the Sau fa iled. How can they expect the people have ruled. People say here, that one dis, spend billions on building up war to overthrow the regime, when the needs a benevolent dictator, because machines. armed fo rces are in the hands of the there is no other way to govern. And party? A coup d'etat, which is what the you see dictators throughout: in Tur Fidelio: How do you view the phe u.S. wanted, was impossible. What key, in Iraq, in Saudi Arabia, etc. nomenon of Islamic movements in they got was just the opposite: they People outside our region see the power, which are often termed "fund wanted to created ill-feeling in the ethnic problems here in a false light amentalist," and their religious di population, but now the population is also. They talk of Kurds and Shi'ites, mension? closer to the government, because it but who is who? There are many eth Patriarch Bidawid: If there is no reli sees that the u.S. wanted its ruin. Peo nic groups, including Iranians and gious spirit, there is nothing. In Iran, ple say quite openly now: Better in Turks here. Before the war, the gov the soldiers, even the young children Hell with Saddam Hussein, than in ernment of Iraq had prepared the fo urteen years of age, went to war fo r Heaven with the u.S. The Kurdish draft of a constitution for discussion in religious reasons. They believed that leader Barzani said, you instigated us Parliament, which would have regu with a key on a string around their to revolt, then you abandoned us. As lated the creation of political parties. necks, they would go to paradise if fo r the Shi'ites and the Kurds, do you Now, that has to be altered, to conform they fe ll in battle. Simple people be know what kinds of massacres they to the altered situation. lieve in religious leaders, who can, if perpetrated? How can I imagine they There is a possibility that parties they want, do harm. In Iran today, we should come to power? may be introduced, but in a controlled are back in the Middle Ages, with a Certainly, we can live together in way-otherwise there would be chaos. figurelike the "Pope-King" which ex peace, but only if the u.S. and the Egypt has political parties, officially, isted in the medieval West, and which British leave us alone. Many in the but it is a fa rce; we do not want to caused suffering fo r the Church. Here army were Kurds, many governors are repeat that. Iraq already had political in Iraq, the Islamicists cannot take Kurds. And Shi'ites-there have been parties under the monarchy, so there power, because the government is sec great Shi'ite prime ministers. We had is a tradition that can be revived, but ular, and there is a separation between no problem living together. It was the it needs time. It is a bit like the situa- Church and State. British and the u.S. who created the

70 Committee to Save the Children in Iraq. Left: U.S. fa rmers send emergency powdered milk relief, Ja nuary 1992. Above: Iraqi children arrive in U.S. fo r medical treatment, April 1992. Right: Medical supplies from Europe arrive at Red Crescent distribution center, Bagdad, July 1991.

problem. I am from Mosul, and I can tell you that we never had any problem between Christians and Muslims. But as long as there are fo reign powers in the country, there will be no peace. If they leave the area, then in two months, everything will be all right. I certainly hope that they let us live in peace, because we know how to live in peace. Whether or not they will lift the embargo.is an open question: ask Bush!