Muslim leader warns of Christians' safety after Iraq church attack

The recent attack on Christian minority in Iraq is a heinous crime and needs strongest condemnation from all, said Navaid Hamid, Secretary of the South Asian Council for Minorities (SACM).

"With the murderous attack, the safety of Iraq's Christian minority has become critical and it is the prime responsibility not only of the regime in Baghdad but also that of the allied forces led by US to restore confidence and provide safety because never in the history of Iraq, minorities were so vulnerable," expressed Hamid, a leading Muslim figure in the country.

Sunday's attack claimed by an Al-Qaeda affiliate is one of the deadliest against Iraqi Christians recently. About fifty two were killed when security forces raided Our Lady of Salvation Church in Baghdad to rescue hostages.

"Christians are paying a heavy price. It is a fact that they are on the verge of extinction in Iraq," pointed Hamid, who is also a member of the National Integration Council led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Hamid informed that Christians were facing "unprecedented level of violence, and were living in fear and constant threat, targeted, bombed and killed, abducted for ransom and their churches attacked because of their religious commonality with that of the invading forces."

He rued that the "biggest victim of Iraq's invasion have been its minorities who have become easy target for terrorist attacks in their own country."

According to reports, over four hundred thousand Iraq's Christians have fled their homeland and migrated to US and other European countries seeking asylum.

Pope Benedict has condemned Sunday's attack in remarks to pilgrims gathered to hear his prayer in St Peter's Square for the Catholic All Saints' Day holiday.

"I pray for the victims of this senseless violence, made even more ferocious because it struck defenseless people who were gathered in the house of God, which is a house of love and reconciliation," he said.