The Primate of Brazil urges Anglican communities to pray for Christians and other religious minorities in northern Iraq who are facing persecution by Islamic fundamentalist forces. Over 100,000 refugees have been forced from their homes and are living in inhumane conditions in the mountains, and temples have been looted with people being forced to convert to Islam. The Primate states that every person has the right to freely live out their faith without fear of harm or conversion, and that political powers should not inflict damage on people due to their religious beliefs.

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Statement from the Primate of Brazil on the Irak crisis
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Dear brothers and sisters
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Unfortunately we're watching once more a sad situation of political conflict with religious
motivation in a troubled Irak. I urge our Anglican communities to offer this Sunday a moment of
prayer for Christians and other religious minorities in northern Iraq. The forces of Islamic
fundamentalism are evicting families from their homes, looting temples and requiring conversion of
captured to Islam. In the 21st century is inconceivable this kind of violation of the right to live their
faith freely. For more than a hundred thousands refugees are isolated in the mountains of northern
Iraq, under inhumane conditions. May God sustains the faith of these brothers and sisters and that
hatred be trasnformed in respect!
Every human being has the right to live their faith offering and receiving respectful recognition to
their beliefs. Political power has not right to inflict moral or material damage against those who has
different beliefs.
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Santa Maria, 08 August 2014
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Primaz da Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil
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Av. Rio Branco, 880 - subsolo | Santa Maria, RS 97010-422 Fone. 55.55.32214328
Cel. 55.55. 81310709 e-mail: fassis@ieab.org.br SITE:
www.ieab.org.br
IGREJA EPISCOPAL ANGLICANA DO BRASIL
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Dom Francisco de Assis da Silva
Bispo Primaz