Between 21 June and 1 July, four Christians were abducted in Baghdad. One was released
following police intervention. Ransoms were paid for the others’ release. However, two
were murdered even though ransoms had been paid and one was released. Imad Youkhana, an
Iraqi Christian member of parliament, issued a statement decrying this violence and urged
Iraqi authorities to provide greater protection for Iraq's Christians. He said the
violence is part of an intimidation campaign to force Christians to emigrate and
undermines the unity of Iraqi society. An Iraqi NGO, the Hammurabi Human Rights
Organisation , today (13 July) issued a similar appeal for the protection of Christians
in Iraq.