Macron Visits Imam Al-Kadhim Shrine in Baghdad
His visit to Mosul, a melting pot of Iraq’s diverse ethnic and religious communities, symbolised France’s support for Christians in the Middle East.Before the 2003 US-led invasion that ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, Iraq had a sizeable minority of 1.5 million Christians, but it has whittled down to 400,000 out of a total population of some 40 million after waves of emigration in the face of conflict and persecution. France, which finances French-speaking Christian schools in the region, aims to highlight the plight of Christians in the Middle East, as well as other minorities.
August 29, 2021 | 6:32 pm