A Candid Conversation with the Bishop of Alqoush
By Adhid Yousif Miri, PhD
Part I
The Chaldean Community Foundation hosted His Excellency Bishop Mar Boulos Thabet, Bishop of the Diocese of Alqoush, Friday, June 21, during his visit to the United States. The Chaldean News took the opportunity to have a conversation that addressed several issues and challenges that concern both the diaspora community and our Christian community in Iraq.
About Mar Boulos Thabet Habib Youssef Al-Makko, Bishop of Alqosh
Father’s name: Habib Youssef Mansour
Mother’s name: Heleni Hanna Mamouka
Siblings: Two brothers and three sisters
Date of birth: 2/14/1976
Place of birth: Karamles - Nineveh
Date of baptism: 3/26/1976 - Mar Addi Church
Civil Studies: Bachelor of Science/Geology
Theological studies: Bachelor of Theology from the European University / Bachelor of Patristics - Augustinian Institute - Lateran - Rome
Languages: Italian - English - Syriac - Chaldean - and Arabic
Ordination: Ordained a priest on 7/25/2008
Service locations: Mar Addi - Karamles from 9/1/2011 - 8/6/2014 and Erbil: Pastoral service for the displaced from the Diocese of Mosul/Relief for Chaldean refugees to Erbil 8/7/2014- 9/1/2017
Rebuilding: Worked diligently in rebuilding the town of Karamles on 9/1/2017
Teaching: Professor of Fathers at Babylon College - Christian education courses
The bishop highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing the people in the Nineveh Plain region and discussion topics included: ways to support the minority community in Iraq (Mosul); the catastrophic situation after the shock of ISIS; conditions of the displaced; demographic changes; the coexistence between the diverse components in the region; and the historic visit of Pope Francis in 2021.
Chaldean News: Your Excellency the Bishop, please tell us about the Diocese of Alqoush and the current situation of Christians and towns in the Nineveh Plain.
Bishop Thabet: Before 2003, the Nineveh Plain region was relatively stable and home to the largest Christian population in the entire country. It was the region’s breadbasket, known for its rich fields, fertile farms, and abundant seasonal crops, which were sufficient to feed a portion of the people of Iraq. However, stability and security were disrupted by sectarian events and the rise of Al-Qaeda. After 2003 and 2006, many Christians and others were displaced from Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul to the towns of the Nineveh Plain, Ankawa, and the Kurdistan Region, for fear of Al-Qaeda.
This displacement caused a significant increase in the numbers of the people of the Nineveh Plain for years until the disaster and shock of ISIS occurred in 2014, signaling the beginning of a new and more painful phase of displacement towards the Kurdistan region and migration outside Iraq. I was responsible for managing the affairs of Chaldean immigrants in Ankawa, and I worked hard to keep hope alive in people’s souls and spirits.
After the liberation of Nineveh from ISIS in 2017, a new reality occurred that included a change in the balance of power, intersecting geographic lines, and security barriers that divided the region, the towns, and the population. It made it complicated for the return of the displaced. Unfortunately, things were not ideal, and only 30%-40% of the displaced returned to their towns and were shocked to witness the horror and destruction.
CN: What about the state of security and stability; is there hope for the return of normal life?
Bishop: How do we measure security? We are talking about one Nineveh Plain, while in reality it is divided by a security barrier, checkpoints, and controls between towns that act as a barrier and cause demographic, geographic, and economic changes.
Before 2003, the Nineveh Plain region consisted of towns that were geographically connected and demographically continuous throughout history, and now we find that they have become isolated and resemble separate islands and population areas.
Additionally, during the pre-ISIS era, we knew who was responsible for maintaining the security of the region. After ISIS invaded on August 6, 2014, the region remained under ISIS control until October 16, 2016, and since liberation, there has been no single security controller in the region.
But truth be told, Christians can move easily in the Nineveh Plain because they do not pose a threat to the security services or other citizens, however, some difficulties remain, such as in the presence of a security barrier separating the Kurdistan region from the central government sites, and because of that isolation, we see farmers moving between the curtain barrier and their farms during the planting and harvesting seasons.
CN: How did ISIS change the conditions of the region?
Bishop: The ISIS crisis and catastrophe is not only in the Nineveh Plain, Mosul, and Iraq but extends to the Middle East and beyond. In mid-2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) took control of Karamles and the Hamdaniya district (southeast of Mosul) and damaged government buildings in the center of the district, in addition to destroying and burning thousands of homes and religious places. This barbaric invasion forced almost all of the city’s Christians to flee for their lives.
The 2014 ISIS attack was something that we could never imagine or fathom. The possibility of its occurrence was beyond our imagination. We used to hear and read about historical genocides that occurred in the distant past but remained engraved in our memory only, such as the genocides of Nader Shah in 1743, Mir Kor, and the Sayfo massacres in the northern regions.
I did not believe that ISIS would come to Karamles, and I remained in my hometown until the last hours, but when we saw that the security forces charged with protecting the area were withdrawing before our eyes, we realized the magnitude of the disaster and decided to leave. Our major concern was to save precious historical manuscripts from the Mar Addi Church in Karamles, and I did that.
ISIS occupied and destroyed my house and others in the neighborhood in which I lived. The terrorists broke the tower and bell of the church and dug up the graves of the priests inside the church cemetery, including the grave of Abouna Salem, the nephew of Bishop Gabriel Genny. They took out the coffin in search of crosses and gold but found nothing but the remains of the priest and his church attire.
The number of Christians there was about 120,000 people, when ISIS attacked the areas of the Nineveh Plain, subsequently, we lost more than 45% of the population of these areas who were displaced. For example, in the town of Batnaya, the number of families was about 1,000, of which only 215 families remain today, in addition to 100 families scattered in other towns. The percentages vary, as some areas lost 45% others lost 60% of their population, and the continuous immigration still poses a threat to Christians leaving their land.
The number of returning displaced people began to gradually increase after the liberation of the area in 2017, but not all residents of the area returned to their homes because of the hurt inflicted upon them because of the ISIS war. Unfortunately, Bartella lost most of its Christian population, and Karamles lost 70% of its people. Many displaced people still live in Ankawa and the Kurdistan region.
CN: Are there accurate statistics and follow-ups on the damage caused by ISIS?
Bishop: After the liberation, when we returned to our cities, we found devastation everywhere, and most Christian families found nothing but burned homes, damaged buildings, and destroyed infrastructure, as ISIS wreaked havoc in the city during its occupation. We have detailed statistics about the amount of damage, destruction, stolen personal properties, and burned homes. Unfortunately, many of the destroyed homes cannot be restored. There must be a role and responsibility for the government in rebuilding the stricken cities and speeding up reconstruction.
It is not right for us to cry over what happened, but rather to roll up our sleeves for reconstruction again and to restore all the requirements for return. There is a strong desire and will to survive and revive, and we have hope and faith to achieve that.
CN: How did you face the challenges of returning displaced persons and rebuilding?
Bishop: The Church was proactive and at the forefront in confronting the crises of displacement and reconstruction. It made many efforts to help return Christians to their villages and hold on to their land.
The task was very difficult, and one of the first activities was to conduct an extensive survey of the needs of the affected towns and villages. The survey results showed that people need basic things like housing, food, education, job training, counseling, spiritual development, and stable jobs. With the support of some international organizations and following a solid plan to educate citizens, we were able to restore peaceful coexistence in the region.
We needed new thinking that keeps pace with the needs in our regions and addresses issues of jobs, unemployment, economic stagnation, restoring services, and infrastructure necessities (electricity, water, hospitals, health centers, schools), and certainly the continuation of aid provided to citizens, especially farmers, it will help them return, survive and revive agricultural lands, and will contribute to the return of stability and coexistence.
The basic needs of a decent life are security, stability, social justice, and continuity in all areas of life.
International organizations have played a prominent role in this regard through their programs, expertise, and small loans, such as those now granted to farmers, to take care of the agricultural sector in their regions.
We recently learned about the efforts of the Chaldean-American Chamber of Commerce in supporting the people of the region, and we hope that communication channels and bridges between us will continue so that we can support people, provide job opportunities for the private sector, and complete reconstruction projects in the Nineveh Plain.
CN: What about demographic changes?
Bishop: Resisting demographic changes and adhering to rights and the language of the law requires determination and administrative will. As Christians present in this land for generations, we call on our people to be patient, resilient, and steadfast in their land.
We have a mission in this country, which is to continue the message of peace and love. We were the first builders of this civilization, and we want to contribute to building and elevating this nation, which we hope will become a secular state based on the rule of law and national interest. We call on everyone to pray for this country and remain firm in this land to obtain full rights.
What concerns us is activating civil laws and that the Iraqi parliament and constitution take bold steps and decisions to preserve land ownership rights and prevent demographic and geographic changes.
The problem we face is the lack of desire and ability to implement the laws by state agencies. We want clear laws that define and preserve the properties and places of historical components of Iraq, and constitutional changes regarding the personal status law. People must feel equal and that this is their homeland and a government that will protect them.
CN: In 2018, then Vice President Mike Pence and the government of the United States promised to allocate $300 million, plus an additional $85 million for the reconstruction of the Nineveh Plain. The Iraqi government also promised other amounts, including $30 million from the Iraqi Prime Minister in 2024. Has that money been allocated?
Bishop: I was in Washington in 2019 when this aid was announced. This aid was supposed to go directly to the people who needed it and not to a special group of beneficiaries. There were crooked bureaucratic channels, delays, and corruption. These amounts had temporary benefits and did not reach the right people who needed them. Support became zero after the spread of COVID-19 and the start of the Ukrainian war.
Christians are frustrated today, due to neglect and delayed reconstruction. There are many challenges, especially immigration, unemployment, and the difficulty of movement and development of their areas. The people were disappointed after the destruction and burning of their areas and villages, and for the forced displacement to which they were subjected. They feel that they are forgotten.
There was a glimpse of hope through the humanitarian work of organizations such as the Lutheran Samaritas, YCN (Qaraqosh), the Knights of Columbus (Karamles), and those working with Hungary in rebuilding homes (Telsquf). This aid was a gesture and a message of hope for our people in these areas and played an important role in planting hope, encouraging survival, and ensuring that they are not forgotten.
The Republic of Hungary was among the generous countries that provided us with the most support to help Christians in the Nineveh Plain region. We know very well Hungary’s honorable stands regarding the Christian presence in the Middle East. In the town of Telsquf, Hungary had a major share in the reconstruction of this town. The contributions included citizens’ homes, part of the church, kindergartens, a model school in the town of Alqoush, an educational farm, which serves as a school that teaches modern agricultural methods to all the people of the region without exception, built on the church’s land in Alqoush and in cooperation with it.
USAID worked to rehabilitate the electricity grid, water networks, street lighting, state facilities, buildings, and clinics, and support the employment of the workforce. We worked with them to drill five water wells, but we question if this support is sufficient and at the required level.
CN: Pope Francis’s visit to Iraq and the Nineveh Plain in 2021 was an historic event, with his message of peace: “Iraq is the homeland of everyone and for everyone.” What came after the visit? Were there any lasting results?
Bishop: The Pope’s visit in 2021 put the Nineveh Plain under the spotlight of the international media and was a historical milestone, as it was clear to Pope Francis and the world the extent of the people’s faith, steadfastness, rootedness, and desire to remain in the historical cities of their ancestors.
The visit was quick and short. His Holiness wanted to see for himself the status and affairs of life in the Nineveh Plain. We were hoping for many achievements after the Pope’s visit, and not limited ones. Because of that papal visit, campaigns were undertaken to restore and rebuild some churches by foreign and local organizations, but unfortunately, not all the burned churches and religious sites destroyed by ISIS terrorists were restored. These important sites in Mosul and its districts were not given priority by Iraqi officials. The main church (Al-Tahira) in Al-Hamdaniya and the monastery buildings were used as shooting ranges and training grounds by ISIS gangs.
Our hope will remain alive and with God’s help and circumstances permitting, efforts will continue to restore hope, develop the infrastructure, and the economy, provide job opportunities in Christian areas, and assist the church in establishing the necessary service institutions that provide work for many young people and provide services to citizens.
CN: What about rebuilding destroyed churches and religious sites?
Bishop: In our geographic areas we have religious extensions. For example, the Diocese of Alqoush extends to Batnaya, where there is still a church that has not been reconstructed, and in Baqoufa there are old churches that need maintenance. There are also church centers and monasteries located in the eastern Nineveh Plain, and in the Hamdaniyah region, there are churches that need reconstruction and monasteries. It needs restoration to continue the testimony it provided from the beginning until today.
But before we talk about churches, let’s talk about the many destroyed and burned homes in these villages that need reconstruction. Since the beginning of the reconstruction campaign led by the church in the Nineveh Plain, our goal was to rebuild homes above all else, and we renovated the homes of citizens before we rebuilt churches, because churches are for the sake of the citizens, and the church is of no use unless the person is present and lives in dignity, so we set out to Reconstructing the dilapidated and burned houses first, then we reconstructed the churches to provide services in light of the necessary need for them, but many church institutions are still dilapidated and need to be built and restored.
It is good to see that the churches of Mosul are being rehabilitated with the funds allocated to them by the Vatican and foreign organizations, and we hope that the Iraqi government will allocate a budget for the reconstruction of religious places within its budgets and plans.
CN: What is the fate of the Christian Church and the future of Christians in Iraq? Let us be realistic, Christianity in Iraq will not return to what it was, so what does the future hold for us?
Bishop: I come across this question often. As you know many turning points cannot be predicted in the paths of history, and the future remains ambiguous. However, there are calculations of faith and considerations of a spiritual flame that may lead us toward the correct answer.
The challenges are many and great, and the problem is not only political, religious, and economic, but rather it is intellectual, cultural, societal, and legal. There must be constitutional steps to preserve the rights of components and protect lands and property, and the lessons learned are in the power and strength of courts, and just application of laws.
The local population suffers from constant anxiety, fear of the future, and problems caused by instability since 2003 and the periods of ISIS occupation. Immigration and population loss are among the most difficult challenges facing us today, in addition to restoring security, reviving the local economy, and keeping the Nineveh Plain region away from political and local conflicts.
Much remains to be done to help restore the region’s ancient Christian communities, and it is a major task, requiring charitable assistance from the international community as well as the commitment and dedication of local believers. We must establish strong relationships and bonds between everyone that are based on love, cooperation, and mutual respect, even if we differ in religious and sectarian affiliation. We must bypass all the obstacles that stand in the way of developing this relationship and use it for the public good.