E France came as Iraq eleven CHR N é é b; Recipient of visa applicants

AFP | AFP -

Arrived eleven Iraqi Christians refuge in the country because of persecution of the members of this community visas at Roissy airport on Thursday that the journalist from AFP.

Memorandum of minorities? Orient (AEMO), which they welcomed, which contribute the first to be granted the status of Iraqi Christians announced by the French government on July 28 at his home in France.

Bags stroke and tears in the eyes of some, these refugees said eleven family members, they were coming "peace" from France, the situation of Christians as "catastrophic" describes in Iraq.

"The situation of Christians in Iraq is serious. Called us traitors" Yonan testified Nabeel Yousif, 53, wearing a dark suit and a gray mustache and thanked "the French government" Visa to grant asylum.

"I hope it helps other Christians in Iraq., The situation is very difficult," he said through a translator Khaled al Samak, citing in particular the situation of "Christians in Mosul", "refugees" Islamists.

Eleven of the Iraqi refugees in Erbil, parents, Archbishop Faraj Raho, who were kidnapped and killed on March 13, 2008, was in this city. Once they enjoyed the protection of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Syria, where she had taken refuge in Baghdad, where they came six months ago, and then.

Consequently Elish Yako, Secretary General of the AEMO Eastern Christians in danger (CHREDO) coordination, submitted a visa application before 28 July, but said the government "could have accelerated the processing of their cases."

Visa for asylum, in particular through the embassies or consulates of the people say that he as threatened by the advance of the evaluation by the Ministry, faces "critical" inside.

"You have six months," said Elizabeth Gobry, VP AEMO. "The next step is to make their refugee status," he added.

Eleven Iraqi asylum in France is the first house in Créteil (Val de Marne) and a reception center for asylum seekers (CADA) to be, can, Toulon (Var), where she has family.

When asked about a possible return to Iraq, Yonan Nabeel Yousif said was pessimistic, given the situation. "If we are able to integrate in France, it would be the best solution., But do not forget, in our country," he said.

In mid-July, Christians in Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, en masse fled after receiving an ultimatum to the ultra-radical Islamic jihadists (IE) of the field in June controls much of this city, and in the north, west and east.

Before the American invasion in 2003, more than a million Christians lived in Iraq, including more than 600,000 in Baghdad. But because of the deadly violence that rocked the country in the past 10 years, with more than 400,000 nationwide.