Iraqi Christian Relief Council

The Iraqi Christian Relief Council (ICRC) is an Assyrian-based[2][4] Christian nonprofit organization founded in 2007 by Assyrian activist Juliana Taimoorazy.[2] The ICRC describes its primary purpose as being to advance the humanitarian and political protection of persecuted Assyrian Christians who live in post-war Iraq,[1][5] whose population has dwindled from 1,500,000 in 2003[6][7][8] to about 150,000 just 17 years later in 2020[9][10] due to ongoing persecution and instability in their homeland.[11][12]

Iraqi Christian Relief Council
AbbreviationICRC
Founded2007 (2007)
Legal status501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Key people
Juliana Taimoorazy (founder and president)[1][2]
Rev. David Fischler (board member)
Angela Nichitoi (board member)
Violet Khamoo (board member)
Dr. David Masters (board member)
Denise Bubeck (board member)
Armand Ciabatteri (advisor)
John Stenson (advisor)
Joseph Auteri (advisor)
Revenue (2016)
$1,064,001[3]
Websiteiraqichristianrelief.org

History and activities

Founding and early history

The Iraqi Christian Relief Council was founded in 2007 by Juliana Taimoorazy. Taimoorazy started the organization in response to ongoing Assyrian persecution in their homeland of Iraq.[13][14][15] According to Taimoorazy, the ICRC did not initially receive very much attention from American officials until the 2014 ISIS invasion of the Assyrian homeland.[2] Since then, it has raised awareness through political advocacy, humanitarian support, and hosting public events, such as candlelight vigils.[16]

Humanitarian activities

The ICRC predominantly provides humanitarian aid to Assyrians in Iraq.[17][18][19] The majority of the aid goes through the Assyrian Aid Society[20] and Dominican Sisters of Saint Catherine of Siena in Northern Iraq.[2] The ICRC also provides humanitarian assistance to Assyrian refugees from Iraq in other countries in the Middle East, including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.[2][1][21] In the year 2016, the ICRC provided humanitarian aid to 95,000 Assyrian Christians in Iraq.[21]

The ICRC launched Operation Return to Nineveh in 2016. The project has allowed for the rebuilding of community centers, schools, homes, and churches destroyed by ISIS in predominantly Assyrian-Christian areas of Iraq. It has also further encouraged the establishment of Nineveh Plain Province to act as a safe haven for Assyrians in Iraq.[22][23]

Assyrian Political advocacy

Taimoorazy has also met with Iraqi parliamentarians on behalf of ICRC to discuss the creation of a Christian province in Iraq.[24][22]

In August 2019, the ICRC and 15 other Assyrian organizations released a coalition letter thanking Representative Josh Harder for the creation of House Resolution 537, which would have the United States officially recognize the Assyrian genocide if passed.[25]

On behalf of the ICRC's leadership, Taimoorazy criticized the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) independence referendum for its potential negative impact on the Assyrian population of the region, and criticized the threats of violence issued by the KRG against Assyrians who protested the referendum.[26][27]

The ICRC released an official statement in 2020 condemning the refusal of the government of Turkey to investigate the disappearance of Assyrian couple Hurmiz and Shimoni Diril.[28][29]

COVID-19 response

In 2020, the ICRC started the Save Those Who Save Lives Campaign. The campaign pledged $5,000 on behalf of ICRC to provide masks to healthcare workers in the United States as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[30][10]

The ICRC also joined 27 other Non-governmental organizations and signed a letter calling on Iraqi authorities and the United Nations to implement measures aimed at preventing a humanitarian and security catastrophe in Sinjar, Tel Afar, and the Nineveh Plain as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[31][32]

References
  1. Council, Iraqi Christian Relief (26 February 2007). "Join Iraqi Christian Relief Council in Bringing Hope to the Broken". Iraqi Christian Relief Council. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. Snell, Joe (March 21, 2018). "Juliana Taimoorazy builds bridge between Assyrians, non-Assyrians". The Assyrian Journal. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  3. "2016_IRA001_Iraqi Christian Relief Council" (pdf). fk advisors. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. "An Assyrian-run nonprofit supporting, protecting, and defending persecuted Christians in Iraq and the Middle East". Twitter. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. "Join Iraqi Christian Relief Council in Bringing Hope to the Broken". Iraqi Christian Relief Council. 26 February 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. "Iraqi Assyrians: Barometer of Pluralism". Middle East Forum. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. Significant Insights - Albert Nader & Juliana Taimoorazy on YouTube
  8. Hussein, Rikar (February 26, 2017). "Mass Christian Immigration From Iraq Makes Future of Church Uncertain". Voice of America. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  9. "Population Project".
  10. Answer the Call Episode 1: Juliana Taimoorazy Iraqi Christian Relief Council on YouTube
  11. Frantzman, Seth J. (3 June 2018). "Eastern Christians find common language on Israel trip". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  12. "Saving Nineveh: A Catholic Daughter Fights for Her People". National Catholic Register. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  13. Different Drummers: Iraqi Christian Relief Council on YouTube
  14. Juliana Taimoorazy of the Iraqi Christian Relief Council Interviewed by Tucker Carlson. on YouTube
  15. MidPoint - Juliana Taimoorazy President of The Iraqi Christian Relief Council on YouTube
  16. Mcdonnel, Faith (September 21, 2015). "Standing for the Suffering Church: Vigil for Persecuted Christians in the Middle East". Juicy Ecumenism. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  17. Frantzman, Seth (December 13, 2016). "Remaining Iraqi Christians prepare for Christmas in lands liberated from ISIS". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  18. Botelho, Jessica (August 7, 2014). "Iraqi Christian remains faithful despite severe religious persecution". Rhode Island Catholic. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  19. "Genocide is also killing cultures and destroying communities". Aleteia. February 1, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  20. AAS-Iraq Hosts Philos Project and Iraqi Christian Relief Council Delegation on YouTube
  21. "How This Iraqi Relief Organization is Helping Christian Families in the Middle East". CBN News. 14 December 2017. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  22. "Iraqi Christian Relief Council launches a new campaign in support of rebuilding in a future Nineveh Plain Province". Cision PR Newswire. Nov 3, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  23. "Iraqi Christian Relief Council: Operation Return To Nineveh". Fox News. November 4, 2016. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  24. Editorial, Jpost (6 March 2016). "International Women's Day: Founder of ICRC discusses her role in saving middle east christians". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  25. "Coalition Letter" (PDF). Assyrian Policy Institute. August 27, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  26. al-Shibeeb, Dina (September 6, 2017). "As Kurdistan referendum looms, Iraqi Christians redefine positions". Al Arabiya. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  27. Smith, Jesserer (October 3, 2017). "Kurdish Referendum May Imperil Christian and Minority Safe Haven in Iraq". National Catholic Register. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  28. "Priest's Parents Vanish in Southeastern Turkey". Persecution.org. January 23, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  29. Laugesen, Dede (January 16, 2020). "Turkey – Family of Priest Abducted by 'Unidentified Men' in Turkey". Christian Persecution News. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  30. Council, Iraqi Christian Relief (14 April 2020). "Iraqi Fund Pays It Forward To The American People". PR Newswire. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  31. "Joint NGO Statement: Humanitarian and security implications of the COVID-19 crisis in northern Iraq" (PDF). Assyrianpolicy.org. April 16, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  32. Barker, Jeremy (April 16, 2020). "Joint NGO Statement Highlights Health and Security Risks from COVID-19 Crisis for Vulnerable Iraqi Communities". Religious Freedom Institute. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
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