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Mar Paulos Faraj Rahho (Template:Lang-ar, November 20, 1942 – March 2008) was the Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Mosul, in northern Iraq.

Also known as Paul Faraj Rahho, he lived almost his entire life in Mosul, in the heart of the Assyrian homeland, which has a long established community of Chaldean Christians. He studied to become a priest at St. Peter's junior, and major, seminary in Baghdad. Following a brief spell working there after his ordination in 1965, he was appointed to St Isaiah's Church in Mosul.

Unease with Sharia

Rahho expressed disquiet at the moves to incorporate Sharia law more fundamentally into the Iraqi constitution, and continued throughout his life to lead worship in difficult situations. During his trip to Rome, Rahho confided that he had been threatened by gunmen in his native town.

Kidnapping and murder

Late on February 29 2008, according to a report given by the Catholic News Service, Archbishop Rahho was kidnapped from his car in the Al-Nur district of the city; his bodyguards and driver were killed. On March 13, 2008, it was reported that the Archbishop's body had been found buried near Mosul. Nineveh Deputy Governor Khasro Goran confirmed the body did have gunshot wounds, specifically in the head. CNN states that investigators believe the archbishop may have been shot at the time of the kidnapping. He is thought to be the highest-ranking Chaldean Catholic clergyman to be killed in the current Iraq war.

International reactions

• Iraq: Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said "the attack was the work of a criminal gang intent on provoking religious strife."
• United States: President Bush was quoted as saying "I send my condolences to the Chaldean community and the people of Iraq. The terrorists will continue to lose in Iraq because they are savage and cruel."
• File:Chaldean.jpg Chaldean Catholic Church: Patriarch Emmanuel III Delly who broke down and wept during funeral services in Karamles, urged Assyrian Christians on Friday not to seek revenge for the death of the archbishop.
• The Vatican: Pope Benedict stated the murder was "an act of inhuman violence that offends the dignity of the human being."
• Arab American Institute: "This despicable act against a peaceful leader of a vulnerable (Assyrian-Chaldean) minority community violates every moral code."

Quotes

We, Christians of Mesopotamia, are used to religious persecution and pressures by those in power. After Constantine, persecution ended only for Western Christians, whereas in the East threats continued. Even today we continue to be a Church of martyrs.

— Mar Paulos on November 26, 2007, three months before he was found dead.

References

1. ^ Archbishop Paul Faraj Rahho: The Times obituary. March 14, 2008.
2. *CNS Story: Kidnappers take Iraqi Archbishop, Kill his three companions
3. "Kidnapped Iraqi archbishop dead", BBC News, 13 March 2008.
4. http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/13/iraq.main/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
5. http://www.agi.it/world/news/200803131850-cro-ren0093-art.html
6. "Source: U.S. sent severed fingers of Iraq kidnap victims ", CNN, 13 March 2008.
7. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7295145.stm
8. Iraqi archibishop's killing condemned.
9. Bush condemns Iraq archbishop's 'murder', AFP
10. Weeping Christians bury Iraqi archbishop, AFP
11. Pope says Iraq archbishop death "inhuman violence"
12. AAI Statement on the Kidnapping of Chaldean Archbishop Paulos Faraj Rahho
13. http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10899

External links

• Obituary in The Times, 13 March 2008

• Recent deaths
• Chaldean archbishops
• Iraqi Christians
• Iraqi archbishops
• Iraqi murder victims
• Assyrian people
• 1942 births
• 2008 deaths
• People from Mosul