Gulf activists condemn attacks on Arab Christians

By AFP

KUWAIT CITY - Dozens of academics, writers and rights activists from conservative Gulf states strongly condemned on Monday a wave of bombings targeting Christians in Arab countries, notably Egypt and Iraq.

"We strongly condemn the wave of killings and terror targeting Christians in the Arab and Muslim worlds," said a statement received by AFP and signed by around 60 intellectuals, the majority of whom are Saudis and Kuwaitis.

"We condemn attempts by terror groups to isolate them (Christians) and force them to immigrate from their land and homes," said the statement.

A New Year's Day bombing of a church in Alexandria, Egypt, killed 21 people while militants attacked a Baghdad cathedral on October 31 leaving 44 worshippers, two priests and seven security force personnel dead.

On New Year's Eve, two Iraqi Christians were killed and 16 wounded as 10 bombs exploded at different Christian homes in Baghdad.

The statement said the attacks were a trend that is forcing minorities, especially Christians, to flee the region and that were due to the absence of "modern civil laws" that treat people equally, regardless of religion.