An Iraqi archbishop has accused the international community of abandoning Christians, following the kidnap of two Catholic priests on their way to celebrate Mass last Saturday, writes Abigail Frymann. Fr Mazen Ishoa, 35, and Fr Pius Afas, 60, were dragged from their car on their way to celebrate Mass at Our Lady of Fátima parish church in the al-Faisaliya district of Mosul.

The Archbishop of Mosul, Basile George Casmoussa, accused the international community of not protecting Christians. "We are not mere puppets, nor are we simply firewood to be thrown on to the bonfire," he said, adding that the international community had "abandoned [us] on the altars of their political and economic interests". "Iraq is now giving a lot of martyrs to the Church and also a lot of witnesses to Christ," said Baghdad's Chaldean auxiliary Bishop Andreas Abouna.

The kidnapping is the first major incident of its kind since the murder of Mosul priest Fr Ragheed Ganni and three deacons in June. The unknown captors demanded a US$1million ransom from the archbishop, who himself was kidnapped and released two years ago. Archbishop Casmoussa said he told the kidnappers that he "did not have that kind of money and they hung up".

As The Tablet went to press, the priests' whereabouts were still unknown.

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