Open Doors UK, an international charity serving persecuted Christians in 60 countries, has warned last week of a sharp upturn in violence against Christians in Iraq. The surge in attacks has coincided with the Muslim festival of Ramadan, with many commentators saying that Pope Benedict's inflammatory remarks have ignited an explosive atmosphere.

|PIC1|Iraq is already struggling to contain violence between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, and now more and more aggression is being seen against the minority Christian community in the country.

Recently several Christians have been murdered or abused and kidnapped, and a hand grenade was thrown at a priest's car.

In Baghdad and Mosul, several churches have been attacked, and last week a group of men reportedly fired rockets on the Chaldean Church of the Holy Spirit in Mosul and detonated an explosive device outside the church's door. AsiaNews reported however that no one was hurt during the attacks.

Eddie Lyle, CEO, Open Doors UK & Ireland, says, "Now is the time to focus our gaze on Iraq and not look away. We need to pray in a determined faith-filled way that the God will protect His fragile, remnant Church, as well as, dispel the darkness causing Muslims to slaughter each other and attack the Church.

"Prayer is the most important thing we can do at this time, to help raise up the Church to become brokers of peace and moderation in the new Iraq."

An Open Doors' contact has reported that a young man wrote on the doors of the Church of the Holy Spirit, which was attacked a week ago: "If the Pope does not apologise, we will bomb all churches, kill more Christians and steal their property and money."

Open Doors' sources in Baghdad report that at least two people have been killed and many more have been injured by bombs in front and behind the cathedral and Patriarchate of the Ancient Church of the East.

Earlier this month, a car bomb went off 250 metres from Open Doors' property in Baghdad. No one was injured, but visitors were very frightened and co-workers remain anxious.

Open Doors has called for the Christian Church to unite in prayer, that the believers and their children will be strengthened, that the church leaders will be able to guide with wisdom and that all will be protected.