The voting for the long-awaited historical Iraq National Election has begun. About 280,000 Iraqi expatriates from 14 countries - Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Iran, Jordan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Syria, Turkey, UAE and the United States - are due to cast their ballots between Friday and Sunday.

Despite a series of schemed violence and kidnappings in Iraq directed by terrorists in an attempt to threaten people from voting, the Geneva-based International Organisation for Migration which organises the out-of-country voting reported that the response has been very good so far.

While the election is expected to spell out the future of the troubled country, Christians, in particular, whose religious rights have been suppressed by the past government, are very concerned over the election.

Evangelical Christians in general hold an optimistic and forward stance towards the election. They encourage believers to vote in order to let their voice be heard. In addition, they seek for the sovereignty of God over the election through prayers.

An estimated 800,000 believers in Iraq are being marginalised and many have fled to the neighbouring countries such as Jordan and Syria because of the increased violence targeted on Christians or churches since October 2004.

Dr. Carl Moeller, President/CEO of Open Doors USA responded to the Iraq Election in Crosswalk News. He believes that God has called the remnant of believers in Iraq to stand strong. In face of the persecution, the minority should make their voice heard as much as they can as this is the only chance they politically have a representation in a new Iraqi government.

"The great fear Christians have," explains Moeller, "is that an extreme Muslim leader will be elected."

Moeller suggested that Christians in the United States can help by mobilising support for Christian candidates in Iraq "that are standing for real freedom, real pluralism, real religious tolerance in the new Iraqi government."

However, above all the human effort Iraqi Christians can make, the most desperate need is the prayer of all Christians across the world. Moeller remarked that only a spiritual solution will effect lasting change in Iraq.

"We really want to mobilise the US to pray," says Moeller. "That's what our brothers and sisters in Iraq are most asking us to do. We can't vote in the Iraqi elections. And really, there's no political process or solution that will be viable in the long run."

Moeller adds, "We need to pray that those Christians facing the daily pressure of bombing and violence will not flee but will stay strong - stay as a force for peace - salt and light in the Iraqi society."

The three leading evangelical organisations in America - the Christian Defense Coalition, National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and the National Clergy Council - will hold a prayer vigil outside the Iraqi Embassy in Washington D.C on Friday 28th January.

They call for 72 hours of nationwide prayer and fasting regarding the upcoming Iraqi elections. They will pray for the protection and safety of the Iraqi people during their national elections this Sunday.

NAE, which represents 50,000 churches and 30 million evangelical Christians, recently commented in their newsletter, "...freedom will not have an opportunity to ring throughout this country if the voting process fails. We urge our readers and their family members to pray specifically for this electoral process."