Iraqi Christians Observing Easter, but Real Dangers Exist

Jerry Dykstra : Apr 17, 2014
Open Doors USA

Easter is a significant celebration for Christians in Iraq. Two Iraqi Believers share how they will celebrate the resurrection of our Savior this week. Riham lives in the north. She is in her twenties and lives with her mother. Sana is in her thirties and also lives in the north, together with her husband and young child. Iraq is the one of the most dangerous countries in the world for Christians; ranked No. 4 on Open Doors' 2014 World Watch List.

(Santa Ana, CA)-The following is an interview conducted by Open Doors USA with two Iraqi Believers: (Photo via The Guardian UK)

How do you celebrate Easter? Will there be anything different this year than other years?

Sana: The first thing we do is we go to church to hear the liturgy and pray. After that we celebrate it with family and relatives. The tradition of the Easter celebration is the same each year, but the patterns of our lives are different each year from the year before. It has become more difficult to live here year after year, especially for Christians. Not for all, but for most of them.

Riham: We usually celebrate Easter by going to church. Then we return back home to eat a special lunch. After that we start visiting relatives to say "happy Easter." This visiting continues for two more days.

For us as a family, we miss our father this year. He passed away in 2013 and the tradition in Iraq is that a family which loses a member doesn't celebrate Christmas or Easter, and doesn't go to parties like weddings for one year after the death of a beloved one. Therefore we will celebrate Easter this year for the first time after our father has died, but it will not be the same without our dad. But this is life and we will always have our heavenly Father. (Photo via Charisma News)

How is the celebration accepted in your Muslim surroundings? Can you celebrate Easter openly?

Sana: Yes, it is accepted in our area in the north. We can celebrate Easter openly within our churches.

Riham: We can celebrate Christmas or Easter "freely" here, but for us as a family living in a Muslim neighborhood, we don't want to stand out by decorating the outside of the house or putting up a cross, so we head to the Christian area to go to church and do other activities.

What is the most important message in Easter for you? Do you have a message for the brothers and sisters around the world?

Sana: The Easter message is important for me. My prayer is that all the Christians can celebrate it in health and safety, away from the wars and fighting. I ask the Lord Jesus Christ on this day to bring peace in all countries where a war is going on and ask all our brothers and sisters of the worldwide Church to pray for the people living in these countries.

Riham: The most important message of Easter is that Jesus has risen from death and there will be a day that He comes back again. To the worldwide Church I want to say that Jesus is coming again, so be prepared. Also, I want to ask you to pray for those who are in bad situations or in persecuted countries like ours. Some are not experiencing the joy of such celebrations because of their difficult situation.