Baghdad and Erbil condemn deadly attack on church in Jordan

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi government and Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani on Saturday condemned Friday’s attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak governorate, in which gunmen killed at least seven people at a funeral, and expressed solidarity with Jordan.

“The Iraqi government strongly condemns the cowardly terrorist attack by criminal takfiri groups at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in the town of Hammoud, Karak Governorate, Jordan,” the Prime Minister’s Media Office said. “This brutal attack demonstrates that terrorism is a source of evil, one that the Iraqi people have suffered from and confronted with resolve and strength,” it said, adding that the attack “calls upon us to stand united against all voices that threaten the security of our societies and undermine their civil peace.” It offered condolences to the victims’ families and wished the wounded a quick recovery.

“We strongly condemn the terrorist attack targeting a church in Karak Governorate in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which resulted in deaths and injuries among innocent civilians,” Barzani said. “We express our solidarity with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, its leadership and people, and reaffirm our rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all its forms, particularly attacks targeting places of worship and civilians.” He offered condolences to the families of the dead and wished the wounded a quick recovery.

Three gunmen opened fire during a funeral procession at the church on Friday, killing at least seven people and wounding 34, according to Jordan’s Public Security Directorate. Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church, a witness said. Jordanian authorities blamed “a group of extremists,” a manhunt is under way, and no group has claimed responsibility. King Abdullah II said the attack “will be met with the harshest retaliation.”

Iraq’s own Christians have repeatedly been targeted. In 2010, gunmen seized Baghdad’s Our Lady of Salvation Syriac Catholic cathedral during Mass, and more than 50 people were killed. In 2014, the Islamic State group drove Christians from Mosul and the Nineveh Plains.