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IRAQI ARCHBISHOP DISCLOSES PERSECUTION UNDER SADDAM Baghdad, Dec. 17 (AsiaNews) - Now that tyranny is under lock and key, Iraqi Christians are open with about their tales of suffering and persecution during the Saddam Hussein era.

Archbishop Jean Benjamin Sleiman, the Latin-rite Archbishop of Baghdad told AsiaNews: â??Even if in the West Saddam Husseinâ??s regime was referred to as a secular state, civil society was ruled by Islamic law, with serious consequences for non-Muslims.â??

[For the full interview witih Archbishop Sleiman, see the AsiaNews web site.]

IRAQ'S CHURCHES REGAIN PROPERTY SEIZED BY SADDAM
, Dec. 17 (AsiaNews) - Iraq's Provisional Governing Council has decided that schools, churches, mosques, and madrassah (Islamic schools) confiscated by Saddam Hussein return to their legitimate owners, while enjoying the freedom to manage their own educational resources.

This decision was made on November 5, but was only now made public. AsiaNews received the news via Baghdadâ??s Church officials.

[For details see the full story on the AsiaNews web site.]>/i>