A group of Iraqi church leaders met with members of the World Council of Churches (WCC) on Friday for a public hearing in which they emphasized the importance of "creating an atmosphere of peace for all citizens" in Iraq.

The leaders, which included a patriarch and four archbishops, spoke not just about recent violence against Christians, such as the October 2010 shootings and suicide bombings at the Syrian Catholic Church of Our Lady of Salvation in Baghdad, but the continuing violence against all people in Iraq.

"The only hope is to bring back hope," said Archbishop Mar Georgis Sliwa, Metropolitan of the Iraq Diocese of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East. "Despite the difficulties we are still hopeful because we are Christians and we love our country."

According to Silwa, the most urgent needs in the country are for security, the need for "investigating the real reasons" behind the violence that is being perpetrated against all Iraqis, and the need to "work to empower the role of the state" to secure rights and the security of the people, no matter their religion and ethnicity.

"Once back to normal life," Silwa said, "they will be able to implement development projects and provide investment."

The Iraqi Christian community, which is one of the oldest in the world, has suffered intense persecution at the hand of radical Muslims in the country. Continuous violence has led to the displacement of nearly 600,000 Christians since 2003 and has threatened the very existence of the community in the country. Other religious minorities, including Sabean Mandaeans, Yazidis, Baha'is, Kaka'is, Jews, and Shi'a Shabak, have also suffered discrimination.

The church leaders noted that their purpose in joining the hearing was to encourage the churches around the world to engage in advocating with their governments to "work to empower the role of the state to secure rights for all no matter their religious and ethnic background and according to the constitution."

They also noted that the increasing absence of security within the country coupled with immigration is causing a refugee problem.

"Christians in Iraq represent one of the most ancient and durable communities in the world," WCC General Secretary the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit commented. "Along with all Iraqis they are being severely stressed and threatened in present circumstances, so we are anxious to express our ecumenical solidarity with the women and men there and to work with churches and others to address their plight."

Along with Silwa, leaders attending the hearing included Archbishop Mar Severius Hawa of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Baghdad, Archbishop Avak Asadourian of the Armenian Church of Iraq, Patriarch Mar Addai II of the Ancient Church of the East in the World, and the Rev. Elder Yousif Jamil Al-Saka of the Presbyterian Church of Baghdad.