THE UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
VOLUME 52 ISSUE 3 ESTABLISHED IN 1968
WWW.THEUSDVISTA.COM
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Christians in Iraq face persecution
Inside BUSINESS
The crisis for Chaldean Christians in Iraq hits home for some San Diegans By Olivia Lougee ASST. NEWS EDITOR
suit claiming SeaWorld mishandled OPINION
Raising the
FEATURE
your summer
4 6 8
ARTS & CULTURE
Christians and other nonMuslim groups in Iraq are undergoing extreme hardship and daily threats by the Islamist as Islamic State. targeted by the militants, the crisis has struck close to home in San Diego. According to KPBS, an estimated 80,000 Iraqis have settled in San Diego. A majority Photo courtesy of Susan Murphy/KPBS
Chaldeans. According to the BBC, Chaldean Christians are members
El Cajon, a hub for Iraqi refugees, was the site of recent demonstrations calling for the United States to grant asylum to thousands of Iraqi Christians facing threats by the militant group.
been destroyed and bombed Church that contains a unique recognizing the Pope’s authority.
over a thousand years has been captured by ISIS and converted
Christians. Iraqi Christians and non-Muslim groups such as Yazidis are being targeted by
Mansour said that USD’s Chaldean American Student
immediate conversion to Islam.
“[CASA] plans on hosting a
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governments in the region to join still in Iraq. Chaldeans in America
According to CNN, Islamic State has also begun imposing
France,
Australia,
Canada,
and Denmark came together to devise a strategy that involves strengthening allies on the ground
Diego. Junior Anthony Mansour, girls must be separated at school
In a recent speech, President utilize brutal justice, banning
approval by State Department and Homeland Security screeners America. senior Jessica Zahnd expressed her concerns about America’s involvement and her desire to see improvement rather than history
Islamic State and announced
in our community as a genocide during Ramadan. According to British national
said.
incidents that occurred during such events like the Holocaust and other violent acts brought
the Turkish border in its goal “These strikes have protected American personnel Sunni jihadists led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. In the last year, Islamic State
tonight
Times, the Chaldeans in America
Christians and other non-Muslim
According to Canada’s CBC
Volleyball takes on
against the leaders and positions Syrian rebel groups to reclaim
concern over Islamic State’s
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Hassan Khalil says the group does not represent Islam. “ISIS is not a representation
involvement such as the creation
American Student Association,
Spotlight on Balboa Park
Times, President Barack Obama has recently recruited nine allies
eastern Syria and northern Iraq. This June, the group declared state, and called upon Muslims
across the Syrian and Iraqi borders. According to CNN, the group has been trying to cut Zahnd emphasized her point Obama said. “These strikes have President Bashar al-Assad, and the Mediterranean coast. University Ministry, said it is
remembered in 50 years as the In response to America’s involvement, Islamic State has rather not become the person I
its cause. Due to the constant threats and attacks by Islamic State beginning in June 2014, Iraqi
actions and threatened the United States using American journalists as hostages. hear about in the Middle East, journalists, James Foley and
Colyer
understands
the
the militant group. Their deaths
the USD community and the responsibilities students have in becoming educated on the issue. “Especially as those privileged to attend a
tune it out and go about our busy million Iraqis have been displaced convert non-Muslims to Islam.
most
Prompted by the numerous calls to action, United States
pay a damaging tax, convert to
strikes on Islamic State positions
churches and schools have also
State took over several cities in northern Iraq.
Chaldeans. “Chaldeans
have
In the videos, Islamic State leaders clearly state their desire is happening there and around the their pursuits.
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