Christian Newswire, Sept. 13, 2007

Christian Defense Coalition warns Congress that a premature withdrawal of American troops in Iraq would lead to the persecution, torture and genocide of religious minorities in that country.

The group will share their concerns at a news conference and demonstration on the lower western terrace of the United States Capitol building.

The coalition will also have a public display of red stained gloves, laid out on the lower Capitol terrace, symbolizing the blood of thousands of religious minorities that will be on our hands if we do not protect religious liberty in Iraq.

The Christian Defense Coalition recently led a prayer delegation to Baghdad and met with Prime Minister al- Maliki with a special emphasis on religious liberty.

While in Baghdad, the delegation met with Iraqi Christians leaders and were told by them if the Americans would withdraw early, it would lead to the extermination of Christians and Christianity in Iraq.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition, comments, "Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi and the members of Congress must be reminded that a premature withdrawal of American troops in Iraq would lead to the persecution and slaughter of those who practice non-Islamic religious traditions. This would be especially true for hundreds of thousands of Iraqi Christians.

"We cannot allow 2,000 years of Christianity to be brutally removed from Iraq along with other faith traditions. Congress must lay out a clear plan and agenda detailing how they will protect religious freedom in Iraq and ensure all religious minorities do not face ethnic cleansing and genocide. We do not want their blood on our hands."