More than 5000 people took to the streets in Sydney on Saturday in a peaceful protest to raise awareness about the plight of Christians being persecuted and killed in the Middle East.
The protest brought together numerous denominations, including Assyrians, Chaldeans, Syriacs and Coptic Orthodox, wanting to expose the atrocities that are also being carried out against Christians, particularly in Iraq.
Demonstrators said members of their faith had been targeted and killed, some crucified and left to hang on crosses, while some of the oldest churches in the Middle East were being desecrated.
They said the entire population of Christians in Mosel had been purged.
In a message of support for the peaceful protest from the Coptic Orthodox Church, Bishop Anba Suriel said there had not been enough international support or protection for Christians.
"We are witnessing a heinous cleansing of the entire Christian population in the Middle East ... the world's silence is fuelling these extremist terrorist groups," Bishop Suriel said.
Organisers said Christians in Australia were "dismayed and hurt that our media and politicians have failed to acknowledge these evil acts".
"Our politicians have a duty to treat all persecuted peoples equally and impartially," one said.
