Iraqis who Attended Summit In Support of Peace with Israel Receive Death Threats

In September, more than 300 influential Iraqis gathered in the northern city of Erbil for a conference aimed at promoting peace between Iraq and Israel. It featured influential religious leaders and high level bureaucrats, in what was likely the first event of its kind.

But within days, in the face of threats from the Iraqi government and an influential Shia Islamic cleric, many of the speakers recanted their pro-peace views. Despite this setback, if peace will ever spread throughout the Middle East, those who take a chance on peace must be acknowledged and promoted. Tragically, the silence of the Canadian news media in covering this story only serves to harm the cause of peace in the region.