Ottawa, Ontario - Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada

The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement regarding the destruction and desecration of churches, reportedly in Mosul, northern Iraq, which is under the control of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL):

“I continue to be appalled by the wilful actions of ISIL that desecrated and destroyed churches believed to be in the city of Mosul.

“Christians and other religious and ethnic communities of Iraq continue to be the victims of horrific violence at the hands of this terrorist organization.

“Canada will continue to stand with its allies and the people of Iraq as we fight this and other forms of evil. The global community must work together to ensure that places of worship and cultural heritage are preserved.”