2020-01-25T06: 44: 00.000Z – The drafting of LCI
—
The NGO SOS Chrétiens d’Orient lost contact on Monday afternoon with four of its employees, three French and one Iraqi, who came to Iraq. They were present in the capital to work with local authorities in the development of future projects, such as this school built by the NGO and which they were to visit.
These collaborators presented as “experienced, in good health and with a perfect knowledge of the crisis zones” had in particular to renew their visa and to register the association with the Iraqi authorities. It was then that they were very close to the French embassy, not far from a Christian quarter in the heart of Baghdad, that their trace was lost.
–
Tuesday, after several unsuccessful contact attempts, SOS Chrétiens d’Orient approached the French embassy and its services to activate its networks in an attempt to locate its employees. For now, in vain. No claim has been received yet, no information has come back and “no ransom request” has been made, added Benjamin Blanchard, the director general of the NGO, during a conference. Press.
–
This mission was organized in coordination with the French consular authorities in Iraq. The four collaborators all resided in a hotel which is part of the establishments accustomed to regularly receive international staff and followed a security protocol adapted to the region, specifies SOS Chrétiens d’Orient in a press release.
There is currently great tension in the Iraqi capital, hostile demonstrations and calls for reprisals against the Americans and the Europeans are increasing in recent days.
–
