The escalation of terrorism against religious places of worship, holy sites and believers in Iraq is causing non-Muslim minorities to flee in ever increasing numbers, threatening their survival, says an independent panel in a letter to President Bush.The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, created by Congress to advise the president and secretary of state, said it has urgently requested a meeting with Bush to discuss the "dire" situation.The violent attacks are having a particularly devastating effect on the ChaldoAssyrian, Mandean and Yizidi minorities, the panel said, announcing the letter yesterday.Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians reportedly have fled their homeland in recent months."During this holiday season, the commission's letter reminds everyone of the need for urgent measures to be taken to protect religious minorities, particularly the ChaldoAssyrians, the largest non-Muslim minority in Iraq, which has a long history of persecution," said USCIRF co-vice chairman Felice D. Gaer.
