Australia 'the promised land' for persecuted Middle Eastern Christians

He is thankful to Australians for their prayers and opening their hearts and arms, says Father Douglas Bazi, an Iraqi-born Catholic priest.

Fr Douglas Bazi (right) of the Chaldean Catholic Church. / flicr

Australia is viewed as "the promised land" by persecuted Catholics in the Middle East, says an Iraqi Catholic priest.

According to Fr Douglas Bazi of the Chaldean Catholic Church, Australia has led the way in welcoming thousands of Christians who have been forced to leave their homes because of violence from radical militant groups such as the so-called Islamic State.

"I appreciate people from Australia for one, their prayers, two, opening their hearts before their arms, and three, opening the gates to our people, our people who have suffered from this violence," Father Bazi told The Catholic Leader.

"My people look to Australia as the promise land," said the priest who was kidnapped and tortured for nine days in 2006 by Islamic militants. He was only released when his archdiocese paid a ransom demand.

Father Bazi told The Catholic Leader he was grateful that Australian parishes have accepted many Iraqi refugees and he hoped the Australian government will allow more to come.

"We have to keep praying and make the government accept more cases," said the Baghdad-born cleric. "There are thousands still suffering."

Father Bazi moved to Auckland, New Zealand, in 2016 where he leads a Chaldean community of some 300 families. He is also lobbying for the New Zealand government to allow 71 disabled Iraqi children into the country on sponsorships.