The Iraqi dead, as well as those who have died from Britain, will be remembered in a ‘public lament’ later this week, marking the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion.
Students from Queen’s Theological College, Edgbaston will stage the lamentation for the dead, and be joined by churches, other faith communities and those of no faith, this Wednesday 19th March.
Dressed in red, participants will mourn the dead by name, both Iraqi and British, civilian and soldier.
Members of city churches, people of other faiths and all of ‘good faith’ have been invited to attend and participate.
The mourners will assemble in Chamberlain Square at 1pm to read passages from the biblical book of Lamentations to the beat of a large drum, alternating with names of service personnel and Iraqi people killed in the war.
Members of the public will be invited to join in by putting ash on their foreheads in the tradition of Ash Wednesday mourning.
Bishop Dr Joe Aldred, Chair of the Council of Black-led Churches said, “The loss of life caused by conflicts between nations and peoples is a tragedy in so many ways. I fully support this lamentation, and mourn with families British, Iraqi and those from other nations who have lost their loved ones.”
The event takes place during Holy Week, when Christians remember Jesus’ suffering and execution at the hands of the political leaders of his day.
The ‘lament’ is a response to a call by the Fellowship of Reconciliation, which has members from various church denominations in the UK and USA, to mark the suffering of the people of Iraq.