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BASRA, April 06,
2010 -- People in the southern Iraqi city of
Basra are now able to listen to the province's first
Christian radio station, RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq (RFI)
reports.
The Voice of the New Testament broadcasts mostly
religious hymns and Bible readings from the station's
office in Basra's National Evangelical Church.

Saad Matti Petros, the head of the Minorities Committee
on the city council, told RFI that the radio station
will promote the values of tolerance and peaceful
coexistence in society. Petros, who is a Christian, said
the opening of the radio is "a historic event" as it is
the first time Basra has had a Christian radio station.
Petros insisted that the radio does not have any
missionary purposes. He said the director of the radio
station, Father Maher, has also signed a written
statement that the broadcasts will not offend the
followers of other religions.
The deputy head of the Basra city council, Sheikh Ahmad
al-Sulayti, welcomed the opening of the radio station.
"We consider this a big achievement in the new Iraq," he
said. "It proves there is an opening to all the other
cultures [in the country]. It also reflects that other
cultures have the freedom to express themselves.... We
are blessing this good step."
He added that the city council gave immediate permission
for the radio station.
The new Christian radio station will be heard in most of
Basra Province. It has not yet broadcasted any news but
is expected to do so in the future.
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