November 11, 2002
Texas Baptist layman escaped Iraqi persecution
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___DALLAS--An elder at Arabic Baptist Church of Dallas who escaped oppression in Iraq now rejoices in the freedom he's found in America and in Jesus Christ.
___Julil Dawood was born and raised in Baghdad, where he attended a Catholic church. Throughout his childhood, he faced varying degrees of ridicule and harsh discipline because of his family's religious affiliation.
___When Saddam Hussein seized power, life became harder, he said. Iraq became a police state, where neighbors were encouraged to report suspicious behavior. Support of the state became mandatory.
___Today, "everybody is afraid of everybody," Dawood said. Government informants listen for subversive language during worship services and are suspicious of non-Sunday services. Large assemblies are not allowed.
___Dawood's cousin was executed. His father was imprisoned for smoking during Ramadan, an Islamic time of fasting. Students in school disappeared, and he heard they were executed. He witnessed shooting between government officials and Muslims, and a missile exploded near his house.
___"You feel helpless, fear," Dawood said. "Life is not normal. It is depressing. There is no enjoyment."
___Dawood faced a crossroads his senior year of high school in 1982. Iraq had been at war with Iran for two years and Dawood was going to be drafted into the army like his older brother.
___"We came to the conclusion we have no future because of the government," he said. "It will just lead us from trouble to trouble.
___"My family said, 'In order to save your life, you must leave.'"
___Armed with his father's savings of $3,000 and an old Bible he rarely read, Dawood hugged his family and left Baghdad for Rome. He lied about his paperwork and his age to maneuver past checkpoints and guards at the border, and he felt God protect him throughout the trip.
___"I had to take a risk, and the Lord saw the plan succeed," he said.
___Freedom was exhilarating, Dawood said. He spent much time seeking enjoyment by chasing women and frequenting dance clubs. But he did not find fulfillment.
___Longing for God, Dawood read the Bible but became frustrated by biblical laws he was unable to keep.
___One night, he went to a club to learn English and watch free American movies. The club turned out to be a Christian mission where Dawood heard the gospel and professed faith in Jesus as Lord.
___"That's the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," he said.
___While Dawood was free in Italy, his brother in the Iraqi army was sent to the front lines. But Dawood believes God protected his brother's life.
___Soon after Dawood became a Christian, he immigrated to the United States, where he was accepted as a political refugee.
___Dawood corresponded with his family until all communication was destroyed during the Gulf War. He remembers praying daily to hear from them and was grateful to hear they were alive.
___His family told him the country had been devastated by the short war between Iraq and a worldwide coalition led by the United States. Most of the infrastructure of the country was completely destroyed in the onslaught.
___He reunited with his family in 1999 when the last member was declared a political refugee and immigrated to the United States.
___ "In spite of war, (God) guided us through," Dawood explained. "We walked through the shadow of death, and there was a shield there."
___Although he and his family risked their lives to escape Hussein's wrath, Dawood said he does not believe the United States should attack Iraq. He called Hussein a "miniature Stalin," but believes war would lead to more terrorist attacks on the United States.
___"This move can destabilize the whole region," he said. "It's going to make more people hate America and hate everything America is doing."
___He believes the world should continue watching Hussein to ensure he will not take action against other nations, but feels removing Hussein could allow more sadistic powers to rule.
___He encourages Christians to focus on spreading the gospel and not let differing opinions about a possible attack divide them.
___"The message is to spread the gospel," he said. "If the church becomes political, the message will be lost."
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