PARIS, July 31, /ITAR-TASS/. French President Francois Hollande has called for protecting Christians in Iraq.

The French president congratulated the Iraqi counterpart on the victory in the presidential elections and “expressed deep concern over the persecutions of Christians in Iraq”.

“It is necessary to protect religious minorities in Iraq and create conditions for their further stay in the country as they wish to facilitate prosperity of the Iraqi society,” he said.

Hollande and Masum also discussed France’s contribution to Iraq to “supporting different groups of the population”.

In 2003 at least 1.5 million Christians lived in Iraq. The U.S.-led coalition war in Iraq fuelled the unrest in Iraq and increased the persecution on Iraqi Christians. According to different reports, as of today from 200,000 to 500,000 Christians live in Iraq.