Christians in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu took part in a monthlong protest campaign for equal rights for dalit Christians.

Initial reports blame the attacks on members of the Muslim Fulani tribe against the Christian Berom tribe.

The agency cited women employed in private homes as in need of protection from abuse and exploitation.

More than 1,000 Christians walked through Hamdaniya on Sunday Feb. 28 in an appeal to Iraq’s central government for protection.

"We condemn the offenses committed by monks, priests and their colleagues in our dioceses,” the bishops said in a statement on Feb. 25.

The president of the country's bishops’ conference said, “We ache for our brothers and sisters who have lost their lives."