Article:
Signs Of The
Last Times
A priest hailing from what used to be Iraq’s largest Christian city has lamented the exodus of over 100,000 Christians from the city, many of whom are fleeing on foot with no food, money or water.
“Today the story of Christianity is finished in Iraq,” said a priest who identified himself as Fr. Nawar. “People can’t stay in Iraq because there is death for whoever stays,” told CNA Aug. 8.
A priest who has been living and studying in Rome for the last three years, Fr. Nawar is originally from the Iraqi city of Qaraqosh (Bakhdida) on the plains of Nineveh, which was considered the Christian capital of the country until the Kurdish military forces known as the Peshmerga withdrew from it. The city then fell to forces of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant – known as ISIS – on Wednesday night. Since then more than 100,000 Christians have fled the city, many taking with them nothing but the clothes on their backs.
According to reports from BBC News, the Islamic State militants have taken down crosses and burned religious manuscripts. Noting how there are many families now “who are dying because of the temperatures, dying because they can’t eat, dying because of fear, and also because of war, of bombs,” the priest emphasized the importance of giving “a voice to all of these sick people.”
Qaraqosh is about 19 miles southeast of Mosul, which Islamic State forces captured in June, giving an ultimatum to Christians and other minorities demanding that they convert, pay the jizya tax or be killed.
“When ISIS arrives, the Christians must change religion or escape. There is no other option. Change religions, become Muslim, and those who don’t convert leave.”
