A Line Crossed in the Middle East: What the End of Christianity in Mosul Means for Christians Everywhere
Document Type
Essay
Publication Title
First Things - Web Exclusives
Publication Date
7-22-2014
Abstract
(Excerpt)
Say goodbye to one of the most ancient Christian communities in the world. Last week, members of ISIS—the “Islamic State in Iraq and Syria,” a Sunni Islamist group that recently has captured parts of Iraq and declared a new caliphate—began going through the northern Iraqi city of Mosul and marking the homes of Christians with the Arabic letter “Nun.” “Nun” stands for “Nasara,” from “Nazarenes,” a word that refers to Christians. The implications were clear. Mosul’s Christians faced the same fate the Christians of Raqqa, Syria, had when ISIS captured their city last spring. “We offer them three choices,” ISIS announced: “Islam; the dhimma contract—involving payment of jizya; if they refuse this they will have nothing but the sword.”
Comments
Available at: https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2014/07/a-line-crossed-in-the-middle-east