In a new report at World magazine, Senior Editor Mindy Belz describes the destruction of cities like Nineveh, which is outside of Mosul, and which the Islamic State had occupied for the last three years.
As the Jewish and Christian communities celebrate Passover and Easter this weekend in America, it’s important to remember our brothers and sisters celebrating faithfully around the world, especially those in places ISIS has devastated.
Before the ISIS takeover in 2014, Qaraqosh numbered 60,000 people, nearly all members of Assyrian, Catholic, and Orthodox churches. ISIS took captives, including a 3-year-old girl named Christina, and sent everyone else fleeing under heavy fire. In November 2016 Iraqi forces with assistance from a U.S.-led coalition fought the Islamic State militants street by street, from the air, above and below ground. After its liberation, Qaraqosh sat empty and in ruins: The militants torched homes and churches, left wired explosives everywhere, and tunneled extensively under the city.
Not one Western media outlet on hand as Christians return for Palm Sunday in the largest town outside Mosul captured by ISIS. A remarkable perseverance. This photo by Iraqi photojournalist Gemayel Cefajamil. More to come in upcoming @WORLD_mag pic.twitter.com/gu9Vg57tqN
— Mindy Belz (@mcbelz) March 28, 2018
More beautiful pictures of #Syriac #Christians celebrating #PalmSunday in Baghdeda (Qaraqosh), Iraq, for the first time in 4 years or since ISIS was defeated from the area. This town was the largest Christian in Iraq prior to 2014. #IraqiChristians
Happy Holy Thursday! pic.twitter.com/vaEBNXKHoU
— Iraqi Christian HRC (@iraqschristians) March 29, 2018
Now that ISIS is gone, the faithful left in that city are working to rebuild about 2,600 homes for families who want to return to occupy the area. Faith leaders in the area fear if they don’t rebuild as quickly as possible, Christians will be unable to return and, as Father Salar Kajo told World, “If we take more time, families will leave and Christianity will disappear from Iraq.” – READ MORE
[give_form id=”79809″] [contentcards url=”https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/this-easter-christians-in-iraq-faithfully-gather-where-isis-once-ruled” target=”_blank”]