Convert or die: Thousands of Iraqi Christians today poured out of Mosul after ISIS jihadis gave them an ultimatum - convert, pay tax or face death.
The Islamic State group declared that Christians must either convert to Islam, pay a special tax or leave the city of Mosul, around 250 miles north-west of Baghdad.
The Islamic State group declared that Christians must either convert to Islam, pay a special tax or leave the city of Mosul, around 250 miles north-west of Baghdad.
Thousands of Iraqi Christians pour out of Mosul after ISIS jihadis give them deadline to convert, pay tax or face death.
The Islamic State terror group declared that Christians must either convert to Islam, pay a special tax or leave the city, around 250 miles north-west of Baghdad.
If they did not do so by noon (9am GMT) today, there would be 'nothing for them but the sword', it said.
► ISIS told Christians they must convert, pay special tax or leave Mosul, Iraq
► If they did not, there would be 'nothing for them but the sword', it declared
► Deadline of noon (9am GMT) today was relayed by mosques in the region
► Christians have now joined Shiite and other refugees in nearby Kurdistan
► Chaldean patriarch: 'For first time in history, Mosul is empty of Christians'
► Militants enforcing an extreme Islamic law launched offensive on June 9
Exodus: Thousands of Iraqi Christians today poured out of Mosul after ISIS jihadis gave them an ultimatum - convert to Islam, pay a special tax or face death. Above, Christian women pray at a church in Arbil, Kurdistan
As militants attempted to break government defences in strategic areas and edge closer to Baghdad, Christians fled to join hundreds of thousands of Shiite and other refugees in the neighbouring autonomous region of Kurdistan.
Their escape to the safety coincided with the expected homecoming of Iraq's Kurdish president, Jalal Talabani, after 18 months of medical treatment in Germany.
 |
| Escape - Human Rights Watch said the Islamic State 'seems intent on wiping out all traces of minority groups from areas it now controls in Iraq.' Above, Shia Turkments carry their possessions to Arbil yesterday |
Chaldean patriarch Louis Sako, who heads Iraq's largest Christian community, said the terrifying ultimatum had been relayed by mosques in ISIS-controlled Mosul.
He told AFP: 'Christian families are on their way to Dohuk and Arbil [in Kurdistan]. For the first time in the history of Iraq, Mosul is now empty of Christians.'
He told AFP: 'Christian families are on their way to Dohuk and Arbil [in Kurdistan]. For the first time in the history of Iraq, Mosul is now empty of Christians.'
