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ISIS to Iraqi Christians: 'Obey, Pay, or Leave'
CBN News Middle East Bureau ^ | Thursday, June 19, 2014 | Chris Mitchell

Posted on 06/19/2014 1:24:47 PM PDT by robowombat

ISIS to Iraqi Christians: 'Obey, Pay, or Leave'

By Chris Mitchell CBN News Middle East Bureau Chief Thursday, June 19, 2014

BARTILLA, Iraq -- Throughout its Iraq campaign, ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) has targeted Christians. Many fled to the relative safety of Kurdish Iraq, but most still fear the wrath of the world's most brutal jihadist group.

Pastor Majeed, CBN News' guide, drove with us toward Nineveh where most of the country's besieged Christians have fled. It wasn't long until we went as far as the Kurdish army, called the Peshmerga, would allow us to go.

"So this is the end line. We cannot go any more," Majeed explained.

To travel beyond the town of Bartilla is to risk running into the ISIS. The jihadist group controls the mountains not far from the town. A few kilometers down the road, there's an ISIS checkpoint.

About 25,000 Christians have fled to Bartilla, but CBN News couldn't find one who would talk on camera out of fear of retribution.

The conditions in Bartilla are abysmal. There's no water because ISIS turned it off. And there's no electricity because Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's government turned that off.

People here are protected by the Peshmerga, who have set up a perimeter around the town and a few other towns in the area.

These people know that ISIS could come in and kill most of the people here. They're asking for prayer from Christians around the world. One Christian leader said they're asking for prayer just as the Apostle Paul did, praying that God will protect the town and the region.

Bartilla lies just a few miles from Nineveh or Mosul, the first major conquest for ISIS just a few days ago. The town was nearly deserted.

While Christians refused to talk on camera, CBN News talked to one of the house church leaders.

On our way back to the Kurdish capital, Erbil, Pastor Majeed told us when ISIS captured Nineveh, it gave Christian residents three choices: obey, pay or leave.

"That they are not allowed to open their churches. And even if they open them they will burn the churches," Majeed explained. "And also the Christians have been requested -- been asked to pay the tax [dhimmi, the tax for non-Muslims under Islamic rule]."

"If not, they can leave Nineveh," he continued. "And if they don't leave and don't pay the tax, they should give their heads." He was talking about beheading.

In the midst of this cauldron surrounding Iraq's Christians, Majeed sent out a prayer S.O.S.

"So please raise up prayer for us. This is what we need," he said. "We do believe that prayer is very important because we hear when man is work[ing], man is working. But when man is praying, God is working."

"So it is important for the churches outside Iraq to raise up prayers and also to fast for the sake of the people of Iraq," he continued.

"It's important for the other churches to pray for them to be protected," he admonished. "Please pray for us -- this is the only thing for the right time. We have nothing to do. People outside can do nothing for us except praying."


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: christianpersecution; iraq; iraqcrisis; isis; persecution; sharia
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ISIS appears to be a straight forward Wahhabist movement. They detest backsliding Sunnis and loath 'heretical' Shias with much greater intensity than Christians in Iraq. Th question is whether thay are covertly working for the true believing part of the Saudi regime or whether they are , for the moment, determined to confront the corrupt Saudi Royal Government.
1 posted on 06/19/2014 1:24:47 PM PDT by robowombat
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To: robowombat

Is “how about we kill you instead” an option?


2 posted on 06/19/2014 1:26:48 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("The more numerous the laws, the more corrupt the government." --Tacitus)
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Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: robowombat

Ladies and Gentlemen...this is true Islam being displayed for all the world to see. Take note because if the muslims ever gain numbers here in the States, this is what we will see.


4 posted on 06/19/2014 1:27:51 PM PDT by ealgeone (obama, borderof)
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To: robowombat

Bearded savages acting like bearded savages. Now I understand why our fearless leader doesn’t want to condemn them. They hate Christians. That’s why. (He does too)


5 posted on 06/19/2014 1:28:59 PM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
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To: NYer; Salvation; SeekAndFind; zot

ping


6 posted on 06/19/2014 1:29:15 PM PDT by GreyFriar (Spearhead - 3rd Armored Division 75-78 & 83-87)
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To: robowombat

They need more than prayers, they need weapons.


7 posted on 06/19/2014 1:29:37 PM PDT by Blood of Tyrants (Haven't you lost enough freedoms? Support an end to the WOD now.)
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To: robowombat
I think they are a mobilized group of crazies, specially selected and protected to wreak havoc.

Sometime later this year, we'll learn that "they have quieted thejmselves down" and are behaving more political ... which is just what BanKeeMoon wants ... and obama, and every other member of Satan's army .... marching to Armegeddon.

8 posted on 06/19/2014 1:30:43 PM PDT by knarf (brooklyn bridge)
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To: robowombat

But, but! I just heard Barry tell them they had to be “inclusive.”


9 posted on 06/19/2014 1:34:18 PM PDT by AmericanVictory (Should we be more like them or they more like we used to be?)
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To: knarf
You are abusive. The people ISIS are killing en mass are Shias as well as Sunnis who work for the Malaki government. The program they are enforcing is pure Wahabism. Why don't you take the time to inform yourself before shooting off your big mouth.
10 posted on 06/19/2014 1:38:12 PM PDT by robowombat
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Turn the other cheek?


11 posted on 06/19/2014 1:41:34 PM PDT by freerepublicchat
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To: robowombat

We’re going to find out, sooner or later,
If Abdul will pray, to a glowing crater.
(He won’t.)


12 posted on 06/19/2014 1:42:18 PM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: robowombat
The program they are enforcing is pure Wahabism.

I have read from several sources that ISIL is Salafist.

The Saudis, who most likely control ISIL, are Wahabists.

13 posted on 06/19/2014 1:42:45 PM PDT by Praxeologue
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To: robowombat

Sounds like CBN only talks to other evangelicals —the few that exist among Iraqi Christians. ISIS will kill all Christians regardless of denomination—on the other hand Assyrian-Chaldean & Armenian Christians might be welcomed into Iran where they have communities. For all their lousiness—Iranians tolerate these Christians because they don’t try and proselytize. Their services are not in Farsi. thus no threat to Islamic theocracy.


14 posted on 06/19/2014 1:47:30 PM PDT by brooklyn dave
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Islam is a war plan.


15 posted on 06/19/2014 1:48:07 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Don't be a statist!)
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To: Kennard
I have read from several sources that ISIL is Salafist.

The Saudis, who most likely control ISIL, are Wahabists.

The two are pretty close in attitudes. I need to find the page in Allen's ‘God's Terrorists’ that describes the major doctrinal points of Wahabism. It just struck me as so much how ISIL’s members are behaving. They have the elan of true believers and are obviously striking terror into the hearts of other Muslims. This is a violent redemptionist movement and ISIL reminds one of the Sudanese Mahdists from the 1880’s.

16 posted on 06/19/2014 1:48:17 PM PDT by robowombat
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To: brooklyn dave

They are more than capable of moving on to that as their goal is a throughly ‘purified’ form of Islam. For the moment there are lots of hated Shia and backsliding Sunnis to kill.


17 posted on 06/19/2014 1:50:36 PM PDT by robowombat
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To: freerepublicchat

If Jesus was referring to being shot with a Kalashnikov instead of a simple slap on the cheek, he would have said “fall face down and don’t get up” instead.


18 posted on 06/19/2014 2:00:08 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: robowombat
"About 25,000 Christians have fled to Bartilla, but CBN News couldn't find one who would talk on camera out of fear of retribution."

"If not, they can leave Nineveh," he continued. "And if they don't leave and don't pay the tax, they should give their heads." He was talking about beheading."

I'm sure all this 'asking and waiting for an answer before offering another alternative' actually happens

19 posted on 06/19/2014 2:01:38 PM PDT by knarf (brooklyn bridge)
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To: robowombat

Saudi Arabia will oppose any US and British or regional intervention in Iraq against the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, the country’s ambassador to London tells the Telegraph

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/saudiarabia/10911281/Iraq-crisis-Britain-and-US-must-not-meddle-in-Iraq-warns-Saudi-Arabia.html


20 posted on 06/19/2014 2:29:43 PM PDT by Rusty0604
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