Tag: Kurds

Syriac priest wrestles with Turkey’s ethnic tensions

April 22, 2015 Turkey Armenian Genocide, Armenians, Assyrians, Diyarbakir, Islamic State, Kurds, Mardin, Middle East, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Syria, Syriacs, Turkey

In the courtyard of the 1,700-year-old church over which he presides, Fr. Yusuf Akbulut beams with pride. He points out that the excellent stone and woodwork is a result of the craftsmanship of his ethnic group, the Syriac Christians of Turkey. “The Syriacs were always the goldsmiths, metal workers, stone . . . Read More

Abandoned Syrian Christian leaders urge air strike

February 27, 2015 Syria Hasakah, Islamic State, Kobani, Kurds, Syria

A Syrian Christian leader is urging the US to strike IS held positions following the news earlier this week that up to 220 Syrian Christians were kidnapped from Hassaka province. “There is a need for immediate action similar to what took place in Kobani,” Bassam Ishak, president of the Syriac . . . Read More

‘Turkey failed’ 100+ Christians abducted by IS

February 26, 2015 Syria Damascus, Hasakah, Islamic State, Kurds, Syria, Turkey

The Syrian Catholic Archbishop of Hassaka-Nisibi has accused Turkey of preventing Christians from fleeing Syria to safety across the Turkish border, two days after Islamic State militants abducted at least 96 people. They lived in a cluster of villages in northeast Syria which had been under the control of Syrian . . . Read More

Iraqi Archbishop ‘begs’ Britain to send in troops

February 10, 2015 Afghanistan, Bashar Warda, Chaldeans, Iraq, Islamic State, Kurds, London, Nineveh Plains, UK

The Chaldean Catholic Archbishop of Erbil – the city in Iraqi Kurdistan where thousands of Christians have fled to safety from Islamic State fighters -‘begged’ Britain to send troops to his country to help save Christians there from being wiped out. He said an estimated 125,000 Christians in northern Iraq have . . . Read More

Syrian Christians have wedding despite IS threat

November 17, 2014 Syria Islamic State, Kurds, Nineveh Plains, Qamishli, Syria

Just 15 miles away from territory now occupied by Islamic State, the Syrian Christians of Qamishli gathered in the church of the Holy Virgin for the wedding of Malek Aissa and Ilana Hacho. At the wedding priests told the Independent how IS has brought their church to its knees. The . . . Read More

Heavy rain in northern Iraq floods refugee camps

October 17, 2014 Iraq IDPs, Iraq, Islamic State, Kurds, Refugees

Heavy rain on Thursday in the Kurdistan region of Iraq has flooded the refugee camps where many Christians live after fleeing Islamic State militia. It has forced the refugees to look elsewhere for accommodation, which will put further pressure on other camps and Christian homes already housing relatives and friends. . . . Read More

Vicar of Baghdad leaves Baghdad

October 10, 2014 Iraq Baghdad, Erbil, Iraq, Kurds

Saying the self-proclaimed “Islamic State” is operating in Baghdad, the Anglican Vicar of Baghdad, Andrew White, has abandoned the capital city. White made the announcement on on Oct. 7, after a discussion with the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby. “He has agreed for me to . . . Read More

What’s the threat of Islamic State to the Church worldwide?

September 25, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Al-Qaeda, Bartella, Dohuk, Erbil, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Israel, Jizya, Jordan, Kurds, Lebanon, Muslim Brotherhood, Qaraqosh, Quran, Salafism, Sharia, Sunni, Syria

While Islamic State is wreaking havoc in Iraq and Syria, its ambitions do not stop there. Moreover, several world leaders are saying it is one of the biggest threats they are facing. But exactly how does Islamic State fit into the global picture of Christians under pressure for their faith . . . Read More

Qaraqosh falls, thousands flee

August 8, 2014 Iraq Ankawa, Genocide, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Islamic State, Kurds, Mosul, Peshmerga, Qaraqosh, Tel Kaif

Map of IS occupation in Iraq as of August 7 2014. Courtesy of Open Doors International Armed jihadists of the so-called “Islamic State” took over Iraq’s largest Christian town, Qaraqosh, and nearby Christian settlements early Thursday, forcing thousands of Christians to flee to Kurdish-controlled areas. Statements of anguish and . . . Read More

Sunni militants push Christians out of Qaraqosh

August 7, 2014 Iraq Iraq, Islamic State, Kirkuk, Kurds, Mosul, Qaraqosh, Refugees, Sunni

Armed jihadists of the so-called “Islamic State” took over Iraq’s largest Christian town, Qaraqosh, and surrounding towns early Thursday, forcing thousands of Christians to flee further into Kurdistan. Widespread news reports said Sunni militants moved into the area overnight, after Kurdish defense forces withdrew. The militants also have seized Mosul Dam, . . . Read More

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