“N” for Nazarene

We are all Christians from Iraq

2003:  1.5 million Christians in Iraq

2013:  150,000 – 300,000 Christians in Iraq

June 2014:   Christians flee in their thousands from the jihadists in the ISIS controlled towns and cities

 

In just a few days, between 5 and 10 June, the province of Niniveh and the city of Mosul, the second-largest city in Iraq fell into the hands of the ISIS forces (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant).

It is estimated that over 500,000 people attempted to flee ahead of the arrival of the jihadist rebels, who want to impose Islamic law on the country. The Islamist group now in control is one of the most radical Sunni organizations and already has taken over control of a number of regions in Syria, a country already living through a nightmarish civil war.

Horrified, the world witnessed the flight of almost half a million people in less than 48 hours. This precipitate flight left these thousands of refugees in a state of utter powerless.

“N” for Nazarene

We are all Iraqi Christians! For the first time in 2000 years there is not a single Christian left in Mosul. The Iraqi Christians had to choose, following the ultimatum, between death and exile. Before they were presented with the choice between forcible conversion, exile or death, the Islamic extremist marked all the houses of the Christians with the symbol ن, often surrounded by a circle.

The symbol (ن) is a 14th letter of the Arabic alphabet and represents the letter “N” in our alphabet. It is the first letter of the word “Nazarene,” which the Muslims have used since the seventh century to identify Christians. This letter of the Arabic alphabet has been painted on the front of houses belonging to Christians, while on the front of Shi’ite Muslim homes the letter “R” has been painted, meaning Rwafidh (Protestants, “those who reject”).

Today there are no Christians left in the second-largest city of Iraq! Their hasty flight has left thousands of refugees with nothing. They have lost everything!

 

Let us pray together on August 6th – for Peace in Iraq

 

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