By Leah Marieann Klett
By Leah
Marieann Klett
The Islamic
State has issued a "safety contract" for Christians living in
Qaryatian, Syria comprised of 11 specific commandments, including one which
prohibits praying out loud to Jesus Christ under penalty of death.
According to
the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Christians in the captured town will
have to pay the jizyah or jizya tax imposed on non-Muslims, in addition to the
other commandments issued by the extremist group's leader, Abu Bakr
al-Baghdadi.
The watchdog
group listed the 11 stipulations, which prohibit: the establishment of
churches, the displaying of crosses, making Muslims hear Christian prayers or
rituals of worship, the hiding of spies, offending Islamic religious beliefs,
the carrying of weapons, the sale of pork or wine to Muslims, and failing to
dress modestly.
The list of
rules concluded, "If they comply with these conditions, so they have are
safe in their lands, money and souls, and they are not going to pay one-tenth
except they bring money to trade from outside the IS territories not oppressor
nor oppressed. None of them is going to be punished under a sin committed by
another else of them. In case they violate the conditions of this writ, then
'Islamic State' is going to deal with them as they deal with people of war
(warriors)."
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The Assyrian
Christian community has faced heavy persecution from ISIS in recent months, as
the jihadist group is known for killing those who do not swear allegiance to
its particular brand of Islamic extremism.
As reported
by the Gospel Herald, the jihadist group captured Qaryatain after heavy combat
with the Syrian army in early August. At least 230 people were kidnapped amid
the fighting, including numerous Christians who were seeking refuge in a
church.
The town is
thought to have a mixed population of around 40,000 people, including Sunni
Muslims and Christians, as well as thousands of people who have fled fighting
elsewhere in the country, the BBC notes.
Speaking to
the International Business Times, Nahren Anweya, an Assyrian-American activist,
said that the extremist group is seeking to suppress any Christian presence in
the region.
"Our
entire ancestral homelands have been completely taken and now they won't even
allow us to sustain our religious faith in one God and his son Jesus Christ,
" Anweya said.
"We
have been purged out of Mosul, Nineveh, Khabour, Hassaka, Qaryatian and many
more ancestral Assyrian homelands. They took our native homelands, our girls,
our churches and now they want the few lives we have left."
At least
450,000 of Syria's pre-2011 Christian population of 1.17 million are either
internally displaced or living as refugees abroad, the Catholic Herald reports.
Earlier this
week, a senior Catholic leader in Syria encouraged Syrian Christians to stay in
the war-torn country despite the persecution they continually face, warning
that Christianity is disappearing from the region.
"Given
this tsunami of emigration... what future is left for the Church? What will become
of our homeland? What will become of our parishes and institutions?"
Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III said in an open letter.
"Despite
all your suffering, stay! Be patient! Don't emigrate! Stay for the Church, your
homeland, for Syria and its future! Stay! Do stay."
The
Islamic State has issued a "safety contract" for Christians living in
Qaryatian, Syria comprised of 11 specific commandments, including one
which prohibits praying out loud to Jesus Christ under penalty of death.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,
Christians in the captured town will have to pay the jizyah or jizya
tax imposed on non-Muslims, in addition to the other commandments issued
by the extremist group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The watchdog group listed the 11 stipulations, which
prohibit: the establishment of churches, the displaying of crosses,
making Muslims hear Christian prayers or rituals of worship, the hiding
of spies, offending Islamic religious beliefs, the carrying of weapons,
the sale of pork or wine to Muslims, and failing to dress modestly.
The list of rules concluded, "If they comply with these
conditions, so they have are safe in their lands, money and souls, and
they are not going to pay one-tenth except they bring money to trade
from outside the IS territories not oppressor nor oppressed. None of
them is going to be punished under a sin committed by another else of
them. In case they violate the conditions of this writ, then 'Islamic
State' is going to deal with them as they deal with people of war
(warriors)."
Like Us on Facebook
The
Assyrian Christian community has faced heavy persecution from ISIS in
recent months, as the jihadist group is known for killing those who do
not swear allegiance to its particular brand of Islamic extremism.
As reported by the Gospel Herald, the jihadist group captured Qaryatain after heavy combat with the Syrian army in early August. At least 230 people were kidnapped amid the fighting, including numerous Christians who were seeking refuge in a church.
The town is thought to have a mixed population of around 40,000 people, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, as well as thousands of people who have fled fighting elsewhere in the country, the BBC notes.
Speaking to the International Business Times, Nahren Anweya, an Assyrian-American activist, said that the extremist group is seeking to suppress any Christian presence in the region.
- See more at:
http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/57629/20150904/isis-issues-list-of-11-rules-for-christians-living-in-captured-syrian-town-threaten-death-to-those-caught-praying-out-loud-to-jesus-christ.htm#sthash.untIpaQY.dpufAs reported by the Gospel Herald, the jihadist group captured Qaryatain after heavy combat with the Syrian army in early August. At least 230 people were kidnapped amid the fighting, including numerous Christians who were seeking refuge in a church.
The town is thought to have a mixed population of around 40,000 people, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, as well as thousands of people who have fled fighting elsewhere in the country, the BBC notes.
Speaking to the International Business Times, Nahren Anweya, an Assyrian-American activist, said that the extremist group is seeking to suppress any Christian presence in the region.
"Our entire ancestral homelands have been completely taken
and now they won't even allow us to sustain our religious faith in one
God and his son Jesus Christ, " Anweya said.
"We have been purged out of Mosul, Nineveh, Khabour,
Hassaka, Qaryatian and many more ancestral Assyrian homelands. They took
our native homelands, our girls, our churches and now they want the few
lives we have left."
At
least 450,000 of Syria's pre-2011 Christian population of 1.17 million
are either internally displaced or living as refugees abroad, the
Catholic Herald reports.
Earlier
this week, a senior Catholic leader in Syria encouraged Syrian
Christians to stay in the war-torn country despite the persecution they
continually face, warning that Christianity is disappearing from the
region.
"Given this tsunami of emigration... what future is left
for the Church? What will become of our homeland? What will become of
our parishes and institutions?" Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch
Gregorios III said in an open letter.
"Despite all your suffering, stay! Be patient! Don't
emigrate! Stay for the Church, your homeland, for Syria and its future!
Stay! Do stay."
By Leah Marieann Klett
By Leah Marieann Klett
The
Islamic State has issued a "safety contract" for Christians living in
Qaryatian, Syria comprised of 11 specific commandments, including one
which prohibits praying out loud to Jesus Christ under penalty of death.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights,
Christians in the captured town will have to pay the jizyah or jizya
tax imposed on non-Muslims, in addition to the other commandments issued
by the extremist group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The watchdog group listed the 11 stipulations, which
prohibit: the establishment of churches, the displaying of crosses,
making Muslims hear Christian prayers or rituals of worship, the hiding
of spies, offending Islamic religious beliefs, the carrying of weapons,
the sale of pork or wine to Muslims, and failing to dress modestly.
The list of rules concluded, "If they comply with these
conditions, so they have are safe in their lands, money and souls, and
they are not going to pay one-tenth except they bring money to trade
from outside the IS territories not oppressor nor oppressed. None of
them is going to be punished under a sin committed by another else of
them. In case they violate the conditions of this writ, then 'Islamic
State' is going to deal with them as they deal with people of war
(warriors)."
Like Us on Facebook
The
Assyrian Christian community has faced heavy persecution from ISIS in
recent months, as the jihadist group is known for killing those who do
not swear allegiance to its particular brand of Islamic extremism.
As reported by the Gospel Herald, the jihadist group captured Qaryatain after heavy combat with the Syrian army in early August. At least 230 people were kidnapped amid the fighting, including numerous Christians who were seeking refuge in a church.
The town is thought to have a mixed population of around 40,000 people, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, as well as thousands of people who have fled fighting elsewhere in the country, the BBC notes.
Speaking to the International Business Times, Nahren Anweya, an Assyrian-American activist, said that the extremist group is seeking to suppress any Christian presence in the region.
- See more at:
http://www.gospelherald.com/articles/57629/20150904/isis-issues-list-of-11-rules-for-christians-living-in-captured-syrian-town-threaten-death-to-those-caught-praying-out-loud-to-jesus-christ.htm#sthash.untIpaQY.dpufAs reported by the Gospel Herald, the jihadist group captured Qaryatain after heavy combat with the Syrian army in early August. At least 230 people were kidnapped amid the fighting, including numerous Christians who were seeking refuge in a church.
The town is thought to have a mixed population of around 40,000 people, including Sunni Muslims and Christians, as well as thousands of people who have fled fighting elsewhere in the country, the BBC notes.
Speaking to the International Business Times, Nahren Anweya, an Assyrian-American activist, said that the extremist group is seeking to suppress any Christian presence in the region.
"Our entire ancestral homelands have been completely taken
and now they won't even allow us to sustain our religious faith in one
God and his son Jesus Christ, " Anweya said.
"We have been purged out of Mosul, Nineveh, Khabour,
Hassaka, Qaryatian and many more ancestral Assyrian homelands. They took
our native homelands, our girls, our churches and now they want the few
lives we have left."
At
least 450,000 of Syria's pre-2011 Christian population of 1.17 million
are either internally displaced or living as refugees abroad, the
Catholic Herald reports.
Earlier
this week, a senior Catholic leader in Syria encouraged Syrian
Christians to stay in the war-torn country despite the persecution they
continually face, warning that Christianity is disappearing from the
region.
"Given this tsunami of emigration... what future is left
for the Church? What will become of our homeland? What will become of
our parishes and institutions?" Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch
Gregorios III said in an open letter.
"Despite all your suffering, stay! Be patient! Don't
emigrate! Stay for the Church, your homeland, for Syria and its future!
Stay! Do stay."
By Leah Marieann Klett
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