{"id":76367,"date":"2025-08-13T17:06:24","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T15:06:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=76367"},"modified":"2025-08-28T21:04:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-28T19:04:56","slug":"what-can-we-learn-from-iraqi-christians-11-years-after-isiss-attack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/iraq-christians-faith-legacy","title":{"rendered":"What Can We Learn from Iraqi Christians 11 Years After ISIS\u2019s Attack?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"76367\" class=\"elementor elementor-76367\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a09e03d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a09e03d\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e2662e6\" data-id=\"e2662e6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1802d76 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1802d76\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Legacy of Faith Under Fire for Iraqi Christians<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e97fa06 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e97fa06\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025-1024x576.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-76443\" alt=\"Qaraqosh is home to many Iraqi Christians. It suffered great loss in 2014.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c4ac062 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c4ac062\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fcc0d22\" data-id=\"fcc0d22\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e04694 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e04694\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In August 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) \u2014 an extremist Sunni group \u2014 launched a violent campaign across northern Iraq. Their target: Qaraqosh, an ancient Christian city located in the Nineveh Plains.<\/p><p>What followed became one of the most devastating assaults on religious minorities in modern Iraqi history. Now, eleven years later, the story of Iraq\u2019s largest Christian community is far from over, and far from hopeless.<\/p><p>At ADF International, we\u2019re standing alongside Iraq\u2019s Christians, advocating for their right to worship freely and raising global awareness of their struggle.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5d65446 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5d65446\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ea7ac5d\" data-id=\"ea7ac5d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93a375c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"93a375c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Christianity\u2019s Deep Roots in Iraq<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8d523e5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8d523e5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-77e06da\" data-id=\"77e06da\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8abffae elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8abffae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Christianity is not foreign to Iraq \u2014 it\u2019s foundational. Long before ISIS and Islam, Christianity had already taken root in Iraq. In fact, Christianity has existed in Iraq since the first century AD, long before it reached many parts of Europe.<\/p><p>This makes Iraq home to some of the oldest Christian communities in the world.<\/p><p>The Assyrian Church of the East, the Chaldean Catholic Church, and the Syriac Orthodox Church all trace their lineage to Iraq. These churches preserve early liturgical traditions and still conduct services in Syriac, a dialect of Aramaic \u2014 the language spoken by Jesus.<\/p><p>Many Iraqi Christians today are ethnic Assyrians, descendants of the ancient Assyrian Empire, which once ruled over much of the Middle East. Christianity became embedded in Assyrian identity after their conversion in the first few centuries AD, blending ancient cultural heritage with deep Christian faith.<\/p><p>Just south of the Nineveh Plains lies the region of southern Mesopotamia, where the ancient city of Ur \u2014 the birthplace of Abraham, the patriarch through whom God\u2019s redemptive promises and Jesus flow \u2014 is located.<\/p><p>This land is steeped in sacred history. But history alone has not guaranteed safety for Iraq\u2019s Christians.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e7adadc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e7adadc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ed533b\" data-id=\"2ed533b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-19967da elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"19967da\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The 2014 Genocide: What Happened to Iraqi Christians<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9c2fc36 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9c2fc36\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-901b22f\" data-id=\"901b22f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39705a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39705a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the 2014 attack, ISIS aimed to establish a caliphate in northern Iraq, one free of Christians, Yazidis, and other minorities. Qaraqosh, the largest Christian city in Iraq, was one of its primary targets.<\/p><p>The violence extended far beyond Qaraqosh. Sinjar, the heartland of the Yazidi people, and Mosul, once a city of rich religious diversity, were left shattered under the same campaign of destruction.<\/p><p>Entire villages were emptied. Ancient Christian manuscripts and artifacts were destroyed or sold on the black market. Communities that had existed for nearly 2,000 years were uprooted in a matter of days.<\/p><p>The assault was systematic:<\/p><ul><li>Churches and monasteries were burned, bombed, or turned into prisons and weapons depots.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Christian symbols \u2014 crosses, icons, statues \u2014 were desecrated or publicly destroyed.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Homes and businesses were looted and marked with the Arabic letter \u201c\u0646\u201d (n\u016bn), short for Nasrani (Christian), a brand of targeted extermination.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Graves and cemeteries were desecrated in an attempt to erase memory itself.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4562cec elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4562cec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-image-1024x576.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-76456\" alt=\"St. John&#039;s church (Mar Yohanna) in Qaraqosh.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-image-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-image-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-image-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-image-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-image.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"widget-image-caption wp-caption-text\">St. John's church (Mar Yohanna) in Qaraqosh<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0ed1efa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0ed1efa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Christians and Yazidis were given four choices: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.huffpost.com\/entry\/genocide-proceeds-against_b_9599850\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">convert to Islam<\/a>, pay the jizya \u2014 a humiliating religious tax imposed on non-Muslims under extremist rule \u2014 flee, or die. Nearly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christiandaily.com\/news\/christians-are-squeezed-like-never-before-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">80,000<\/a> Christians fled their homes in a desperate exodus.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5429946 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5429946\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-aa91a12\" data-id=\"aa91a12\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ca91126 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ca91126\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Women and Children: The Most Vulnerable<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c87b108 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c87b108\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e5667a2\" data-id=\"e5667a2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77f4f6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"77f4f6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Women and girls, especially from Yazidi and Christian communities, suffered some of the worst atrocities. ISIS ran an organized network of <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2017\/08\/562772-isils-genocide-against-yazidis-ongoing-un-rights-panel-says-calling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slave markets<\/a> where girls, some as young as nine, were bought, sold, and passed between fighters.<\/p><p>Over 6,800 Yazidi women and children were abducted, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/news.un.org\/en\/story\/2017\/08\/562772-isils-genocide-against-yazidis-ongoing-un-rights-panel-says-calling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UN reports<\/a>, and an unknown number of Christian girls were subjected to similar fates. Many have never been found.<\/p><p>In the chaos, tens of thousands sought refuge in the Kurdistan Region, where the regional government, while limited in resources, opened its borders. Most found shelter in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.persecution.org\/2024\/08\/06\/iraqs-christians-remember-genocide-10-years-ago\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">refugee camps<\/a>, unfinished buildings, or makeshift settlements. For many, those \u201ctemporary\u201d shelters have now become permanent.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-02b5f44 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"02b5f44\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b031c57\" data-id=\"b031c57\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef604cb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ef604cb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Lasting Impact of ISIS\u2019s Attack<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-aaa4999 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"aaa4999\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6d8591a\" data-id=\"6d8591a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5972bf3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5972bf3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Before ISIS&#8217;s brutal campaign, an estimated <a href=\"https:\/\/minorityrights.org\/country\/iraq\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">350,000 Christians<\/a> lived in Iraq. Today, that number has dwindled significantly.<\/p><p>As of 2024, it\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.christiandaily.com\/news\/christians-are-squeezed-like-never-before-in-the-middle-east-and-north-africa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">estimated<\/a> that less than half of the original Christians who fled the Plains have returned. Security concerns, economic hardship, and limited infrastructure continue to hinder full resettlement.<\/p><p>Many Iraqi Christians remain uncertain about their ability to live openly and safely as Christians in their own homeland.<\/p><p>To defend themselves, locals formed the Nineveh Plains Protection Unit (NPU), a militia dedicated to defending their communities. By 2017, a coalition of Iraqi forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, local militias, and US-led air support liberated the region.<\/p><p>While ISIS may no longer control the region, Christians in Iraq continue to face:<\/p><ul><li>Discrimination in law and daily life.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Threats and intimidation from militias and extremist groups.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Barriers to reclaiming stolen homes and properties.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>Government failure to protect religious minorities.<br \/><br \/><\/li><li>A lack of legal recognition and representation.<\/li><\/ul><p>These ongoing struggles reveal a deeper truth: Iraq\u2019s legal system, still fragile after decades of conflict, has yet to prove it will uphold the rights of Iraqi Christians.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5c89b21 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5c89b21\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-eaae62d\" data-id=\"eaae62d\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-52a8cfc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"52a8cfc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"> A Visit to Qaraqosh: Seeing the Present Reality<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-af75d2e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"af75d2e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1644079\" data-id=\"1644079\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16e1cb5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"16e1cb5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In 2021, Pope Francis visited Iraq, including Qaraqosh, bringing global attention to the plight of Iraqi Christians. His message was clear: Iraqi Christians are not forgotten.<\/p><p>Earlier this year, <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/our-team\/sean-nelson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sean Nelson<\/a>, ADF International\u2019s Legal Counsel for Global Religious Freedom, visited Qaraqosh and the surrounding areas.<\/p><p>Amidst ruined buildings and ongoing hardships, Sean met determined individuals working to rebuild homes, reopen churches, and restore dignity to daily life.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bce413e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bce413e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-741e001\" data-id=\"741e001\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d17ea63 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d17ea63\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Nelson Experienced<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b99b3fc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b99b3fc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-91072ea\" data-id=\"91072ea\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f31b73b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f31b73b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>\u201cWhat I saw in Qaraqosh was Christians deeply committed to rebuilding their lives and their communities after the horror of ISIS. Many churches had been renovated and restored, and one church that was over 1000 years old, but had been left in ruins for a century, had been completely rebuilt after ISIS. Crosses were proudly displayed. And the communities were committed to never forgetting what ISIS had done. Each church still had memorials and sections showing the devastation.<\/p><p>\u201cStill, these communities have seen their populations cut in half since before ISIS. Religious leaders mentioned illegal and dubious encroachments on land, and a lack of political representation and economic development. They were unanimously concerned that the Iranian-backed militias surrounding them were preventing them from being fully included as members of Iraqi society.<\/p><p>\u201cI saw children playing outside one church whose families had secretly converted to Christianity. They could not visit Christian services openly out of fear of violent reprisals. The religious leaders worried that if things did not change, so many people would leave and never return. They saw sustained international pressure as one of their only hopes for most Christians to be able to remain.<\/p><p>\u201cIn nearby Erbil, within the autonomous Kurdistan region, where many Christians fled during the ISIS attacks, Christians are able to live relatively free lives, and the local government respects them more and celebrates the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kurdistanprayerbreakfast.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">religious diversity<\/a> and history of the area. They still face some hardships \u2014particularly converts from Islam, who face violent threats \u2014 but in general, there was a more inclusive vision for Christians. That same kind of inclusion should be available to Christians in the Nineveh Plains and throughout Iraq.\u201d<\/p><p>Though the situation in Iraq is slowly changing, the threat to Christian communities remains a pressing concern in Iraq and beyond.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1ff37b5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1ff37b5\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae99809\" data-id=\"ae99809\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13258d4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"13258d4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">ISIS Elsewhere<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ae52960 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ae52960\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-10d2327\" data-id=\"10d2327\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81ca487 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"81ca487\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Although ISIS has waned as a threat in Iraq, its influence is spreading across the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/world\/isis-soldiers-behead-christians-mozambique-burning-church-homes-silent-genocide\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Middle East and Africa<\/a>. The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), a Washington, DC-based counterterrorism research group, warns of what it calls a \u201csilent genocide\u201d targeting Christians.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b8c2fda elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b8c2fda\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9391d2b\" data-id=\"9391d2b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe816ba elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"fe816ba\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In 2025<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1d82d1c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1d82d1c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6248ce0\" data-id=\"6248ce0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2323d6b elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2323d6b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>According to MEMRI, the Islamic State Mozambique Province (ISMP) recently published 20 images celebrating four separate strikes on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.memri.org\/jttm\/over-four-days-islamic-state-mozambique-province-claims-it-beheaded-four-christians-set\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Christian villages<\/a> in the Chiure district of Mozambique\u2019s northern Cabo Delgado province.<\/p><p>The photographs depict ISIS fighters storming villages, setting fire to a church, and destroying homes. The photographs also include scenes of the beheading of a person described by the extremists as belonging to \u201cinfidel militias,\u201d along with two Christian civilians. Additional photographs, MEMRI\u2019s review noted, show the bodies of several people identified by the group as members of these so-called militias.<\/p><p>In recent weeks, Islamic State affiliates have also claimed responsibility for killing dozens of Christians during a Catholic vigil in Komanda, DRC, and for bombing the <a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/european-parliament-calls-for-urgent-protection-of-christians-and-other-religious-minorities-in-syria-following-targeted-attacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mar\u202fElias Church<\/a> in Damascus, Syria, which killed 20 plus Christians and injured 60.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4efdddc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4efdddc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d2ad097\" data-id=\"d2ad097\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-abc7a86 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"abc7a86\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Conclusion: The Road Ahead Requires Standing for Religious Freedom in Iraq<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ae6a77a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ae6a77a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-64b5f51\" data-id=\"64b5f51\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c2e82a1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c2e82a1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>World leaders and international institutions must urgently unite behind a clear and effective strategy to dismantle the Islamic State network before more lives are lost.<\/p><p>Freedom of belief and religion is a fundamental human right. We at ADF International remain committed to defending this right for Christians around the world. We are standing with them, advocating for them, and praying for a future where they can thrive in the land their ancestors have called home for centuries.<\/p><p>We will continue to:<\/p><ul><li>Advocate for legal protections for religious minorities in Iraq and elsewhere<\/li><li>Support survivors in their fight to rebuild lives<\/li><li>Raise global awareness through policy engagement and media<\/li><li>Pray for a future where faith can flourish without fear<\/li><\/ul><p>Every day that goes by without bold action puts more lives in danger. We must act now \u2014 and we are.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Legacy of Faith Under Fire for Iraqi Christians In August 2014, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) \u2014 an extremist Sunni group \u2014 launched a violent campaign across northern Iraq. Their target: Qaraqosh, an ancient Christian city located in the Nineveh Plains. What followed became one of the most devastating assaults on [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":76439,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[197,1124,1366,80,27,572,235],"class_list":["post-76367","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary","tag-asia","tag-global-religious-freedom","tag-iraq","tag-persecution","tag-religious-freedom","tag-religious-persecution","tag-sean-nelson"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Key Learnings from Iraq&#039;s Christians 11 Years After ISIS\u2019s Attack<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"At ADF International, we\u2019re committed to advocating for Iraq\u2019s Christians in defense of their basic human rights to freely live their faith.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/en-gb\/commentary\/iraq-christians-faith-legacy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Can We Learn from Iraqi Christians 11 Years After ISIS\u2019s Attack?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Christianity is not foreign to Iraq \u2014 it\u2019s foundational. Long before ISIS and Islam, Christianity had already taken root in Iraq. In fact, Christianity has existed in Iraq since the first century AD, long before it reached many parts of Europe.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/commentary\/iraq-christians-faith-legacy\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"ADF International\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/facebook.com\/adfinternational\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-13T15:06:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-28T19:04:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Qaraqosh-home-Iraqi-Christians_2025-1024x576.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"576\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Philipp Bues\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:description\" content=\"Christianity is not foreign to Iraq \u2014 it\u2019s foundational. Long before ISIS and Islam, Christianity had already taken root in Iraq. 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