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MOSUL, Iraq (Catholic Online)- The madman who claims to be a descendant of Mohammed, Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi - who has taken to calling himself Caliph Ibrahim - issued an ultimatum. Christians in that part of the former territory of Iraq and Syria which he now claims as an Islamic Caliphate must convert to Islam, face the sword, flee the country or have all their property seized and pay the tax levied against dhimmis, or non-muslims.

You can support the Assyrians, Chaldeans, and Syriacs Christian families and the brave priests, nuns and brothers who are on the ground and ready to care for the injured, the orphans and the frightened refugees. SAVE Iraqi Christians from Genocide...

Any who stayed would become indentured servants, living under the boot of a violent Islamist regime. Christians were told to gather in a central place where they would receive the directive from the self appointed Caliph. Understandably, given the track record of this maniacal tyrant, few did so. So, the text of the statement was issued as a formal declaration to all Christians:   "We offer them three choices: Islam; the dhimma contract - involving payment of Jizya; if they refuse this they will have nothing but the sword." It was broadcast from loudspeakers. It was placed on the internet. It has now been heard around the whole world.

Christian homes in the City were marked for seizure by the Islamist extremists who follow this self-proclaimed Caliph. Even though Christians have lived in this ancient territory since the first century of Christianity, they were forced to leave in an act of terror which is finally awakening a global outcry.  Christian tradition traces the planting of the Gospel to the missionary efforts of the Apostle Thomas with the assistance of Thaddeus or Jude.  Christians have an undeniable claim to live freely on this land which preceded the very arrival of Islam.

The violations of fundamental human rights, international law and justice are evident everywhere. The Obama Administration does not seem to be all that concerned. Except for some poorly delivered statements, it is business as usual for an administration which is seeking to radically restructure the United States into something which resembles the worst social experiment in some time in western history.

ISIS Jihadist thugs have taken an axe to the tomb of Jonah, destroying it with a kind of gleeful and mad abandon. They ripped down the Cross from St. Ephrem's Cathedral and replaced it with their dreaded black flag.They are massacring people, severing heads, and engaging in the worst human rights abuses - all to a surprisingly muted global outcry.

Some reports indicate that ISIS now has roving patrols in the city of Raqqa, including women draped in head to floor burqas, who are ordered to ensure strict compliance with their version of Islamic Dress codes. Below is a report from the Assyrian International News Agency about the destruction of Christian churches and places of worship

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Since taking over Mosul on June 10, ISIS has destroyed, occupied, converted to mosques, converted to ISIS headquarters or shuttered all 45 Christian institutions in Mosul.The following is the complete list of the Christian institutions in Mosul, grouped by denomination.

Syriac Catholic Church:

1.Syrian Catholic Diocese - Maidan Neighborhood, Mosul
2.The Old Church of the Immaculate - Maidan Neighborhood, Mosul (The church goes back to the eighth century AD)
3.The New Church of the Immaculate - Maidan Neighborhood
4.Church of Mar (Saint) Toma - Khazraj Neighborhood
5.Museum of Mar (Saint) Toma - Khazraj Neighborhood
6.Church of Our Lady of the Annunciation - Muhandiseen Neighborhood
7.Church of the Virgin of Fatima - Faisaliah Neighborhood
8.Our Lady of Deliverance Chapel - Shifaa Neighborhood
9.The House of the Young Sisters of Jesus - Ras Al-Kour Neighborhood
10.Archbishop's Palace Chapel - Dawasa Neighborhood

Syriac Orthodox Church:

1.Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese - Shurta Neighborhood
2.The Antiquarian Church of Saint Ahodeeni - Bab AlJadeed Neighborhood
3.Mar (Saint) Toma Church and cemetery, (the old Bishopric) - Khazraj Neighborhood
4.Church of The Immaculate (Castle) - Maidan Neighborhood
5.Church of The Immaculate - Shifaa Neighborhood
6.Mar (Saint) Aprim Church - Shurta Neighborhood
7.St. Joseph Church - The New Mosul Neighborhood

Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East:

1.Diocese of the Assyrian Church of the East - Noor Neighborhood
2.Assyrian Church of the East, Dawasa Neighborhood
3.Church of the Virgin Mary (old rite) - Wihda Neighborhood

Chaldean Church of Babylon:

1.Chaldean Diocese - Shurta Neighborhood
2.Miskinta Church - Mayassa Neighborhood
3.The Antiquarian Church of Shimon alSafa - Mayassa Neighborhood
4.Church of Mar (Saint) Buthyoon - Shahar AlSouq Neighborhood
5.Church of St. Ephrem, Wady AlAin Neighborhood
6.Church of St. Paul - Majmooaa AlThaqafiya District
7.The Old Church of the Immaculate (with the bombed archdiocese)- Shifaa Neighborhood
8.Church of the Holy Spirit - Bakir Neighborhood
9.Church of the Virgin Mary - Drakziliya Neighborhood
10.Ancient Church of Saint Isaiah and Cemetery - Ras AlKour Neighborhood
11.Mother of Aid Church - Dawasa Neighborhood
12.The Antiquarian Church of St. George- Khazraj Neighborhood
13.St. George Monastery with Cemetery - Arab Neighborhood
14.Monastery of AlNasir (Victory) - Arab Neighborhood
15.Convent of the Chaldean Nuns - Mayassa Neighborhood
16.Monastery of St. Michael - Hawi Church Neighborhood
17.The Antiquarian Monastery of St. Elijah - Ghazlany Neighborhood

Armenian Orthodox Church:

1.Armenian Church - Maidan Neighborhood
2.The New Armenian Church - Wihda Neighborhood

Evangelical Presbyterian Church:

1.Evangelical Presbyterian Church - Mayassa Neighborhood

Latin Church:

1.Latin Church and Monastery of the Dominican Fathers and Convent of Katrina Siena Nuns - Sa'a Neighborhood
2.Convent of the Dominican Sisters, - Mosul AlJadeed Neighborhood
3.Convent of the Dominican Sisters (AlKilma Monastery) - Majmooaa AlThaqafiya District
4.House of Qasada AlRasouliya (Apostolic Aim) (Institute of St. John the Beloved)

Cemeteries:

1.Christian Cemetery in the Ekab Valley which contains a small chapel.

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Deacon Keith Fournier is Founder and Chairman of Common Good Foundation and Common Good Alliance. A married Roman Catholic Deacon of the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, he and his wife Laurine have five grown children and six grandchildren, He serves as the Director of Adult Faith Formation at St. Stephen, Martyr Parish in Chesapeake, VA. He is also a human rights lawyer and public policy advocate.