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ERASING CHRISTIANITY: ISIS' reign over Syria hits new frightening levels
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The Islamic State has seized the Syrian Orthodox Church of St. Ephraim, one of Mosul City's largest Christian churches. Fliers distributed by the extremist, terrorist group indicate that the church is being converted to a house of worship for their jihadi fighters. This is one of the biggest and most tragically "scary developments" that have occurred in the area as ISIS continues their pursuit for chasing Christianity out of the land.
Highlights
Catholic Online (https://www.catholic.org)
6/12/2015 (1 decade ago)
Published in Middle East
Keywords: Islamic State, Mosul, Church, Demolition, Scary Development, Christians, Syrian Orthodox Church of St. Ephraim
MUNTINLUPA, PHILIPPINES (Catholic Online) - "If so, it's a scary development, until now they have bombed or, in other ways, destroyed churches but when they change [the church to a mosque], it feels more definite. A year ago they said, 'Convert, pay or die,' then it turned out to be a lie - that even if you pay you will not be able to stay," said Nuri Kino, president of A Demand For Action, in a statement with Newsweek.
The church was rid of its Christian symbols as the terrorists put up the extremist logo outside the infrastructure, according to The Blaze.
According to Newsweek, the cross had been removed and the furniture was removed and placed out for sale. Fides, a news outlet ran by the Vatican, first reported about the Islamic State's decision to destroy the church and change it into their "mosque of the mujahideen."
The tragic fate of the Syrian Orthodox Church of St. Ephraim was announced exactly a year after the city's downfall to the hands of the Islamic extremist organization, June 10, 2014.
"If they changed a church to a mosque it is further proof of their cleansing, something that many call a genocide. They destroy our artifacts, our churches and try to erase us in any way they can," added Kino.
ISIS is determined to eradicate other groups against their fundamentalist beliefs and practices. Reports also indicate that there were mosques and other shrines destroyed because of the strict rules and regulations implemented.
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