“We are still proud to be Christians. We will always be…”

Refugee Relief: Part 3

Raja* is a young woman from Mosul. For a few years now she has been living in the safer North of Iraq. After the extremist Islamists of ISIS took over Mosul in June, the majority of the remaining Christians of Mosul also fled to the North. Raja is helping in the relief program for these refugees that is supported by Open Doors and shares about her experiences.

“I can’t believe what is happening now. And it’s all happening all so fast. 2000 years of Christian history and presence is being destroyed. I am confused and sad. Everybody is. On the news I saw that they replaced the cross on our church in Mosul with the black flag of the Islamic State. They are doing a call of Islamic prayer from our church now, like they are turning it into a mosque. I can’t believe it. I just wanted to cry when I saw this. Past weekend the Islamic State gave Christians in Mosul an ultimatum: convert, pay a high tax, leave before Saturday July 19th by 12:00 midday or die. All Christians chose to leave. This is what we have feared for a long time.

Kidnapped Nuns return safely

Refugee Relief: Part 2

Raja* is a young woman from Mosul. For a few years now she has been living in the safer North. After the extremist Islamists of ISIS took over Mosul in June, the majority of the remaining Christians of Mosul also fled to the North. Raja is helping in the relief program for these refugees that is supported by Open Doors and shares about her experiences.

Open Doors in cooperation with several local partners working to distribute much-needed water.

“Working with refugees from Mosul means you hear a lot of sad stories. In Mosul everyone can be your enemy: you need to watch your every step. It was like that when I was still living there, but now it’s much worse. For me the stories aren’t just stories. It’s my reality: it’s about my city, about people I know. I always thank God that He helped us to flee out of Mosul.

Church in North Iraq filled with refugees

Refugee Relief: Part 1

Raja* is a young woman from Mosul. For a few years now she has been living in the safer North. After the extremist Islamists of ISIS took over Mosul in June, the majority of the remaining Christians of Mosul also fled to the North. Raja is helping in the relief program for these refugees that is supported by Open Doors and shares about her experiences.

“Shortly after the occupation of Mosul, refugees started coming to our church. It’s was a strange sight for me to see the church halls filled with people, it was so crowded! People aren’t sleeping on beds, but put whatever they can find on the floor and sleep like that. Still they don’t complain, they are relieved that they are out of the threatening situation around Mosul. A woman came to me and said: “It’s much better here than were I came from: we have electricity, running water and the church has air-conditioning. This was all destroyed in the place near Mosul I came from. And at least we’re safe here.”

Iraq: Open Doors is helping Refugees by providing relief…

Raja* is a young woman from Mosul. For a few years now she has been living in the safer North of Iraq. After the extremist Islamists of ISIS took over Mosul in June, the majority of the remaining Christians of Mosul also fled to the North. Raja is helping in the relief program for these refugees that is supported by Open Doors and shares about her experiences.

*Name Changed

Part 1 – Church in North Iraq filled with refugees
Part 2 – Kidnapped Nuns return safely
Part 3 – “We are still proud to be Christians. We will always be…”
Part 4 – Churches reaching capacity as Refugees flee from IS