Posted 2014-07-29
(AINA) — The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) captured the city of Mosul, Iraq on June 10. Almost immediately thereafter it began to drive Assyrians out of Mosul and destroy Christian and non-Sunni institutions. Here is the status as of July 29:
- There are no Assyrians/Christians remaining in Mosul, all have fled to the north, to Alqosh, Dohuk and other Assyrian villages.
- All Christian institutions in Mosul (churches, monasteries and cemeteries), numbering 45, have been destroyed, occupied, converted to mosques, converted to ISIS headquarters or shuttered (story).
- All non-Sunni Muslim groups in Mosul – Shabaks, Yazidis and Turkmen – have been targeted by ISIS. Most have fled.
- Water and electricity have been cut off by ISIS. The water shortage in the areas surrounding Mosul is now a full-blown crisis. Residents have been forced to dig wells for drinking water. Water tankers are providing some relief.
- Mosul is now governed under Sharia law.
- 50,000 Assyrian residents of Baghdede (Qaraqosh) fled from fighting between ISIS and Kurds. Nearly 80% have returned.
The following is a summary of the events that have unfolded in Mosul.
- June 10: ISIS captures Mosul, occupies the Assyrian village of Qaraqosh, enters the St. Behnam Monastery, bombs an Armenian church (story).
- June 12: ISIS issues Islamic rules for Mosul (story).
- June 14: Assyrian, Yezidi and Shabak Villages come under Kurdish Control (story).
- June 15: Kurds attempt to remove an Assyrian council leader in Alqosh and replace him with a Kurd (story).
- June 18: ISIS Cuts Off Water, Electricity, Destroys Churches (story).
- June 19: ISIS destroys statue of the famous Arab poet Abu Tammam (story).
- June 21: ISIS begins imposing a poll tax (jizya) on Assyrians in Mosul (story), orders unmarried women to ‘Jihad by sex’ (story), destroys the statue of the Virgin Mary at the Immaculate Church of the Highest in the neighborhood of AlShafa in Mosul, as well as the statue of Mullah Osman Al-Musali. Shiite Turkmen in the villages of Al Kibba and Shraikhan flee after receiving threats from ISIS. ISIS arrests 25 village elders and young men who are Turkmen in the village of Al Shamsiyat; their whereabouts is still unknown. (story) ISIS orders Christian, Yazidis and Shiite government employees not to report for work in Mosul (story).
- June 23: ISIS Rape Christian Mother and Daughter, Kill 4 Christian Women for Not Wearing Veil (story).
- June 25: ISIS limits water from the plants in Mosul to one hour per day. Residents in surrounding areas are forced to dig wells (story).
- June 26: Kurds Clash With ISIS Near Assyrian Town East of Mosul, forcing nearly 50,000 Assyrians to flee (story).
- ISIS begins confiscating the homes of Christians and non-Sunni Muslims. ISIS rounds up many of the security agency members of the police and army in Sabrine Mosque and asks them to declare “repentance” and surrender their weapons and other military equipment. After doing so, all of the prisoners are tried and sentenced according to Sharia law and executed. ISIS has prevented delivery of government food rations to Tel Kepe and other areas not under their control (story).
- June 28: ISIS kidnaps two nuns and three Assyrian orphans. They are eventually released (story).
- July 3: ISIS seizes the house of the Chaldean Patriarchate and the house of Dr. Tobia, a member of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization and an Advisor to the Governor of Nineveh on Minority Affairs and General Coordinator with International Organizations (story).
- July 8: ISIS Removes Cross From Church in Mosul (story).
- July 10: ISIS bars women from walking the streets unless accompanied by a male. Nearly all barber shops and womens’ salons are closed (story).
- July 15: ISIS Stops Rations for Christians and Shiites in Mosul (story).
- July 17: ISIS issues statement ordering Christians to convert or die (story).
- July 18: ISIS in Mosul marks Christian homes with the Arabic letter “N” (for the word Nasrani, which means Christian) (story).
- July 19: ISIS plunders Assyrians as they Flee Mosul; families march 42 miles (story).
- July 22: ISIS and Kurds clash near Assyrian town, 2000 Assyrian families driven from Mosul (story).
- July 25: ISIS destroys the tomb of the Prophet Jonah (story).