Iraq: IS burns Christian books
By Joseph DeCaro
(Worthy News) – Last week the Islamic State posted an online video showing its jihadists throwing books bearing crosses on their covers into a bonfire in the city of Mosul, in northern Iraq.
According to Barnabas Aid, hundreds of Christian books were burned by the jihadists.
When the IS captured Mosul in 2014, it gave Christians the choice to convert to Islam, pay a subjugation tax, flee or be killed. As a result, thousands of believers abandoned both their homes and holy books with little more than the clothes on their backs.
Last week Iraqi President Fouad Masum publicly recognized Christians in his country as “original members” of the nation, but now their very presence is at risk.
Masum said that Christianity’s long-established presence was evidenced by the ancient monasteries scattered throughout the country. But like its burning hymnals, those monasteries are also under attack by the jihdists.