ISIS has deliberately destroyed the border between Iraq and Syria in order to more easily facilitate the flow of terrorist fighters, weapons, tanks, and other materiel stolen from the Iraqi army and Americans. As you can see in the uploaded photo (a screenshot from the twitter feed of a journalist working for regional TV), this is taken as a sign of the beginning of their long dreamed-of “caliphate”, as they are physically erasing the borders between territories under their control in order to turn the entire area into one big theater of combat, from which they may continue to advance on to other places further afield. If this doesn’t a huge red flag to you, you are quite simply not paying attention. Remember (or learn now) that the inheritors and overlords of the last caliphate, that of the Ottomans, controlled not only the Middle East, but also much of Southeastern and even Central Europe (Hungary, Serbia, Greece, etc). They will not stop with Syria and Iraq unless a greater force stops them, and right now the political will or even basic working knowledge of the nature of the conflict is not there in the West. We still have people trying to say that ISIS is not bad and are treating civilians well, or that these are local “rebels” fighting against corrupt regimes. Yeah. Right…
The same Twitter feed also translated some of the key points of ISIS’ recent proclamation to the people of Mosul and the other areas now under their control. Consider the following directives and worse as having the force of law when any Islamist (or “Islamic Freedom Fighter”, “Rebel”, “Mujahid”, whatever you want to call them; it’s all the same) gets control over any land:
Code:
"For women, dress decently and wear wide clothes. Only go out if needed." (Guess who gets to decide what’s “needed” and what's "decent"… —dzh)
" Our position on Shrines and graves is clear. All to be destroyed basically." *(“Shrines” in this instance are probably referring to those built for the memories of those respected by local Shi’a, but I would guess is also extended to churches and monasteries n a pinch, seeing as how they've already destroyed several of them —dzh)*
" Gatherings, carrying flags (other than that of Islamic State) and carrying guns is not allowed. God ordered us to stay united."
" For the police, soldiers and other Kafir *(unbeliever/non-Muslim —dzh.)* institutions, you can repent. We opened special places that will allow you to repent.”
" No drugs, no alcohol and no cigarettes allowed."
" We warn tribal leaders and Sheikhs not to "work with government and be traitors."
" We ask all Muslims to perform prayers on time in the mosques."
" Money we took from Safavid government is now public. Only Imam of Muslims can spend it. Anyone who steals hand will be cut." *(note the language here: the money is “public”, but only Muslim Imams get to spend it. Non-Muslims are not included in the “public” —dzh)*
" For those asking who are you? We are soldiers of Islam and took on our responsibility to bring back glory of the Islamic Caliphate."
"People you tried secular rulings (Republic, Baathist, Safavides) and it pained you. Now it is time for Islamic State." Imam Abu Bakr El Qurashi.
Normally I shy away from apocalyptic talk, but read the words of Fr. Najeeb Mikhaeel, OP, in an e-mail to a Dominican colleague just yesterday that have leaked onto various social media outlets (but somehow aren’t being reported in the mainstream media…hmmm), and tell me that adjective doesn’t fit. As it is reproduced on the Dominican Province of St. Joseph’s Facebook page, Fr. Najeeb has this to say to his friend:
Bad news. I write you in a situation of violence in Mosul that is very critical and even apocalyptic. Most of the inhabitants of the city have already abandoned their houses and fled into the villages and are sleeping in the open without anything to eat or drink. Many thousands of armed men from the Islamic Groups of Da’ash have attacked the city of Mosul for the last two days. They have assassinated adults and children. The bodies have been left in the streets and in the houses by the hundreds, without pity. The regular forces and the army have also fled the city, along with the governor. In the mosques, they cry “Allah Akbar, long live the Islamic State.” Qaraqosh is overflowing with refugees of all kinds, without food or lodging. The check points and the Kurdish forces are blocking innumerable refugees from entering Kurdistan. What we are living and what we have seen over the last two days is horrible and catastrophic. The priory of Mar Behnam and other churches fell into the hands of the rebels this morning… . and now they have come here and entered Qaraqosh five minutes ago, and we are now surrounded and threatened with death … . pray for us. I’m sorry that I can’t continue … They are not far from our convent … .
This truly is the final acceleration of violence against Iraq’s 2000-year old Christian community. If ISIS, ISIL and similar groups are not definitively destroyed immediately, there will be no more Christianity in Iraq. The monastery of Mor Behnam (4th century) in Baghdead is already under the control of the terrorists, and they have burned and gutted churches and show no signs of stopping.
Pray for Mosul, pray for Tikrit, pray for Qaraqosh…pray for all of Iraq and Syria, and especially its persecuted, terrorized, and nearly exterminated Christian minorities. And please donate to the Assyrian Aid Society via the link in my signature (I’ve gotten rid of anything else in there so that hopefully it will stand out more), as they are one of the few groups looking out for the interests and welfare of the Christians of Iraq.
:byzsoc: