Qaraqosh: A place to be concerned and praying for

Reports are flooding in regarding the conquest and expulsion of the residents of the  'entirely Christian town' of Qaraqosh (located between Mosul and Arbil) by IS and associated forces.

The town (population c.50,000) is testimony to the sad reality that the Iraqi government is unable to protect those members of minority communities (Christians, Yezidi and Shabak) and highlights the ethnic cleansing and other war crimes that are taking place (and yet whilst HAMAS and Israel dominate the news, this is allowed to slip almost quietly by).

The Christian nationals are being eradicated (by death or forced exile) and are part of an extremely grave humanitarian crisis.

Chaldean Archbishop of Kirkuk and Sulaimaniyah, Joseph Thomas, is quoted by AFP (Agence France-Presse) sources as saying, 'I now know that the towns of Qaraqosh, Tal Kayf, Bartella and Karamlesh have been emptied of their original population and are now under the control of the militants.'

Please pray

Please support those under threat (all faiths)

Please contact your political representative (wherever you live) and ask them what they are doing about this.