In response, the group says in the letter that Christians must either convert to Islam, pay a special tax on non-Muslims known as jiziya, or face death “as a last resort”.
Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city, was overrun by the Islamic State group and allied rebel groups last month.
The Iraqi army units stationed in the city, most of whom were Shia, fled after the group crossed from Syria and attacked the north of Iraq.
Before the attack, Mosul’s Christian community was estimated at 3,000. Many are believed to have already fled the city as part of an exodus of up to one-third of the population. Churches and Christian-owned shops in the city were reported smashed by those who fled.
From Friday morning to 4 p.m., members of the group displaced forcibly 150 Christian families from Mosul city, sources said.
The members of Daash also seized all property of the displaced families including their cars and furniture, IDs, documents, and jewelry.
A number of mosques called on Christians to leave the city Friday through loudspeakers, adding that bishops refused a summon by Daash to be handed the conditions.
About 80 displaced families went to Qaraqosh city, center of Al-Hamdaniya in Nineveh governorate and the largest Christian city in Iraq. Qaraqosh city also suffered from mass displacement after attempt of Da’esh to invade it on Wednesday, June 25. But, Kurdish Zervani forces confronted them after clashes lasted to Saturday dawn, June 28.
Elements of Daash have so far seized more than 20 houses of Christians.
The Islamic State’s leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, held a sermon in Mosul’s grand mosque two weeks ago, calling on all Muslims to unite behind his group.
The Islamic State, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, has issued similar demands in areas in control in Syria, and has posted pictures of Christians being crucified for disobeying orders in Raqqa.
Church leaders in Iraq have not responded to the threats officially.
Nickolay Mladenov, the head of the UN assistance mission In Iraq, condemned the order.
“Any persecution of minorities constitutes a crime against humanity and we urge all sides to protect civilians. We have produced a report listing attacks on civilians and have brought this up at the highest levels of the Iraqi government.”
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Edited from:
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/07/iraq-christians-told-convert-face-death-2014718111040982432.html,
http://mcndirect.com/showsubject.aspx?id=55632