Christians flee Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq, after experiencing a threat and series of attacks from Islamic militants who evaded the city last month. 

Like Us on Facebook

The militants who call themselves ISIL, or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, issued an ultimatum in a letter demanding Christians to convert to Islam, pay taxes known as jizya or surrender their possessions, after Christian leaders failed to attend a meeting scheduled by the group. Christians who won't submit by Saturday will be killed, "as a last resort," says ISIL.

Christian population in Iraq dwindled since the city's capture on June 9 under ISIL but the threat triggered Christians who remained to depart and head to Dohuk and Arbil in Kurdish region of Iraq or other areas covered by Kurdish security.

Earlier, the militants bombed an Armenian Church in Left Bank near al-Salaam hospital. They also forced women including Christians to wear veils, monitored in checkpoints throughout Mosul and implemented Sharia Law, banning alcohol.

Sahir Yahya, a Christian government employee in Mosul described, ISIL's treatment of Christians at first as "nice." But days later, according to Yahya, the Islamic militants changed and revealed their true savage nature and intention.

Together with her two sons and husband, Yayha fled to a monastery in the town of Qaradoush for temporary lodging.

An article written by Diaa Hadid, who works in historical and cultural details, documented population movement of Christians in Iraq. From one million, only 450,000 remained within Iraq borders after militants started targeting Christians in 2003 where a Chaldean Catholic cardinal was kidnapped and killed.

Hadid also cited Mosul's population with 130,000 Christians from early 2003, down to 10,000 after militant attacks.

Now, it was estimated that the city has only 2,000 Christians, according to the article.

The United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq reported that at least 2,400 deaths were caused by the violence in June. Of those, the UN tallied 1,500 civilians, 270 civilian police, and 900 Iraqi security force members.

TagsChritians, Iraq, Mosul, ISIL