August 6 marked the tenth anniversary of "the Black Day," a day indelible to Iraqi Christians as the start of the unrelenting atrocities to which they were subjected on August 6, 2014, ten years ago.
On that day, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) unleashed a jihadi massacre of unprecedented terror, brutally attacking ancient Christian communities across northern Iraq. Villages were overrun, homes and churches looted and destroyed, and countless lives shattered. Christians were murdered, raped and sold into slavery. Those who survived were forced to flee, leaving behind everything they held dear.
Bassam from Qaraqosh, Iraq, recalled the horror:
"We were abruptly warned at 12:30 AM by neighbors that ISIS was closing in. Imagine being securely at home when suddenly a stranger bursts in, giving you only minutes to escape. You're forced to abandon everything—your life, belongings and future—under the threat of imminent danger."
A decade later, the impact of that day remains profound. The Christian population in Iraq has been decimated: once estimated to be 1.5 million, it is now about 154,000. Since then, many Iraqi Christians fled their homeland to seek in neighboring countries, as well as in the West.
Despite some progress, Iraq is still ranked 16th by Open Doors among the most dangerous countries for Christians. Even though ISIS has largely been neutralized, the remaining 154,000 Christians face "very high" levels of persecution. The overall security situation remains unstable. According to Open Doors:
"The Christian community continues to rebuild and restore as it heals from the horrors of the Islamic State group. Plus, Turkish and Iranian airstrikes continue in some parts of Iraq, impacting Christian communities.
"The historic Christian communities in Iraq also face issues with persecution and discrimination, particularly from Islamic militant groups and non-Christian leaders. In places where they are the significant minority, like central and southern Iraq, Christians often do not publicly display Christian symbols, as it can lead to harassment or mistreatment at checkpoints, universities, workplaces or governmental offices. Christians from both historic and newer denominations can face discrimination from the government. Any outspoken Christian group can also be accused of blasphemy if it is deemed it is sharing the gospel with Muslims.
"Finally, anyone who converts from Islam will likely face intense pressure from their families and communities. They can be threatened, abused, lose family members, pressured or even killed. Conversion can have practical consequences as well, including loss of inheritance and lack of opportunity."
The slow pace of rebuilding and persistent security concerns has rendered the dream of returning home elusive for many.
Nate Breeding, Executive Director of the American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East ("American FRRME"), highlighted the challenges in an interview with Gatestone:
"Iraqi Christians continue to flee to Jordan due to ongoing instability, threats from extremist groups and a lack of security in their homeland. Even though ISIS has been defeated, the violence, sectarian tensions and slow rebuilding efforts have made it impossible for many to return. They have been forced to seek safety elsewhere, uncertain if their communities will ever be secure again."
Despite it all, ten years later, the few surviving members of these ancient Christian communities have demonstrated remarkable courage and fortitude, said Breeding. They have held onto their faith, culture and heritage, even in the midst of great hardship and displacement. Their stories of survival and the ongoing efforts to rebuild their lives serve as a powerful source of inspiration.
Hundreds of Iraqi refugees, for instance, recently came together at American FRRME's Olive Tree Center in Madaba, Jordan, to mark the ten-year anniversary of the Black Day. The gathering was a poignant tribute, featuring prayer, traditional Iraqi dabke dancing, music and food. The commemoration event honored and remembered families and friends who lost their lives or were displaced during the ISIS invasion.
Saadallah, an elderly Iraqi refugee from Mosul, who attended the event, shared a memory concerning the Black Day:
"We stayed in Mosul for 39 days under ISIS control because they initially offered us safety. But then they declared that as Christians and People of the Book, we were infidels. They demanded we either pay the jizya, convert to Islam or face execution. This ultimatum forced us to flee Mosul in August 2014. Ten years later, the memory of The Black Day remains a painful and haunting tragedy for us. It still generates deep fear and anxiety about our future, which remains uncertain and unknown."
Breeding went on to say:
"A decade after the horrors inflicted by ISIS, the deep scars left on these communities remain ever-present. Many Iraqi refugees are still paralyzed by fear, unable to return home. The critical shortage of funding and aid from other NGOs, both in Jordan and Iraq, only deepens their suffering, leaving them exposed and vulnerable in a region still plagued by violence and instability."
Despite some positive developments in Nineveh, the situation remains dire for many, and the Christian community continues to face significant challenges, including by remnants of ISIS — or perhaps merely ISIS-minded Muslims. Although recent years have seen a reduction in reported violence against Christians, the overall security situation remains unstable. While there is cautious optimism about gradual improvements in safety and support for minority groups, ongoing instability and persecution continue to create major obstacles for Iraq's Christian community.
There is, however, a glimmer of hope amid the continued challenges, according to Breeding. The resilience of the Iraqi Christian community and the ongoing efforts of organizations like American FRRME offer a beacon of optimism, he said, adding that, despite the ongoing difficulties, there are signs of progress and recovery. He quoted Ban, a young Christian woman in her twenties when ISIS invaded her hometown of Qaraqosh in 2014:
"On this 10th anniversary of The Black Day, I want to share a message of hope and resilience with the world. Despite the immense challenges and hardships we have faced, we have found strength in each other and in the support of organizations and individuals who have stood by us. Our journey has been difficult, but we have not lost our spirit or our sense of community... Since the events of 2014, organizations like American FRRME have had a significant impact on our lives. There are very few NGOs left that focus on our displacement and who continue to provide assistance for Iraqi Refugees; but American FRRME is still on the ground and actively helping."
This article is based on an interview Gatestone Institute conducted with American Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East and its Iraqi Christian associates.
Raymond Ibrahim, author of Defenders of the West, Sword and Scimitar, Crucified Again, and The Al Qaeda Reader, is the Distinguished Senior Shillman Fellow at the Gatestone Institute and the Judith Rosen Friedman Fellow at the Middle East Forum.
Harvey Radnor