ISIS Training Child Fighters to Block Christians from Returning Home to Mosul
- Updated Mar 22, 2017
Christians who were driven out of their homeland of Mosul, Iraq and surrounding areas by ISIS may be prevented from returning by a new generation of ISIS fighters.
The terrorist group is reportedly training young jihadis, known as Caliphate Cubs in various ISIS propaganda videos, to guard the city against Christians’ return.
A local church leader in the region, Father Daniel, explained the situation in which Christians find themselves:
"We can go back [to Mosul], but it is a question of safety. We are dealing with a new generation bred by ISIS — they have a radical anti-Christian viewpoint and so it would be really hard to go back," he said. "It would be very hard for children here and children in Mosul to get together. Can they even get along together as two groups? Could they adapt to each other? We really need to work with the children in Mosul to change what ISIS has implanted there."
Christian Today reports that over 100,000 Christians have fled Mosul since ISIS fighters took control of the city in 2014.
Many have tried to return, but still face persecution. The United Nations has estimated that 320,000 more civilians may be forced to flee the city in coming weeks.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: March 22, 2017
