In this war-torn land, religious tensions run high. Many Christians fear for the future- not only for their lives but also for the future of the Church in Iraq. Branded Western collaborators by their Muslim neighbours, many have fled their homes. Muslim groups are determined to rid the country of its Christian heritage: church buildings have been destroyed, young Christian girls raped and Christians have been kidnapped or even killed. Believers have fled Iraq or become refugees in their own country. In 2008, the city of Mosul experienced a severe period of violence during which many believers were killed execution style, and hundreds of Christian families fled to safety.

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