The Centre for Canadian-Assyrian Relations (CCAR) is urgently appealing the Government of Canada to provide assistance to the minority Christians caught in the midst of the crisis in Iraq.
The cities of Fallujah, Tikrit, Ramadi, and Iraqi’s second largest city, Mosul have been overrun by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (or Levant) ISIS – a Sunni Islamic terrorist group so vile, it has been disavowed by al-Queda itself for its savagery.
Hundreds of Iraqi’s have been killed and thousands more displaced. The situation on the ground is becoming desperate. The minority Christians are caught in the middle of a Sunni-Shiite sectarian conflict that has engulfed Syria and Iraq, and threatens to spread to Jordan and Lebanon.
ISIS has begun instituting Sharia Law in Mosul and began threatening Christians to either convert to Islam, pay a jizyah (tax for ‘non-believers’), or face a torturous death. These indigenous Assyrian Christians have very little political influence and no major source of money to help them sustain their ancient communities.
CCAR urges Canada to give generously to Assyrian aid organizations that are currently on the ground in Iraq and in Syria. These humanitarian organizations are the difference between life and death for hundreds of thousands of Assyrian families in the Middle East. If you are willing to support the indigenous minority of Syria and Iraq, please contact our President, Aneki Nissan at 647-628-2654.
Our thoughts and prayers go to those affected by such senseless acts of violence.
Aneki Nissan
President, Centre for Canadian-Assyrian Relations
anekinissan@ccarofficial.ca