ISIS: UK Christians to pray and protest at Downing Street in solidarity with Iraqi Christians

Tens of thousands of Iraqi Christians have fled northern Iraq following the ISIS takeover AP

The US is intervening to halt the terror of militants in Iraq but pressure is mounting on British Prime Minister David Cameron to make a similar commitment in the face of widespread atrocities against minorities there.

Tory MP and a practising Christian, David Burrowes, is among the politicians who have written to the Prime Minister urging immediate action on Iraq, where Christians, Yazidis and other minorities have been terrorised out of their homes.

With fears of genocide, London Mayor Boris Johnson has added his voice to calls for British military action.

He said he was "certain that it is time to get involved, and to support the American-led operation", the Express reports.

"We have to act because this is a humanitarian crisis," he said.

The US has carried out targeted airstrikes to break the hold of the Islamic State in northern Iraq, although speaking to Fox News, Lt. Gen. William Mayville Jr., director for operations with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, made clear that the US is limiting its military intervention.

He said: "There are no plans to expand the current air campaign beyond the current self-defense activities."

In London, a "Solidarity Against ISIS" prayer and candlelight vigil is being held at Downing Street on Wednesday from 6pm to 8pm.

The vigil has been organised by the Solidarity Against ISIS campaign in association with the British Pakistani Christian Association.

"ISIS have recently intensified operations in Yazidi and Christian faith communities with the intention of committing genocide," they said.

"We plead for your support to show the British government that we are against these crimes against humanity."

News
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day
English Heritage deletes debunked claims about pagan origins of Christmas Day

English Heritage has admitted it got it wrong when it shared false claims that the date of Christmas is derived from a pagan Roman festival in honour of a sun god.

Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'
Guinness Book of Records recognises 'the world’s longest serving Sunday School teacher'

Pam Knowles started helping out her church Sunday school in 1951 at the age of 13.

The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations 
The origins of ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations 

Today in the UK we celebrate Christmas and the period around it with many familiar traditions and activities. There is an understandable assumption that we have always done things this way. However, celebrating Christmas has a long and complex history and things change over time. 

Venezuela stops cardinal from leaving country
Venezuela stops cardinal from leaving country

The cardinal has spoken out against the excesses of the Maduro government.