Mother of 3-year-old kidnapped Assyrian girl appeals for help

In this Sunday, June 15, 2014 photo, Iraqis attend mass in Alqosh, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Mosul, where many have fled to safety. Press Association

The mother of a three-year-old Assyrian girl reported to be kidnapped by ISIS militants in Iraq has pleaded for help from the international community.

She says her daughter, Christina Khader, Ebada, was taken by militants as the family tried to flee Baghdede.

The mother, who is not named in the AINA News report, described in an interview with Ishtar TV how she had just boarded the bus to leave the northern Iraqi town when a man took Christina from her arms and removed her from the bus.

She followed him and pleaded with him to give her daughter back, saying Christina would "die if she does not see me".

But she says she was told: "Shut up. If you speak another world I will let them slaughter you ... if you come close to this little girl you will be slaughtered, we shall slaughter you."

In the TV interview, Christina's mother appealed to the international community to help in Iraq.

"This thing that is taking place here in Iraq, to kidnap this little girl who is innocent, and these crimes they are committing, stealing money, they did not leave us anything, what is this?" she said.

"We appeal to human rights groups to help us, to look at us. This is not a humane situation. We can't live like this all our lives. We have not attacked them. What have we done to them?"

She added: "I want you to return my daughter to me."

The Islamic State has been established by militants across parts of Syria and northern Iraq, terrorising the local population and causing thousands of people to flee their homes.

There have been reports of horrific punishments for those who do not adhere to the strict Sharia code imposed in the areas where IS rules. These have included rape, crucifixion and beheadings.

Christian Aid's consultant in Iraq, Ann Ward, told Christian Today: "IS is so well mobilised, so entrenched. We don't anticipate them going anywhere quickly."

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
News
Flying the flag – act of defiance or plea for help?
Flying the flag – act of defiance or plea for help?

Left to themselves, the English are notoriously slow to make any kind of public display, so in trying to understand what’s really going on here, perhaps we should ask why people have felt moved to behave in so ‘unBritish’ a way?

Pope Leo XIV listed among Time’s 2026 100 most influential people
Pope Leo XIV listed among Time’s 2026 100 most influential people

Pope Leo XIV has been included in Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, marking another milestone in the early months of his historic papacy.

The backstory to St George and his flag
The backstory to St George and his flag

23 April marks St George’s Day, which often passes unnoticed. But who was St George and why is he England's patron saint? This is the story …

Dear Saint George: A letter to England’s patron saint
Dear Saint George: A letter to England’s patron saint

Peter Crumpler shares his appreciation for England's patron saint.