Iraqi churches used as Islamic State prisons

The Iraqi city of Mosul was once a majority-Christian city, but is now an Islamic State (IS) stronghold, where militants have repurposed deserted church buildings as prisons.

Fides news agency reports that detainees were held at the ancient Chaldean Church of the Immaculate Conception in the eastern part of the city, having been blindfolded and handcuffed.

St George's monastery has also allegedly been used as a female detention centre.

Reports circulated last week that the nearby convent of the Chaldean Sisters of the Sacred Heart had been bombed by IS militants.

Several other Christian churches, Yazidi shrines and Shiite mosques have also been demolished by the group that has declared a caliphate in large parts of Iraq and Syria.

Almost all of Mosul's Christian inhabitants were driven out in June, given the choice of conversion to Islam or death.

related articles
ISIS makes Mosul\'s Christians pay $250 poll tax amid economic hardships
ISIS makes Mosul's Christians pay $250 poll tax amid economic hardships

ISIS makes Mosul's Christians pay $250 poll tax amid economic hardships

Key Iraqi Christian leader: \'ISIS is worse than Genghis Khan\'
Key Iraqi Christian leader: 'ISIS is worse than Genghis Khan'

Key Iraqi Christian leader: 'ISIS is worse than Genghis Khan'

France ready to offer asylum to Iraqi Christians
France ready to offer asylum to Iraqi Christians

France ready to offer asylum to Iraqi Christians

Iraqi Christians pray close to front line of Islamic State attacks

Iraqi Christians pray close to front line of Islamic State attacks

Global day of prayer to focus on Christians in prison for their faith
Global day of prayer to focus on Christians in prison for their faith

Global day of prayer to focus on Christians in prison for their faith

Prince of Wales condemns \'grotesque and barbarous assault\' on Middle East Christians
Prince of Wales condemns 'grotesque and barbarous assault' on Middle East Christians

Prince of Wales condemns 'grotesque and barbarous assault' on Middle East Christians

Islamic State destroys historic church in Mosul
Islamic State destroys historic church in Mosul

Islamic State destroys historic church in Mosul

News
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds
Active faith linked to happier marriages and lower divorce rates, study finds

People who regularly attend church are more likely to report happy marriages, according to a new report examining the relationship between faith and family life.

Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk
Indian churches fearing anti-conversion laws tell non-Christians: enter at your own risk

Churches in Dhamtari, a town in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, have put up notices warning non-Christians that they enter at their own risk, weeks after a law against religious conversion came into force in the state.

£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes
£1k bursaries to help churches develop youth and community mentoring programmes

Churches across the UK are being offered bursaries to help them establish mentoring programmes aimed at supporting young people and others in their communities.

World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary
World Evangelical Alliance celebrates 180th anniversary

The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) has held an online celebration to mark its 180th anniversary. Hundreds of people from more than 22 countries attended, and the event was rebroadcast to accommodate different time zones.