“The international community must take immediate and decisive action to tackle the problems which are threatening the continuing Christian presence in Iraq,” said Neville Kyrke-Smith, national director of Aid to the Church in Need (UK).

Fr Momika, who is from Qaraqosh, noted how 6 August marked the exact two-year anniversary since ISIS attacked his hometown, driving out inhabitants who didn’t meet their demands to convert to Islam, pay a hefty tax or face death.

Rampaging Islamic State Jihadists force Christians to flee, occupy churches and burn manuscripts in Northern Iraq.