First guns, then ballots

Iraq | Militants in Mosul target Christians in pre-election shootings | Mindy Belz

Mujahed Mohammed/AFP/Getty Images

In 2007 militants kidnapped Mazen Ishoa, an Assyrian Catholic priest living in Mosul, along with another priest as the pair made their way home from a funeral. Pope Benedict made an appeal for their safety, and the two were later released.

On Feb. 23 gunmen again upended Ishoa's life, entering the home where he lived with his parents, and killing Ishoa's two brothers and his father. Ishoa's own whereabouts were not disclosed after the shooting. An Iraqi in Mosul, who asked not to be identified for security reasons, said the family had chosen to remain in Mosul despite threats from Islamic militants, which have driven thousands of Christian families from the area in the last three years: "They were determined to stay and serve the community."

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March 13, 2010, Vol. 25, No. 5

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