Iraq\u2019s prime minister on Sunday condemned the Islamic State extremist group\u2019s actions targeting Christians in territory it controls, saying they reveal the threat the jihadists pose to the minority community\u2019s \u201ccenturies-old heritage.\u201d\u009d<\/p>\n
The comments from Nouri al-Maliki come a day after the expiration of a deadline imposed by the Islamic State group calling on Christians in the militant-held city of Mosul to convert to Islam, pay a tax or face death. Most Christians opted to flee to the nearby self-ruled Kurdish region or other areas protected by Kurdish security forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is being done by the Daesh terrorist gang against our Christian citizens in Ninevah province, and their aggression against the churches and houses of worship in the areas under their control, reveals beyond any doubt the extremist criminal and terrorist nature of this group,\u201d\u009d al-Maliki said in a statement released by his office, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.<\/p>\n