Awaiting papal visit, Qaraqosh remembers brutal ISIS reign

QARAQOSH, Iraq – The Nineveh town of Qaraqosh has been preparing to welcome Pope Francis on Sunday, but the brutal reign of Islamic State (ISIS) still lingers in the minds of locals. 

Al-Tahira church, which will welcome the pope, was once used as an execution site and training ground for ISIS members. 

“[ISIS] burnt this church specifically because it is the biggest church in Iraq, and [attacking] the large Christian presence for them here was like attacking all Christians in Iraq, said its priest Ammar Yako.

According to Yako, the pope chose the church to show the world “Christians and Iraqis need to live in peace.”

“On August 6, 2014, Daesh entered the area and we left. No one remained. When Daesh entered, they did as they liked. They took money, they destroyed the houses, and they burnt down whatever they liked,” said local Hani Banur, using the Arabic acronym for ISIS. 

Qaraqosh is considered the Christian capital of Iraq. Before ISIS, it had a population of 65,000, but so far only 35,000 have returned. Political instability and uncertainty about their future in Iraq are driving many Christians to emigrate. 

“We do not know what will happen. Our children’s futures are uncertain in Iraq,” said George Aziz.